In a verdict that gives the Ministry of Justice at least a temporary reprieve in its legal aid battle with the Bar, the Court of Appeal today (21 May) reversed the Crown Court’s ruling that the ‘OpCotton’ serious fraud trial should be stayed after the defendants failed to find any barrister prepared to represent them on reduced legal aid rates.
Continue reading “Breathing space for MOJ as Court of Appeal orders OpCotton trial to resume”
Following a conduct review, DLA Piper has opted to stand by Nick West, whose sexist email exchanges with Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore were leaked last week, after the partner today (21 May) publically apologised for letting down the firm and its clients.
Continue reading “DLA Piper stands by scandal-hit lawyer Nick West as he issues apology”
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has led on the latest major European mandate for Blackstone, advising the New York Stock Exchange-listed private equity group on its acquisition of a €1.8bn portfolio of cross-border loans and swaps from the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) in Ireland. Continue reading “Deal Watch: Freshfields advises Blackstone on €1.8bn NAMA loan; CC and A&O close €2.8bn offshore wind financing”
In front of the Commons Business committee last week, Ian Read, chairman and chief executive of Pfizer, made two points in relation to Pfizer’s commitments, assuming it were to succeed in acquiring the Anglo-Swedish drug manufacturer AstraZeneca. Continue reading “Guest post: Pfizer’s placebo promises (why AstraZeneca may have been right to reject the ‘final’ takeover bid from Pfizer)”
Undoubtedly some of the most anticipated financial results of the 2013-14 financial reporting season, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has unveiled its latest figures, with the top 20 firm’s revenue and profit per equity partner (PEP) up by 6% and 35% respectively, to £246m and £542,000. Continue reading “Financial results 2013-14: BLP’s profit up 35% and revenue 6%”
One of the best-known names in the leverage buyout market, Stephen Lucas is set to join Kirkland & Ellis from Weil Gotshal & Manges, where he heads the Wall Street firm’s City banking practice. Continue reading “‘We’ve got 40 finance lawyers left’ – Weil’s City banking head Stephen Lucas joins Kirkland”
A raft of European hires for US and transatlantic firms has seen Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and K&L Gates bolster their finance and corporate capability on the Continent as Paul Hastings and Squire Sanders draw in strategic senior recruits in the City. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Growth in Europe for Skadden, K&L Gates, Paul Hastings and Squire Sanders”
Taylor Wessing has become the latest of in a procession of international firms to set up in South Korea, establishing an association with South Korean full service firm DR & AJU International Law Group.
Continue reading “Asia-Pacific: Taylor Wessing launches in South Korea with local tie-up”
The latest City firm to announce its 2014 partner promotion round, Travers Smith today (19 May) revealed that it has made up two associates to partner, the lowest number in three years. Continue reading “Partner promotions: Travers makes up two in third consecutive fall”
The Asian market has over the past week seen investment from international law firms including DLA Piper, Fenwick & West and Ashurst, which most recently bolstered its finance practices in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Continue reading “Asia: Ashurst bolsters Singapore with W&C hire; DLA appoints Asia corporate head; Fenwick & West opens in Shanghai”
Allen & Overy’s (A&O’s) senior partner David Morley and global HR director Genevieve Tennant are meeting on Monday (19 May) to consider introducing a 20% female partnership target by 2020 as part of the firm’s long term approach to bolstering its female partner numbers. Continue reading “A&O looks at 20% female partner goal as part of wider strategy to improve ratio”
Clyde & Co has launched two offices in South Africa with the hire of a five-lawyer, four-partner team from Linklaters’ local ally, Webber Wentzel. Continue reading “Clyde & Co to launch in South Africa with hire of five-lawyer team from Linklaters’ ally Webber Wentzel”
Addleshaw Goddard has today (16 May) announced the appointment of business support and restructuring head John Joyce as managing partner for a three-year term after a contested election against real estate head Adrian Collins, following outgoing chief Paul Devitt’s ahead-of-term resignation. Continue reading “New leadership for Addleshaws with election of John Joyce to managing partner”
Ashurst has upped its salaries for London-based trainees and newly-qualified lawyers (NQs) after a two-year freeze on pay.
First-year and second-year trainees will take home £1,000 more, up from £38,000 and £43,000 respectively, from levels set in 2012. Continue reading “Associate pay – Ashurst ups salaries for trainees and NQs”
ITV is taking steps to embed its law firms in the fabric of the organisation by involving them in a new programme of training and development with its lawyers, as it also launches a new, extensive social mobility iniative involving private practice pairings with Microsoft, Yahoo and MTV. Continue reading “ITV pulls in panel firms in new development programme as it launches ‘gold plated’ CSR scheme”
Ordinarily a week advising on the AIM flotation of luxury cake and cafe chain Patisserie Valerie, which formally starts trading on Monday (19 May), could be viewed as relatively successful. But Osborne Clarke’s corporate partner Jonathan King has trumped his own efforts by also leading the top 35 firm in acting for Carphone Warehouse on its £3.6bn all-share merger with Dixon Retail, announced today (15 May). Continue reading “A good week for…Osborne Clarke, advising on the £3.6bn Carphone Warehouse/Dixons merger and IPO of Patisserie Valerie”
People occasionally ask me if I tweet (I don’t) and what role I think Twitter has in law firm marketing (none).
I probably owe an explanation.
I believe Twitter has always been a niche service and always will be; it will never go mainstream in the way that (say) Facebook or LinkedIn has. Continue reading “Guest post: Sorry tech apostles – law firms do get Twitter (that’s the whole problem)”
Kennedys has become the latest UK firm to call on its fixed-share partners (FSPs) to make a 30% capital contribution in light of HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC’s) decision to overhaul the way salaried partners are taxed, giving the firm some ‘headroom.’ Continue reading “HMRC LLP rule change – Kennedys calls on fixed-share partners for 30% capital injection”
Hogan Lovells has re-shuffled its international management committee (IMC), with incoming CEO Steve Immelt stepping down as co-head of litigation, arbitration and employment as he succeeds outgoing chiefs David Harris and Warren Gorrell.
After years of attempts by Brussels to tighten up Europe’s data privacy rules in the face of US lobbying, yesterday (13 May) the European Court of Justice (ECJ) achieved that effect by backing a ‘right to be forgotten’ against Google, in a blow for the search engine and advisers Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. Continue reading “‘The right to be forgotten’: Google led by Cleary dealt a blow by ECJ’s privacy ruling”
