For all the improving signs, glancing at our annual Global 100 report shows headline performance largely comparable with 2013. The group increased billings by 4% to $88.63bn, a rise of 4% and the same growth rate achieved in 2013. Continue reading “Comment: Global 100 – a little bit of life before Lehman returns. But only a little”
‘We’re all struggling with how to capitalise on changes in the global marketplace’ – Simmons’ Hoyland points to Asia for growth
After announcing a return to form financially, with both revenue and profits up for 2013/14, Simmons & Simmons managing partner Jeremy Hoyland says that Asia, at times unprofitable ground for international firms in recent years, is critical to his firm’s strategic development.
Leadership: Latham elects Bill Voge to take over from Bob Dell after eight-month selection process
Following a rigorous eight-month selection process, London-based projects partner Bill Voge has been elected to take over from Latham & Watkins retiring global chair and managing partner Robert Dell, who leaves the firm after two decades in management and an increase in revenue from $260m at the start of his tenure to $2.285bn in the latest financial year. Continue reading “Leadership: Latham elects Bill Voge to take over from Bob Dell after eight-month selection process”
Guest post: Dominic Grieve as Attorney General, 2010-2014
The first time I ran into Dominic Grieve, he made a fool of the Labour shadow justice minister, Paul Boateng. It was in the 1990s, at a Liberty conference on human rights.
Continue reading “Guest post: Dominic Grieve as Attorney General, 2010-2014”
Asia-Pacific: office number 76 for Baker & McKenzie in Brisbane
Baker & McKenzie has opened a third office in Australia, launching in Brisbane as it targets expansion into energy and resource-rich jurisdictions.
Continue reading “Asia-Pacific: office number 76 for Baker & McKenzie in Brisbane”
DLA sees leading criminal litigator Rickards leave for Kingsley Napley
Kingsley Napley has made a key hire to its criminal litigation team, as DLA Piper partner Jo Rickards, who recently represented former News of the World (NotW) editor Andy Coulson in the phone-hacking trial, is set to join the firm this August.
Continue reading “DLA sees leading criminal litigator Rickards leave for Kingsley Napley”
Scottish revival: Growth for Brodies, Maclay and Shepherd as Scots independence vote hangs over recovery
Described last year as both beleaguered and bleak, the Scottish legal market is this year seeing something of a revival as revenue at Maclay Murray & Spens (MMS) – one of the LB 100’s worst performers in 2013 – was last week revealed to have risen by 7% from £40.4m to £43.3m and profit per equity partner (PEP) jump by £50,000 to £261,000, a 24% hike. Continue reading “Scottish revival: Growth for Brodies, Maclay and Shepherd as Scots independence vote hangs over recovery”
Guest post: A few thoughts on the Butler Sloss controversy
Lady Butler Sloss, a former and eminent senior judge, with significant experience through a child abuse inquiry (Cleveland) of matters of child protection has been appointed to lead an independent inquiry into historical child abuse. Interestingly, she relinquished the Diana inquest when forced to have a jury trial. The Telegraph story at the time reported:
‘These inquests now require a jury, and I do not have the degree of experience of jury cases that I feel is necessary and appropriate for presiding over inquests of this level of public interest.’
Continue reading “Guest post: A few thoughts on the Butler Sloss controversy”
Skadden pledges PE still core focus but declines to spend big on Murray-Jones replacement
The pending retirement of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom’s leading figure in the City private equity market Allan Murray-Jones has been one of the worst kept secrets in the buyout industry. With the confirmation that he will retire this year with no clear successor, some pockets of the clubby private equity market have come to the conclusion that one of Wall Street’s top M&A shops is downgrading its private equity practice in Europe to functional coverage rather than core focus. Continue reading “Skadden pledges PE still core focus but declines to spend big on Murray-Jones replacement”
Linklaters former DCM partner Nigel Pridmore joins Ashurst Hong Kong
Linklaters former finance partner Nigel Pridmore has joined Ashurst in Hong Kong, following in the footsteps of London debt capital markets (DCM) colleague Francis Kucera, who left the Magic Circle firm for Ashurst in December 2013. Continue reading “Linklaters former DCM partner Nigel Pridmore joins Ashurst Hong Kong”
Willkie Farr moves to build City private equity capability with hire of Kirkland duo
New York firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher has moved to build a City buyout practice with the hire of private equity duo Matthew Dean and Claire McDaid from Kirkland & Ellis, which also recently lost Dan Oates to O’Melveny and Myers and Ross Allardice to White & Case. Continue reading “Willkie Farr moves to build City private equity capability with hire of Kirkland duo”
Reed Smith bolsters City energy practice with further hire from McDermott
Reed Smith has made a further lateral hire to bolster its City offering, as Prajakt Samant becomes the second energy partner in just over a year to join from McDermott Will & Emery, joining as a partner in the top 30 Global 100 firm’s energy and natural resources group in London. Continue reading “Reed Smith bolsters City energy practice with further hire from McDermott”
‘Sharpening its corporate offering’ – Middleditch is Linklaters new corporate chief as Wiggins takes on sector role
Asia-based Matthew Middleditch has today (14 July) been named Linklaters‘ new head of corporate, replacing current incumbent Jeremy Parr, as Sarah Wiggins takes on the role of global head of client sectors.
Revolving Doors: Monckton attracts public law team; Arnold & Porter launches City financial services; Dentons grows in HK
The past week saw Monckton Chambers attract a five-barrister public law team led by Ian Wise QC from Doughty Street Chambers, as Arnold & Porter launched a City financial services practice with the hire of Katten Muchin Rosenman’s Tim Aron, Dentons grew its Hong Kong finance practice with the hire of Jeff Chen from Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft and Mayer Brown established a corporate and securities practice in its Palo Alto office with a dual partner relocation. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Monckton attracts public law team; Arnold & Porter launches City financial services; Dentons grows in HK”
Guest post: Light at the end of the tunnel for the SFO and a review of the last 12 months from David Green QC
Introducing the annual report for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the last financial year David Green, CB QC, director of the SFO had this to say: ‘Since I took up post in April 2012, we have sharpened the strategic focus of the SFO on the casework for which the Roskill model was designed and intended. This is the topmost tier of serious and complex fraud and bribery. Continue reading “Guest post: Light at the end of the tunnel for the SFO and a review of the last 12 months from David Green QC”
In-house: Threadneedle looks to fill GC spot after Philip Reed resigns; Weatherford brings in Dianne Ralston as GC
Leading City asset manager Threadneedle Investments is looking to fill its general counsel (GC) role following the resignation of high profile former Norton Rose litigation partner Philip Reed after seven years in the job. The move comes as Geneva-headquartered global oilfield products and services group Weatherford International, which was last year fined $253m by the US government for breaches of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and export control violations, brings in Dianne Ralston from Schlumberger as its new GC. Continue reading “In-house: Threadneedle looks to fill GC spot after Philip Reed resigns; Weatherford brings in Dianne Ralston as GC”
Linklaters corporate heavyweight Charlie Jacobs leads on Carlyle’s circa £2bn RAC exit talks
Linklaters senior corporate partner Charlie Jacobs is leading for Carlyle Group on the US buyout house’s early stage discussions to exit UK roadside recovery service RAC for a sum reported to be in the region of £2bn. Continue reading “Linklaters corporate heavyweight Charlie Jacobs leads on Carlyle’s circa £2bn RAC exit talks”
Clifford Chance’s global MP Matthew Layton talks expansion and ambition for his first four-year term
The past week has seen Clifford Chance emerge as the star performer among its Magic Circle rivals, with a 7% rise in revenues to £1.36bn. Legal Business asked newly-appointed global managing partner Matthew Layton about the 2,945-lawyer firm’s plans for international expansion and his ambitions over his first four-year term. Continue reading “Clifford Chance’s global MP Matthew Layton talks expansion and ambition for his first four-year term”
Comment: ‘Nobody knows anything’ – Goldman is more right than Maister
As journalists and managing partners hit reporting season the understandable urge rises once more to make sense of the legal world. Nearly six years since Lehman Brothers’ collapse did something substantive to the law game, what lessons can be learned? Continue reading “Comment: ‘Nobody knows anything’ – Goldman is more right than Maister”
DWF takes legal action against the Insolvency Service after failed panel bid
Top 25 LB 100 firm DWF is taking legal action against the government’s Insolvency Service (IS) after the national firm lost out on an appointment to its legal services panel.
The claim was issued after it emerged earlier this year that DWF had missed out on a contract for England and Wales to Scots firm Shepherd and Wedderburn. Continue reading “DWF takes legal action against the Insolvency Service after failed panel bid”