Guest post: The New World of Legal Work vs Global Behemoths

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There’s an interesting tension between Sir Nigel Knowles prediction of legal behemoths straddling the globe with investment bankers outriders (or is it the other way round) whilst the remainder squabble over the scraps, downsize or fail (I may have sexed it up a bit, which it does not need; it’s a very interesting piece) and Jordan Furlong’s New World of Legal Work (a supercharged, short Susskind-esque parlez with the world of legal work in 2020 where firms are expected to be smaller). It too is an excellent read.

Let me pick up some of Jordan’s key points: Continue reading “Guest post: The New World of Legal Work vs Global Behemoths”

DISSENT: Where do you want your firm to be in 2020?

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Adam Smith, Esq’s Bruce MacEwen argues that short-termism and a lack of stewardship has come to define the modern law firm

To judge from the way law firms behave – it’s helpfully instructive to ignore what they say – the answer to the rhetorical question of the above headline is: ‘Who gives a fig?’

Consider the following facts and ask yourself what philosophy of management underlies and ties all law firms together:

Continue reading “DISSENT: Where do you want your firm to be in 2020?”

Leadership: Norman enters the fray as CC takes soundings for new global corporate chief

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Clifford Chance (CC) has begun its nominations process for a potential successor to the role of global corporate chief following the promotion of incumbent Matthew Layton to global managing partner.

Layton will succeed the firm’s current global chief David Childs on 1 May and with the Magic Circle firm currently canvassing names for his replacement as head of the practice group, it is understood that corporate partner Guy Norman is set to enter the race.

Continue reading “Leadership: Norman enters the fray as CC takes soundings for new global corporate chief”

Cyber warfare – Norton Rose Fulbright hires global chief information security officer

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Top ten LB100 firm Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) has moved to further protect client information with the hire the former head of cyber security for National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Paul Swarbrick as its global chief information security officer (CISO) in the London office.

Announced today (21 January), Swarbrick will join the senior management team, and work closely with IT and the business internationally to ‘strengthen proactively, and develop, a consistent approach to information assurance and cyber security worldwide,’ a firm statement said. Continue reading “Cyber warfare – Norton Rose Fulbright hires global chief information security officer”

CC formally launches ‘first-of-its-kind’ Saudi partnership but Riyadh remains a tough nut to crack

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Clifford Chance today (6 January) formally announced the launch of its joint Saudi and foreign-owned law firm in Riyadh, boasting an institutionalised career path for Saudi lawyers as it becomes the first international firm to establish an integrated partnership in the Kingdom.

The transactional lawyers of Al-Jadaan & Partners, Khalid Al-Abdulkareem and Abdulaziz Al-Abduljabbar, join Clifford Chance as partners to create a five-partner team alongside English lawyers Omar Rashid, Paul Latto and office head Tim Plews. Continue reading “CC formally launches ‘first-of-its-kind’ Saudi partnership but Riyadh remains a tough nut to crack”

Post Clifford Chance role for Childs as Financial Reporting Council announce his appointment as Chair

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Clifford Chance (CC) outgoing managing partner David Childs has been appointed by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) as chair of its conduct committee, taking over the role from Herbert Smith Freehills consultant Richard Fleck.

The FRC is the independent regulator for the accounting and actuarial profession and its conduct committee oversees the conduct division, responsible for the monitoring of recognised supervisory and qualifying bodies, audit quality reviews, corporate reporting reviews, and professional discipline. Continue reading “Post Clifford Chance role for Childs as Financial Reporting Council announce his appointment as Chair”

The Last Word: A year in review

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Aside from bad knitwear and excessive alcohol consumption, Christmas is a time for reflection as well as looking ahead. With this in mind, we asked some senior law firm figures for their thoughts. Rose-tinted spectacles are optional.

Striking the balance

‘Much of our focus this year has inevitably been on integration and on being instructed because of capabilities created as a result of our merger. We have done very well in both areas and the sheer number of so-called synergy mandates has been a real highlight. Against an improving but still uncertain economic backdrop in 2013, our financial performance has been satisfactory. Continue reading “The Last Word: A year in review”

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

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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”

Wragge & Co sees H1 revenues and profits up as Metcalfe to leave after end of MP term

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Wragge & Co has named October 2013 as its highest billing month since the boom years as it joins the ranks of firms posting positive results for the first half (H1) of 2013/14, news which comes as Ian Metcalfe confirms he will be departing the firm to pursue other opportunities when he steps down as managing partner next April.

The top 30 Birmingham-headquartered firm has posted a group turnover increase of 4% to £63m, which includes the firm’s international offices both owned and affiliated, while the UK offices saw a revenue increase 6% on the same period last year to £58m.

Wragge & Co is so far unusual in announcing its mid-term profits and it has good reason to shout about them, as they are up 15% on this time last year. Continue reading “Wragge & Co sees H1 revenues and profits up as Metcalfe to leave after end of MP term”

Guest post: Time to face the dangerous delusion of the entrepreneurial lawyer

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For years, I’ve been hearing law firms describe their cultures as ‘entrepreneurial’ and hardly the slightest attention. Like ‘collegial’ or ‘collaborative’, it just seemed like so much white noise. Then finally I heard it once too often and had to face cold reality: I had absolutely no idea what these people – a lot of smart, articulate people – were talking about.

Picking up a dictionary, I found this definition:

characterised by the taking of financial risks in the hope of profit; enterprising
Continue reading “Guest post: Time to face the dangerous delusion of the entrepreneurial lawyer”