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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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Financial results 2013/14: Macfarlanes breaks through £1m PEP threshold as profit and turnover up over 20%

Macfarlanes has achieved a high double digit jump in both revenue and profit per equity partner (PEP) for the 2013/14 financial period, with both up by over 20%, as the top 35 UK firm breaks through the £1m PEP threshold.

The 324-lawyer firm revealed today (9 July) that its unaudited turnover was up 22% to £139.7m for the period, compared to £114.2m last financial year, while PEP has come in at £1.19m, a 21% increase on the £985,000 recorded in 2013. Continue reading “Financial results 2013/14: Macfarlanes breaks through £1m PEP threshold as profit and turnover up over 20%”

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Morrison & Foerster appoints Paul Friedman to newly-created European managing partner role

Paul Friedman has become Morrison & Foerster’s first managing partner for Europe, overseeing 26 partners and 43 associates across London, Berlin and Brussels.

The securities and white-collar litigator has 32 years under his belt at the top 30 Global 100 firm, including 28 years as a partner, and will relocate from San Francisco to London to assume the role. Continue reading “Morrison & Foerster appoints Paul Friedman to newly-created European managing partner role”