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Ashurst’s Lloyd set to join Allen & Overy subject to partner vote

Ashurst’s high profile global head of corporate Stephen Lloyd appears set to join Allen & Overy (A&O) after resigning from the newly-merged firm in November.

While Lloyd’s move is still subject to a vote by the Magic Circle firm’s partnership, one corporate partner at A&O told Legal Business: ‘It’s not final, but it’s very likely. We are pretty excited about him joining. He is a really good operational lawyer and a good cultural fit.’ Continue reading “Ashurst’s Lloyd set to join Allen & Overy subject to partner vote”

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Guest post: The rise and rise of Slater and Gordon – a tale of the ABS era

If anyone wanted to see what alternative business structures (ABSs) can achieve, they need look no further than Slater and Gordon (S&G).

If you take into account the sum announced as going towards buying Simpson Millar – a deal currently on ice – S&G has committed around £150m towards its UK expansion since first announcing the acquisition of Russell Jones & Walker in January 2012. Could it have achieved this without being a listed company? I’m no financial expert, but I doubt it; raising money through share issues has been key, although debt levels are up sharply as well. Continue reading “Guest post: The rise and rise of Slater and Gordon – a tale of the ABS era”

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Leadership: Dick Tyler ‘ready for a change’ as CMS elects Penelope Warne as senior partner

CMS Cameron McKenna has elected its first-ever female senior partner, as UK managing director and head of energy Penelope Warne takes over the role from longstanding management figure and corporate finance partner Dick Tyler, who has said he is ‘ready for a change’.

Warne (pictured), who joined the firm in 1993 and set up the firm’s offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Rio de Janeiro and Dubai, will officially take up the post in May 2014 for a four-year term. Continue reading “Leadership: Dick Tyler ‘ready for a change’ as CMS elects Penelope Warne as senior partner”

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Latin America: DAC merges with Colombian alliance partner De la Torre & Monroy

DAC Beachcroft has expanded its Latin American presence via a merger with Colombian alliance partner De la Torre & Monroy Abogados Asociados, which began trading as DAC Beachcroft Colombia yesterday (1 December).

The 1000-lawyer top 25 UK firm, which formally allied with the six-lawyer Bogata insurance firm in March this year ahead of the liberalisation of the Colombian insurance market, agreed the tie-up after partners voted in favour on 22 November. Continue reading “Latin America: DAC merges with Colombian alliance partner De la Torre & Monroy”

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H1 2013/14: BLP reveals a 6% increase in turnover

By any estimation 2012/13 was Berwin Leighton Paisner’s (BLP’s) annus horribilis but the top 20 firm is showing modest signs of recovery with today’s (2 December) announcement that its revenues are up by 6% on this time last year.

Partners at the 786-lawyer firm have for some time privately indicated that its 2013/14 revenues are showing signs of improvement and the 6% rise, while starting from a low base given its 5% decline from £246m to £233m last year, is confirmation that their quiet confidence is, to an extent, justified. Continue reading “H1 2013/14: BLP reveals a 6% increase in turnover”

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Merit driven pay – Slaughter and May introduces discretionary associate bonus

Building on its decision earlier this year to introduce an element of merit to its associate pay, Slaughter and May has overhauled its associate bonus, moving away from a ‘blunt instrument’ flat rate bonus of 5% to a performance and seniority related uplift.

The overhaul – which was unveiled by the Magic Circle firm today (2 December) and follows its decision in January to create ‘good’ and ‘exceptional’ salary bands for associates from 4.5 years post-qualification experience (PQE) and upwards – will see associates paid up to a 12% bonus based on both their PQE level and performance. Continue reading “Merit driven pay – Slaughter and May introduces discretionary associate bonus”

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Guest post: The United States of Innovation – viewed from Wall Street, it could be a whole lot better

The other night I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend the FT’s Innovative Lawyers 2013 US awards ceremony. (The report was published here the next day in the paper, and you can download a PDF.)

Since this is now an annual event – this year marks the fourth time they’ve done it in the US – it’s an occasion to step back and see how the conversation has evolved. Here’s the telling final paragraph of last year’s introductory piece, following a lengthy series of anecdotes from managing partners about ‘buggy whips’, ‘new market dynamics’, ‘requiring behaviour to change’, ‘the wow factor’, and ‘adapting to the moving cheese’:

All the chairmen of the top firms talk about change and the need to ‘not fight the last war’. And yet at the same time they cannot, they say, see their firms being all that different in five years’ time.

Continue reading “Guest post: The United States of Innovation – viewed from Wall Street, it could be a whole lot better”

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Comings and goings – Hogan Lovells financial disputes partner to depart

Hogan Lovells is set to lose financial disputes and legacy Lovells partner Luci Angus from its ranks in four weeks’ time.

Having been made up to partner in 2007 prior to Lovells merger with Washington DC-based Hogan & Hartson, Angus is experienced in disputes involving banks and other financial institutions and completed a secondment at Barclays during her time at the firm. Her experience also includes previously advising an investment bank in relation to allegations of mis-selling in connection with a $2bn collateralised debt obligation.

Continue reading “Comings and goings – Hogan Lovells financial disputes partner to depart”

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Still in the headlines – Embattled Co-op appoints new GC for bank amid group shake-up

The Co-operative Bank (Co-op) has announced the appointment of former interim general counsel (GC) of Coventry Building Society Brona McKeown as legal chief and company secretary shortly after current GC Alistair Asher moves to head the legal function across the Co-operative Group.

Prior to Coventry Building Society, McKeown held a variety of roles at Barclays, culminating in global GC of Barclays Corporate. McKeown, who trained as a lawyer at CMS Cameron McKenna, joins the Manchester-based bank on 2 December.

Continue reading “Still in the headlines – Embattled Co-op appoints new GC for bank amid group shake-up”

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141 law firms in final closure warning to gain cover as research claims partners ignorant of insolvency risk

While there are signs of recovery at larger law firms, fresh evidence of the pressure on smaller practices has emerged this week with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) confirming that 141 law firms unable to gain insurance cover are now entering a final period before they face an enforced wind-up.

Continue reading “141 law firms in final closure warning to gain cover as research claims partners ignorant of insolvency risk”

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141 law firms in final closure warning to gain cover as research claims partners ignorant of insolvency risk

While there are signs of recovery at larger law firms, fresh evidence of the pressure on smaller practices has emerged this week with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) confirming that 141 law firms unable to gain insurance cover are now entering a final period before they face an enforced wind-up.

The 141 firms have moved into the middle of a 60-day ‘cessation period’, which began on 1 November. 277 law firms initially failed to gain insurance cover by 1 October, as required, triggering SRA oversight. 153 firms still had no cover by 30 October, stopping them from taking on new instructions. The 1 October deadline triggers a 90-day extended policy period (EPP), a professional ‘last chance saloon, which this year replaced the old system of the assigned risk pool for struggling law firms that cannot gain professional indemnity cover.

Continue reading “141 law firms in final closure warning to gain cover as research claims partners ignorant of insolvency risk”

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Revolving doors: Strategic growth for Mishcon, Hill Dickinson, Herbert Smith Freehills, Orrick Rambaud and Addleshaw Goddard

Mishcon de Reya this week (25 November) announced that it is to completely restructure its tax offering, consolidating its real estate, corporate tax, and private tax and wealth planning divisions and invest in the area with the hire King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin tax partner John Skoulding and solicitor Charlie Sosna from Berkeley Law.

Focusing on UK and international M&A, management buy-outs and corporate restructurings, among other issues, Skoulding has worked across sectors including betting and gaming, fashion, retail, intellectual property and financial services. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Strategic growth for Mishcon, Hill Dickinson, Herbert Smith Freehills, Orrick Rambaud and Addleshaw Goddard”

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Consolidation continues as Manchester institution Pannone succumbs to Slater and Gordon’s advances

After months of speculation, Slater and Gordon has finally announced the acquisition of the consumer services and personal injury (PI) business of Manchester’s Pannone today (28 November) in a deal worth £33m.

Slater and Gordon will acquire the majority share of Pannone, including personal injury and serious injury, clinical negligence, court of protection, family, wills, trusts and probate, property, as well as some elements of the employment and dispute resolution practice areas.

According to a statement by Pannone: ‘A new and independent business called Pannone Corporate LLP will be formed at the same time which will focus on commercial and corporate work for business clients.’

Continue reading “Consolidation continues as Manchester institution Pannone succumbs to Slater and Gordon’s advances”

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Southern comfort: Blake Lapthorn, Boyes Turner and Morgan Cole in three-way merger talks

It would create a south-east giant with combined revenues approaching £100m but any potential tie-up between Blake Lapthorn, Boyes Turner and Morgan Cole could require some considerable rationalisation.

The firms are currently in the very early stages in merger talks, potentially creating a firm with offices across the Midlands, south of England and Wales, employing over 450 lawyers.

A statement from Blake Lapthorn managing partner Walter Cha said: ‘A merger is one of the many options we have been exploring and Morgan Cole and Boyes Turner – both excellent firms – have been among those we have talked to.  Discussions have not progressed beyond first stages at this juncture and it is too early to say whether talks will continue with either of the firms or indeed others.’

Continue reading “Southern comfort: Blake Lapthorn, Boyes Turner and Morgan Cole in three-way merger talks”

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Guest post: Independence matters – banking and big law in the news

Lawyers and banks are in the news again. Lawrence Tomlinson, Entrepreneur in Residence at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, has reported various abuses by RBS in particular and has this to say about the way banks instruct lawyers:

‘Any law firm that does business with the banks will have a clause in their contract, preventing them from taking action against the banks.This means that for businesses the pool of solicitors available to give them advice and take their case is extremely limited. Continue reading “Guest post: Independence matters – banking and big law in the news”

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Leadership: Watson Farley managing partner Michael Greville stands down

Watson, Farley & Williams (WFW) has announced that longstanding managing partner Michael Greville has stepped down from his role as managing partner, according to a statement released today (28 November).

Having been in the role for over 12 years, Greville will step down as chief in the middle of January 2014 and resume a fee-earning role, focusing on shipping, oil & gas, and energy sectors.

An election to succeed Greville is currently underway with Chris Lowe (head of the firm’s global maritime practice and former head of the Singapore office) and Lothar Wegener (head of WFW’s German offices) as coming forward as candidates to replace Greville as joint managing partners. Continue reading “Leadership: Watson Farley managing partner Michael Greville stands down”

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Merger talks: Dentons and McKenna Long partners say no to a tie-up

Just two days after Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and New York-headquartered Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman called off their potentially game changing merger, Dentons and McKenna Long & Aldridge have announced that their partners have said no to a tie-up, after the decision was put to a partnership vote yesterday (26 November).

Both firms confirmed that they were in merger talks in late September and a vote was originally scheduled for 14 November, which if it had gone through would have created a firm with around 3,100 lawyer globally. Continue reading “Merger talks: Dentons and McKenna Long partners say no to a tie-up”

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Team hire: TLT takes on 30-strong Irwin Mitchell team in Manchester

TLT is putting its fledgling Manchester office at the centre of its UK-wide growth plans as the top 60 LB100 firm takes on a 30-strong Irwin Mitchell team, including former commercial litigation head John Lord.

The six-partner team, who will join the 250-lawyer firm’s six month old Manchester office before Christmas, also includes non-contentious property partner Andrew Bell, employment partner Ed Cotton, corporate partner Jon Close, commercial litigation partner Julien Luke and banking and finance litigation partner Tom Seabrook, along with 24 solicitors, paralegals and support staff. Continue reading “Team hire: TLT takes on 30-strong Irwin Mitchell team in Manchester”

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Clifford Chance global managing partner vote: Layton takes the crown

The long-awaited decision over who will replace David Childs as Clifford Chance’s global managing partner (MP) has been announced, with the partnership electing global head of corporate Matthew Layton to take over the top management role after voting closed yesterday evening (27 November).

Layton (pictured above with Childs) was widely cited in the early stages of the election process as favourite to lead the 3,017-lawyer Magic Circle firm, with challengers emerging as Paris-based office managing partner and M&A lawyer Yves Wehrli; global head of tax, pensions and employment David Harkness; and City-based banking and finance partner Andrew Carnegie. Continue reading “Clifford Chance global managing partner vote: Layton takes the crown”

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In-house draw: Chris Bown third Freshfields partner to take a corporate wage as he resigns for CVC

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer corporate partner Chris Bown has become the third senior partner in two months to resign from the Magic Circle firm for an in-house role, with news that he is to join private equity house CVC Capital Partners.

Bown, who founded Freshfields London-based private equity practice in 1999, will be joining longstanding client CVC as a senior advisor when he retires from the 2330-lawyer firm in April next year. He will start his new role on 1 May on a part-time basis, advising CVC’s deal teams and working with both external counsel and the in-house team, which is headed by managing director Richard Perris, who joined from Clifford Chance in 2005. Continue reading “In-house draw: Chris Bown third Freshfields partner to take a corporate wage as he resigns for CVC”