02 November 2009
The Lawyer
2Birds enjoys massive international upsurge – but US still on backburner
Last month Bird & Bird chief executive David Kerr rebuffed criticism levelled at the firm that it was becoming all but impossible for London-based associates to make partner at the firm.
9 Gough Sq chief exec to quit law for property investment
The chief executive of London set 9 Gough Square has resigned from the post and will launch a property investment company when he steps down next March.
Abu Dhabi entrants on hold due to govt caution
International firms looking to enter the competitive Abu Dhabi market may have to rethink their plans, with the emirate considering a moratorium on further launches.
Ashurst, Links, Bingham swap Gala Coral’s debt for equity
A trio of firms has scored lead roles on Gala Coral’s debt restructuring, in a deal that saw the bingo chain’s lenders write off £540m of debt in a debt-for-equity swap.
BT GC in housing association switch
BT Retail general counsel Gordon Moir has left the company after 10 years to join the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) as company secretary.
CC predicts profit points will bounce back after fall in PEP
?Partners at Clifford Chance are anticipating a profit per point uplift of around 25 per cent at the half-year stage following a year when average profit per equity partner (PEP) at the firm slumped by 37 per cent.
Costs estimated at £500K for tennis player’s Telegraph libel battle
Total costs estimated at more than £500,000 look set to be racked up in a libel case brought by tennis player Robert Dee, dubbed the “world’s worst” by the Daily Telegraph.
DAC raids rivals for fresh talent to boost contentious capabilities
Davies Arnold Cooper (DAC) has made a trio of partner hires in an effort to beef up its contentious capabilities.
Dentons seals Nasdaq-Kuwaiti exchange deal
Denton Wilde Sapte has advised established client Nasdaq OMX Group on a strategic partnership with the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE).
EAD Solicitors
Liverpool-based EAD Solicitors is, according to managing partner Garry Abrams, in a “holding position”. Over the past three years the firm’s turnover has grown, but only slightly.
Egression therapy
The downturn has made it harder for private equity funds to exit their investments. David Baylis and Ian Moore list the options
GTM bags real estate boss from Eversheds
Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) has continued its City recruitment drive by launching a real estate practice with the hire of partner Tim Webb from Eversheds.
Halliwells-Manches romance hits impasse
Manches has abandoned its bid to buy the most profitable parts of Halliwells after both sides decided the deal would be unfeasible.
Hammonds replaces lost employment head
Hammonds has appointed partner Matthew Lewis as its new Leeds head of employment.
Independents’ day
While independent law firms are growing in popularity in Germany, making the move is not without its risks.
Is HMRC guilty of turning Halabi’s White Tower into a white elephant?
Resurgent market could see City property portfolio snapped up. By Luke McLeod-Roberts
JV sees emergence of new litigation funder
A new player is seeking to enter the buoyant litigation funding market and is looking to raise £50m to invest in cases.
Kirkland shrugs off Euro head’s exit
US firm’s European ambitions undimmed after Lyndon Norley ups sticks. By Julia Berris
Law schools: Spoilt for choice
Despite so many providers now servicing the LPC market, competition for places is nevertheless fiercer than ever
Legal bodies run the gauntlet of creating contracts for sets’ fees
The issue of barristers’ fees is a bit like Fight Club - the first rule is you don’t talk about it. Yet it is an issue that is of increasing importance as litigators ask counsel to share the pain and help clients with limited budgets bring cases to fruition.
Lovells, Hogan leaders give green light to tie-up
The merger between Lovells and US firm Hogan & Hartson looks almost certain to go ahead after the two firms’ management teams unanimously backed the union.
Mayer Brown names new real estate head
Peter Sugden has been made head of real estate in London for Mayer Brown.
Nalp and IoP squabble over paralegal training claims
A spat has broken out between the Institute of Paralegals (IoP) and the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (Nalp) over who has launched the country’s first national training framework.
Ogier advises fund focused on female-friendly companies
Offshore firm Ogier has won a mandate to advise on the launch of one of the first funds to focus on investing in companies with a high number of women in senior roles.
Opinion: Self-representation is a privilege, not a right
Radovan Karadzic is among the highest-ranking officials brought to trial by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
P&A Legal sets up in Libya as Gaddafi govt opens doors to foreign investors
Italian firm P&A Legal is set to formally launch in Libya after being granted a licence by the Gaddafi government.
People moves
DLA Piper has appointed Scottish corporate head Simon Rae (above) to the role of managing partner for Glasgow and Edinburgh, while UK head of litigation and regulatory David Gray has taken on the management of Manchester.
RBS and panel firms lock horns over secondees
Tension is growing between RBS and the firms pitching for its legal panel as the bank tightens its secondment criteria and firms struggle to manage their streamlined teams.
RJW launches Hiscox-backed volume service for lawyers
Hiscox to underwrite compliance push for post-LSA era. Russell Jones & Walker (RJW) has moved a step closer to realising its post-Legal Services Act (LSA) ambitions by signing a deal with insurer Hiscox that will see it offer a Claims Direct-style service to a more specialised market.
Ropes’ UK team visits US HQ for City powwow
Ropes & Gray’s newly hired London team is visiting the firm’s US headquarters this week to draw up plans for the development of the London arm and to sign up a number of secondees.
Speaking volumes
Russell Jones & Walker (RJW) has never been a firm to shy away from making a bold statement. The biggie was when it swooped for volume personal injury brand Claims Direct. That deal reinvigorated a dying business and put RJW on another level.
Tatchell speech ushers in BLP's LGB network
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) formally launched its lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) network last week with a talk on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) legal equality given by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
Tulkinghorn: Water, water everywhere
Following a recent story about the high level of pregnancies in the London legal market recently (19 October), Russell Jones & Walker has jumped on the baby boom bandwagon. And how.
Ward of law: Dan Toner, Spire Healthcare
With an NHS background, Dan Toner has all the right knowledge for the top legal job at Spire Healthcare.
Work Life Quiz: Philip Rainey, Tanfield Chambers
What’s your favourite film? Blade Runner.
Wragges sets up unit to track down web posters
Wragge & Co has established a new team that will seek to trace people posting comments online.
