Leadership: Eversheds favours client management specialist Paul Smith in chairman vote

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Eversheds has named litigator and former Tyco relationship partner Paul Smith as its next chairman as current incumbent John Heaps steps down.

The partnership voted in favour of Smith in the third week of November against corporate partner Robert Pitcher, who also stood for election. Smith will begin his four year term on 1st May 2014.

Smith (pictured) specialises in environmental law and disputes and has defended a number of multinational companies in criminal investigations in the UK, Europe and North America. However, he has been most commonly known as a pioneering client relationship partner for DuPont and Tyco, and was named Lawyer of the Year at the 2008 Legal Business Awards for his work in securing its revolutionary single-supplier agreement with Tyco.

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The ideal law firm for 2013? Eversheds hunts for its breakthrough

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With an enviable brand reach, warm feedback from clients and a focus on innovation and value, Eversheds should be sweeping all before it. Legal Business explores why it hasn’t been quite that simple

Next year marks the 100th anniversary of Evershed & Tomkinson, the Birmingham firm that lent its name to the high-profile institution of which it would become part in 1995. Backed by a large regional network and a sizeable London arm Eversheds – as it became known – has grown to be one of the most recognisable names in the UK market.

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Africa expansion: Eversheds in talks to launch in five key jurisdictions

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Eversheds is significantly expanding its Africa offering and is currently in discussions to establish offices in the key markets of Tunisia, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa and Kenya over the coming months.

The 1760-lawyer firm has also today (1 October) announced the launch of the Eversheds African Law Institute (EALI), which will share knowledge, training and regional and international commercial opportunities with member firms. Continue reading “Africa expansion: Eversheds in talks to launch in five key jurisdictions”

The in-house survey: Time and money

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This year, we asked in-house counsel to name the best law firms across three core yardsticks. Amid pressure on budgets, we chart the advisers whose time is worth clients’ money

Asking law firms to rate their peers objectively is like nailing jelly to a wall — they are often either evasive or delusional. Researchers at The Legal 500 seek peer feedback as part of the process when ranking firms, but nothing beats considered feedback from the clients themselves, which is why we took the opportunity to ask a large in-house audience to single out individual firms for the quality of their service as part of our survey this year.

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Moving slowly forwards – Eversheds seals another Tyco-style deal

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While single service retainers appear unlikely to become a broad fixture of the legal market, Eversheds continues to push on with the model having sealed a multimillion-pound deal with valve manufacturer and Tyco spin-off Pentair Flow Control to take over all its routine legal work in the EMEA region.

In a two-year, fixed-fee contract, the UK top 10 law firm has secured the right to carry out all routine litigation, certain intellectual property (IP) and commercial work and some premium work including major litigation, M&A and antitrust work. Pentair merged with Tyco Flow Controls after the three-way split of Tyco in October last year. Continue reading “Moving slowly forwards – Eversheds seals another Tyco-style deal”

Financial Friday rolls on as Eversheds unveils increase in revenue and profits during 12/13

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Eversheds became the fifth major law firm to confirm its 2012/13 results today (5 July) with the top 15 UK law firm seeing revenues edge up 3% to £376m, while profits per equity partner increased 2% to hit £642,000 for its 133 full partners.

The firm cited a strong performance in its litigation practice, while its financial institutions and energy and national resources sector groups respectively expanded by 20% and 14%. A statement from Eversheds said that it had seen ‘double digit’ growth in its network in Asia and the Middle East, where the firm has been investing.

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Revolving Doors: Osborne Clarke, Eversheds and Bryan Cave among firms to make key strategic hires

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Europe has been the focus of much lateral partner activity over the past week, as firms including Eversheds and Osborne Clarke make senior hires across the continent.

On 3 June, Osborne Clarke announced it is to open in Brussels with a two-partner, five-lawyer team from former Belgian ally De Wolf & Partners, led by De Wolf’s head of employment Thierry Viérin and commercial partner Stefan Deswert. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Osborne Clarke, Eversheds and Bryan Cave among firms to make key strategic hires”

Strategic review: Eversheds introduces new sector focus as practice heads replaced

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Eversheds has shaken up its sector focus as part of a series of measures introduced by management to adapt to changing client demand and the increased globalisation of legal services.

Following a three-year strategy review unveiled by chief executive Bryan Hughes in July last year, the top 10 UK firm is focusing heavily on increased integration and branding between its international offices and has this month created four new global sectors. Continue reading “Strategic review: Eversheds introduces new sector focus as practice heads replaced”

Redundancy watch: Clyde and Eversheds confirm job losses as cuts keep coming

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The run of gloomy news regarding job cuts continues with Clyde & Co and Eversheds this week confirming job losses as 2013 looks set to rival the deep run of cuts at major law firms seen in 2009.

Clyde confirmed that it has made eight support staff redundant after a consultation earlier in the year. The top 20 UK law firm declined to confirm reports that it had separately made two senior associates redundant in its Manchester office. Continue reading “Redundancy watch: Clyde and Eversheds confirm job losses as cuts keep coming”

Growth in LB100 regional peer groups half that of London

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The capital has extended its position as the most buoyant legal market in the UK, with midsize London law firms continuing to outpace their regional rivals, notching up an average 10% increase in organic revenue this year compared to just a 5.5% revenue rise for non-London firms.

The South, North and Scottish regions are among the worst performing markets for LB100 firms this year, with firms in those regions increasing revenue on average by just 1%, 5% and 5% respectively.

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