US firms Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and Chadbourne & Parke are in early merger talks, with the potential to create a 1,000 lawyer firm.
Reed Smith’s City outpost delivers 12% profit surge as staff numbers lifted
Reed Smith experienced a double-digit surge in staff numbers across its largest Europe and Middle East offices last year as profits across London, Paris, Dubai and Abu Dhabi surged by 12% to £65m.
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Q&A: Sir Frank Berman KCMG QC on the Bar, the challenges of nature and London’s status as a disputes hub
Having attended Legal Business’s first International Arbitration Summit in September to debate issues on investor-state disputes, Sir Frank Berman KCMG QC (pictured) of Essex Court Chambers talks to Sarah Downey about the highlights of his 50-year career, London’s status as a disputes hub, and the future of the Bar.
Asia Pacific move: Harbour Litigation Funding opens Hong Kong office
Third party financier Harbour Litigation Funding (HLF) has opened an office in Hong Kong to meet a rise in class actions in the Asia Pacific region.
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DLA Piper boosts Hamburg outpost with team of 20
DLA Piper has added a team of 20, including five partners to its Hamburg office from Bird & Bird, in a move said to double the outpost in size.
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Wilberforce Chambers takes silk trio and five juniors from soon-to-be dissolved 11SB
Wilberforce Chambers has taken silks Lexa Hilliard QC, Alan Gourgey QC and Marcia Shekerdemian QC from 11 Stone Buildings (11SB) alongside five junior barristers, following the news last week that the London commercial and chancery set will dissolve on 30 October.
Frontrunner eliminated as Linklaters cuts managing partner race to three
Linklaters’ banking chief Gideon Moore, dispute resolution head Michael Bennett and Asia managing partner Marc Harvey have made a final three-man shortlist to replace Simon Davies as the firm’s managing partner. Continue reading “Frontrunner eliminated as Linklaters cuts managing partner race to three”
Herbert Smith Freehills, EY take lead on British American Tobacco acquisition
Herbert Smith Freehills and EY Law in Poland have won roles advising as British American Tobacco (BAT) signed a conditional agreement to acquire 100% of Europe’s largest eCigarette retailing network, CHIC Group in a bid to enter the e-cigarette market.
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King & Wood Mallesons City departures continue as K&L Gates recruits tax partner
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) continues to see partner departures from its London office as K&L Gates has recruited longstanding tax partner Giles Bavister.
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City lawyers join Law Society in slamming SRA insurance proposals
The City of London Law Society (CLLS) has joined the Law Society in condemning proposals from the Solicitors Regulators Authority to lower minimum indemnity insurance cover for solicitors.
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Switching sides: HSF’s London litigation head Parkes lands FCA job
Herbert Smith Freehills‘ (HSF) London litigation head Tim Parkes will leave the firm at the end of the year to take over as chairman of the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s regulatory decisions committee.
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Hogan Lovells energy team exits continue as partner Levin takes up Nekton Group GC role
Hogan Lovells has confirmed the departure of leading corporate energy partner David Levin to energy merchant business Nekton Group, months after losing a three strong energy team, including global co-head of energy and natural resources Matthew Williams to US firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.
Guest post: Partnership structures – separating the geese from the chickens
Partnership structure is under fire from a sea of self-proclaimed professional service firm management experts. Some, like Mark Brandon, bring a well-measured view. Others are more apocalyptic.
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Weil Gotshal, A&O and Freshfields advise on Worldpay float
Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Allen & Overy and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have all picked up work advising card payment services provider Worldpay Group as it sells shares on the London stock exchange.
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Guest post: Making the case to regulate third-party funding – badly
The US Chamber of Commerce, scarred by the American litigation culture, has long been spreading the word about the pain that litigation can cause, and has a particular bee in its bonnet about third-party litigation funding (TPLF).
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BLP boosts Berlin practice by six with lateral hires from Orrick
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has hired two partners, Norbert Impelmann and Albrecht von Breitenbuch, along with four other lawyers from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe for its Berlin office.
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In-house: HSBC executive picked for British Land GC role
Property developer British Land has hired HSBC deputy company secretary and former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Elaine Williams as its first general counsel.
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Called to the bench: White & Case partner Ian Forrester QC made an EU judge
White & Case partner Ian Forrester QC has been appointed as the UK’s judge at the General Court of European Union, succeeding judge Nicholas Forwood QC. Forrester QC, who is based in Brussels will sit at the court based in Luxembourg from October of this year. Continue reading “Called to the bench: White & Case partner Ian Forrester QC made an EU judge”
The finance view: Bigger, simpler, cheaper? How to position the modern securitisation counsel
Securitisation lawyers have been hard pressed since the financial crisis, diversifying their practices and often even ditching the S word. Continue reading “The finance view: Bigger, simpler, cheaper? How to position the modern securitisation counsel”
Trowers & Hamlins unites with Devon firm as part of regional push
Trowers & Hamlins has combined with Devon based Stones Solicitors to create a firm with turnover of about £85m, in a deal to boost its regional presence in the UK.
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