Joyce stands for re-election as Addleshaw partners vote through Scottish merger

Addleshaw Goddard managing partner John Joyce is to stand for re-election for a second term beginning May 2017, it was revealed at the end of November as partners at the firm voted to acquire HBJ Gateley’s three Scottish offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Joyce, who was appointed into the role in May 2014 for a three-year term, is hoping to serve another four years as managing partner, following recent changes to the firm’s partnership deed that extended the terms of both managing partner and senior partner by a year.

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Yes to Scotland: Addleshaw partners vote through HBJ Gateley merger adding £20m to top line

Addleshaw Goddard has finally voted through a Scottish merger, with managing partner John Joyce getting enough partner votes needed to approve a union with HBJ Gateley last Tuesday, ahead of the ballot closing today (28 November).

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A Brexit veto? The best-laid plans for Scotland’s future in the UK and in the EU

Brodies’ Christine O’Neill looks at the constitutional and legal position north of the border

It might be premature to say that the dust has settled on the result of the EU referendum. Although the initial shock of the outcome has worn off, there has been ongoing upheaval with a change of prime minister, the abrupt ending (and revival) of several political careers and the launch of a leadership challenge within the opposition.

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The future for Scottish firms

Brodies’ Bill Drummond on the way ahead for the firm

At this time of year, along with most managing partners, my focus is on financial matters. Our results are pleasing of course, reflecting the hard work of my partners and other colleagues, and the support of our expanding list of clients. However, profitability only tells part of the story and, as far as Brodies is concerned, is simply surface evidence of that hard work for clients.

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Scottish GCs – The pressure is on

As part of our Regional Insight series, we met with senior in-house lawyers and partners from Brodies in Edinburgh to discuss the key issues facing GCs working in Scotland.

The most heavily-used phrase among in-house counsel and private practice lawyers alike is ‘trusted adviser’, so it is therefore unsurprising that this became the first major topic of discussion on an agenda looking at the key pressure points facing in-house counsel. Stuart Clarke, head of legal at Scottish Enterprise, says it is fundamental to be seen as being at the heart of your organisation’s thoughts on how it is going to deliver its business plan.

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Vaulting ambition: Clydes expands with Scottish tie-up

Simpson & Marwick merger signed as firm eyes 2016 Miami launch

After months of negotiations, Clyde & Co successfully secured a merger with Scottish firm Simpson & Marwick last month, following other London-based insurance players in establishing a presence in Scotland and adding £30m to the Global 100 firm’s top line.

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Firms divide up McClure Naismith as Scottish stalwart goes into administration

Scottish firms have started dividing up partners and staff at McClure Naismith after the nearly 200-year old firm appointed partners from FRP Advisory as joint administrators on Friday (28 August), though some staff have been made redundant.

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Scottish stalwart McClure Naismith looks for merger as it ‘lacks the scale needed to compete’

One of Scotland’s oldest commercial legal practices, the Glasgow-based McClure Naismith, is looking for a white knight merger as it reviews its options after finding the firm ‘lacks the scale needed to compete’.

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