The largest family justice reforms ‘for a generation’ will come into effect today (22 April), introducing a new combined Family Court in which all levels of judge are able to sit in the same building and a simplified single system. Continue reading “Legal regulation: Largest family justice reforms ‘for a generation’ usher in new single court”
Slaughters, Freshfields and Linklaters lead on Glaxo/Novartis multibillion-dollar joint venture
Magic Circle trio Slaughter and May, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have landed lead advisory roles on a multi-billion-dollar joint venture and asset swap between pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Novartis. Continue reading “Slaughters, Freshfields and Linklaters lead on Glaxo/Novartis multibillion-dollar joint venture”
Pinsents expands German presence with double Munich hire
Pinsent Masons is the latest UK firm to announce expansion in Germany, bolstering its Munich office with the hire of competition partner Michael Reich and corporate partner Tobias Rodehau from local firm Arqis. Continue reading “Pinsents expands German presence with double Munich hire”
Risk profile: Rolls Royce appoints new compliance chief from IMI
Less than a year after appointing Mark Serfozo as director of risk from defence, security and aerospace giant BAE Systems, Rolls Royce has further bolstered its senior internal risk and compliance capability with the hire of IMI’s Jo Morgan as chief compliance counsel. Continue reading “Risk profile: Rolls Royce appoints new compliance chief from IMI”
‘Slower than expected growth’ sees Co-operative Legal Services unveil £22m operating loss with flat turnover
Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) has made an operating loss of £22m for 2013 and unveiled a flat turnover, blaming a slower than expected growth rate for the period and factors including a hit to its personal injury business stemming from the Jackson Reforms. Continue reading “‘Slower than expected growth’ sees Co-operative Legal Services unveil £22m operating loss with flat turnover”
Reed Smith ramps up City litigation practice with hire of King & Wood’s Nick Brocklesby
Reed Smith is continuing to ramp up its City practice, its largest office globally, with the hire of King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin litigator Nick Brocklesby. Continue reading “Reed Smith ramps up City litigation practice with hire of King & Wood’s Nick Brocklesby”
Redundancy watch 2014: DWF lays off 19 business services staff after post-merger finance integration
DWF has made 19 business services staff in its finance department redundant, the firm confirmed today (17 April), following the conclusion of a consultation which put 21 at risk last month. Continue reading “Redundancy watch 2014: DWF lays off 19 business services staff after post-merger finance integration”
Travers corporate partner David Patient to succeed Andrew Lilley as managing partner
Travers Smith today (17 April) announced that current managing partner Andrew Lilley will hand over to senior corporate partner David Patient next year. Continue reading “Travers corporate partner David Patient to succeed Andrew Lilley as managing partner”
Taylor Wessing City duo leave to head legal at client OB10 and boost construction at Wedlake Bell
Taylor Wessing has lost two senior London partners as UK telecoms head Patrick Clark moves to head the legal team at one of the firm’s clients, City-headquartered global e-invoicing network OB10, and longstanding construction heavyweight Helen Garthwaite joins LB100 firm Wedlake Bell. Continue reading “Taylor Wessing City duo leave to head legal at client OB10 and boost construction at Wedlake Bell”
New GCs for Tiffany and Visa as Northern Trust appoints Jenner & Block MP as legal chief
The latest senior in-house moves have seen luxury jewellery company Tiffany & Co promote Leigh Harlan to take over as general counsel as longstanding incumbent Patrick Dorsey announces his retirement, while Visa has brought in PepsiCo’s deputy GC Kelly Mahon Tullier to head its legal function, and Jenner & Block’s managing partner Susan Levy has been appointed as legal chief of global investment management firm Northern Trust. Continue reading “New GCs for Tiffany and Visa as Northern Trust appoints Jenner & Block MP as legal chief”
DWF brings in Pinsents partner to take over from Leaitherland as CEO of commercial services
DWF has appointed Pinsent Masons head of financial institutions and human capital Stephen Miles to take over from managing partner Andrew Leaitherland as chief executive officer (CEO) of its commercial services division. Continue reading “DWF brings in Pinsents partner to take over from Leaitherland as CEO of commercial services”
Further expansion for Irwin Mitchell as it opens ninth UK office in Cambridge
Irwin Mitchell will open its ninth office in the UK in the latest stage of its expansion plans after securing a £60m funding facility from three major banks, the firm announced today (16 April). Continue reading “Further expansion for Irwin Mitchell as it opens ninth UK office in Cambridge”
Addleshaw Goddard’s Collins and Joyce go forward for contested managing partner elections
Addleshaw Goddard partners have nominated Adrian Collins and John Joyce as challengers for the managing partner role in the forthcoming elections after incumbent Paul Devitt announced he is stepping down almost a year early.
BLP’s head of banking and finance litigation exits to King & Spalding
Berwin Leighton Paisner’s (BLP’s) head of banking and finance litigation David Hughes is set to leave the firm to join the litigation team at King & Spalding. Continue reading “BLP’s head of banking and finance litigation exits to King & Spalding”
Comment: ‘Geography seduced everyone’ – is emerging market bias blind-siding your firm?
There is a notion in business that is often useful, but rarely observed – the idea of signal and noise, or rather being able to distinguish between the two. The not-remotely-new point I’m making – well illustrated in Nassim Nicholas Taleb‘s not-remotely-new book, Fooled by Randomness – is that in making informed decisions, leaders should endeavour to shut out the ‘noise’ of short-term, rapidly changing information, which is typically near worthless.
Linklaters and Simpson Thacher lead on Sanpower’s landmark acquisition of House of Fraser
Linklaters and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have taken lead roles on the landmark acquisition by Chinese conglomerate Sanpower Group of a majority stake in iconic UK retailer House of Fraser. Continue reading “Linklaters and Simpson Thacher lead on Sanpower’s landmark acquisition of House of Fraser”
‘Difficult quarter’ for Citigroup as it discloses 33% increase in Q1 2014 legal spend
Citigroup has joined a raft of global financial institutions that have declared a substantial rise in their legal spend, up by 33% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same time last year, according to the bank’s financial report released yesterday (14 April). Continue reading “‘Difficult quarter’ for Citigroup as it discloses 33% increase in Q1 2014 legal spend”
Herbert Smith Freehills shakes off post-merger politics in favour of sole global corporate head as Ferraro takes over
Setting aside the notoriously difficult post-merger politics of selecting one partner to run a core practice area, Herbert Smith Freehills today (15 April) announced that former Freehills joint global head of corporate Mike Ferraro will take over as sole head. Continue reading “Herbert Smith Freehills shakes off post-merger politics in favour of sole global corporate head as Ferraro takes over”
Revolving doors: Senior ex-Unilever and Amex lawyers move to private practice as McDermott boosts Paris office
Some of the most high-profile strategic hires recently have seen former in-house counsel move to private practice, all following the news last week that Weil, Gotshal & Manges is bringing Goldman Sachs’ European head and co-head of restructuring Andrew Wilkinson back to a law firm.
Partner promotions: Bird & Bird maintains a steady 11
Bird & Bird has maintained steady partnership promotion levels for a third consecutive year with 11 associates made up to partner, a figure that represents just over 4% of the top 20 firm’s current partnership numbers. Continue reading “Partner promotions: Bird & Bird maintains a steady 11”