Bird & Bird has lost a professional negligence dispute taken by former client and offshore company Orientfield Holdings at London’s High Court and been ordered to pay out £1.8m in damages plus interest.
Continue reading “Bird & Bird loses £1.8m professional negligence case over planning report”
While some law firms are consolidating their presence in the region, Shearman & Sterling has bolstered its presence in the Middle East through an affiliation with local Saudi Arabian firm Abdulaziz Alassaf & Partners.
Continue reading “Shearman partners with three-office Saudi firm as it builds Middle East presence”
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has continued with its European strategy revamp, building its energy team in London by hiring Hogan Lovells’ global co-head of energy and natural resources Matthew Williams and renewables co-head John Deacon.
In a guest post, Aric Press, partner at the legal consultancy Bernero & Press and former editor-in-chief of The American Lawyer argues the path towards a high achieving culture in law firms turns out not to be money driven. It’s human nature, unleashed.
Last week saw both international firms making strategic moves in the City and at a national level several key hires, with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher hiring from Kirkland & Ellis, Baker & McKenzie bolstering its tax offering with a recruit from EY, Howes Percival appointing a new head of planning from Eversheds and DWF turning in-house to build its national nuclear energy team.
The partnership at Dechert have re-elected Andrew Levander chair for another four-year term, while chief executive Daniel O’Donnell has been given another year as corporate partner Henry Nassau is primed to take on the role when O’Donnell stands down in July 2016.
The €25bn merger between international food retailers Delhaize Group and Royal Ahold has seen Allen & Overy (A&O) and Linklaters win roles advising the two sides alongside Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Sullivan & Cromwell.
City firm Seddons has won a long running battle at the High Court for the Italian public authority Comune di Prato in a four-year dispute against Allen & Overy-client Dexia Crediop, an Italian investment bank, over six derivative contracts.
Baker & McKenzie has announced its 2015 promotions round with 83 lawyers making partner, 40% of whom are female, but with only three being made up in the City.
It has been a busy couple of days for the City hire market, with leading London tax partner Jonathan Kandel departing Weil, Gotshal & Manges for Kirkland & Ellis while project finance partner Nick Collins is set to join Jones Day from Latham & Watkins.
City firm Mishcon de Reya has enjoyed another year of robust UK revenue growth and recorded a rise of 13% to £110m from £97.8m, meeting its 2016 target a year ahead of schedule.
Continue reading “Mishcon sees double digit revenue growth as UK turnover hits £110m”
The City of London Law Society (CLLS) has issued a stark warning over what it deems ‘inconceivable’ changes in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) proposal to allow lawyers to qualify through apprenticeships and has raised concerns that standards could fall if changes are carried out.
Continue reading “City lawyers issue warning on ‘inconceivable’ SRA apprenticeship proposals”
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has confirmed it has launched an investigation into professional services company Quindell, looking at public statements made regarding the company’s 2013/14 financial accounts – covering the period it owned a raft of legal brands.
Private client-focused Withers has re-appointed its longstanding managing director Margaret Robertson (pictured) for another three-year term following an uncontested election last week.
Having tackled New York and London, Latham & Watkins has tasked a group of partners to review its Asia strategy ahead of a push in the region.
Continue reading “Latham & Watkins looks at South Korea launch amid Asia strategy review”
The controversial Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) is set to go ahead after the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal against the scheme this morning (24 June) though the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has said it will need to consider the timing of its introduction given the delays caused by the legal challenge.
Continue reading “BSB considers QASA’s timing after Supreme Court dismisses long-running appeal”
Proskauer Rose’s rapidly expanding City office, which hired Baker & McKenzie’s private equity rainmaker Bruno Bertrand-Delfau last week, has bolstered its finance practice with DLA Piper’s leveraged finance and banking partner Alexander Griffith.
Continue reading “Proskauer’s City hiring spree continues with DLA finance partner Griffith”
As has been the case since its merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert in 2011, Global 100 firm Clyde & Co has posted strong revenue and profit growth on the back of an expansive year. The firm has today (23 June) reported an 8% revenue increase for 2014/15 to £395m, while profit per equity partner has grown 10% from £599,000 last year to £660,000.
Continue reading “Business as usual: Clydes posts 10% PEP rise as revenues close in on £400m”
White & Case, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Slaughter and May have all won roles as CVC Capital Partners, Vatera Healthcare and Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek teamed up to buy a controlling stake in pharmaceutical firm Alvogen.
Justice Secretary Michael Gove (pictured) has today (23 June) outlined his reform agenda for civil justice to tackle the ‘creaking, outdated’ current system by increasing the use of online tools, looking at whether formal hearings are always required and making cost savings through the court estate before further legal aid cuts.
Continue reading “A ‘one nation’ justice policy: Gove sets out agenda for justice system overhaul”
