Magic Circle duo Allen & Overy (A&O) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as the bidding battle for online gambling company Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment came to an end today (17 July) with 888 beating GVC to acquire the FTSE 250-listed rival for £898m.
Continue reading “A&O and Freshfields win big on 888’s £900m purchase of Bwin after bidding battle”
The annual report issued by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) has seen the number of complaints made against judicial office holders rise by 20% last year, with those concerning the High Court rising 88%.
Following a record financial year that has seen Allen & Overy (A&O) move ahead of Magic Circle rivals Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in turnover, the firm’s associates will see a £20,000 increase in their base salaries as the firm incorporates bonuses into the annual pay packet.
Continue reading “£20k pay hike for A&O associates as firm folds bonuses into salary bands”
Following on from the launch last month of consultancy, paralegal and flexible lawyer offerings, DWF has entered into the growing legal product market by launching a wholly owned subsidiary, 15squared, to sell and develop technology products for in-house clients.
Continue reading “DWF launches subsidiary to enter burgeoning legal product market”
After having brought in Bain & Co last year to advise on the firm’s strategy, Ashurst’s chairman and New Zealand-born litigator Ben Tidswell (pictured) talks to Legal Business about the firm’s new direction and its renewed focus on financial institutions, energy and infrastructure, and the Asia-Pacific.
Following its recent landmark move to become the UK’s first listed law firm, West Midlands-based Gateley has stated in its first trading statement that revenues had increased by 10% to ‘not less than’ £60m for the 2014/15 financial year.
Continue reading “Gateley plc’s first trading statement reveals 10% revenue bump for 2014/15”
US firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius has bolstered its funds practice as it continues to build its City presence with DLA Piper’s London head of funds Gawain Hughes – adding to the structured finance trio hired from K&L Gates last week.
Continue reading “Morgan Lewis continues City ramp-up with DLA Piper’s head of funds”
In a ‘sign to the market of our commitment to grow our private equity practice’, King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has rehired Adrian Brown from Nabarro, where he formerly led the firm’s financial services regulation group after having joined from SJ Berwin in 2010.
After more than two decades operating in the Swiss city, Winston & Strawn is to shut its Geneva office at the end of September as the firm looks to service arbitration work from London and Paris.
The Minstry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a consultation on plans to close one fifth of courts and tribunals across England and Wales in a bid to tackle the issue of ‘underused’ court buildings and to cut costs.
Michael Gove’s performance before the justice select committee on Wednesday was a skilful one. Thoughtful, reasonable, non-dogmatic – two months into his time as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, he continues to win plaudits simply by virtue of not being Chris Grayling.
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr is set to close one of its two London offices, with its 10-lawyer transactional outpost in the City currently being reviewed amid expectations that the office will be wound down. The review is likely to result in the US law firm refocusing its London practice heavily around its arbitration team at its existing Mayfair office, according to two current partners.
Continue reading “WilmerHale review set to shut City branch to refocus on Mayfair arbitration team”
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has made up just two London partners, focused on boosting its real estate offering, in an expanded global promotions round this year that saw 36 lawyers join the partnership.
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) have advised the consortium picked to deliver a £4.2bn super-sewer stretching 15 miles under London to prevent untreated sewage flowing into the Thames.
Tech specialist Bird & Bird, despite stating that it has faced ‘challenging economic conditions in many of our major markets’, has posted a 6% rise in revenues to hit €325.5m.
Continue reading “Bird & Bird’s turnover climbs 6% to €325.5m but stays flat in sterling”
The Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales (CBA) has voted to support solicitors in their strike action over the 8.75% cut to legal aid fees that was imposed at the start of July this year.
In an appearance in front of the Justice Select Committee this morning [15 July], Lord Chancellor Michael Gove (pictured) has confirmed plans to review the Legal Services Act 2007 as he pitched what he would like to achieve as Justice Secretary.
In a fillip to its international arbitration practice, Shearman & Sterling has hired the US Department of State’s Jeremy Sharpe (pictured) in London and Nils Elisasson in Hong Kong from Nordic firm Mannheimer Swartling.
Continue reading “Shearman boosts arbitration practice with partner hires in London and Hong Kong”
Birmingham-based Sandra Wallace (pictured) has been appointed DLA Piper’s next UK managing partner, the first time that the position has gone to a partner outside the City.
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is looking to carry out the ‘most sweeping reforms to Bar training in a generation’ after research found that parts of the current system were viewed as ‘an absolute disgrace’ and ‘exploitative’.
