11 May 2009
The Lawyer
All firms great and small remain wise and wonderful despite recession woes
The Lawyer Awards Corporate Team of the Year shortlist was again inundated with worthy winners, says Catrin Griffiths
Attorney General sets up ‘Youth Network’
The Attorney General’s office is launching a ‘Youth Network’ to increase access to the legal profession and encourage young people to respect the law.
Beachcroft moves for Kingslegal’s PI capability
Beachcroft has acquired the insurance business of Kingslegal, taking it into the Welsh legal market for the first time.
City slicker: Simon Cliff, Manchester City FC
When the richest football team in the world asked him to handle their high-profile multimillion-pound transfer deals, Simon Cliff was only too happy to sign up with Manchester City.
Dechert and Chadbourne lock horns over Moscow team
Dechert and Chadbourne & Parke were locked in a battle last week over the future of a five-partner team in the latter’s Moscow office.
Eversheds uses Tyco model to win new client
Eversheds has won another Tyco-style contract with a role advising FMC Technologies on all of its European, Russian and Asia Pacific work.
Ex-Addleshaws partner creates Leeds-based IP boutique
The former national head of IP at Addleshaw Goddard has joined forces with niche IP firm Robinsons to create a new IP boutique called Kempner Robinson.
Female associates see partner-level promotions increase – marginally
The proportion of female associates made up to partner level this year at the top 30 UK firms has risen slightly - from 25 per cent of new partners in 2008 to 27 per cent.
Financial services & Pensions Special Report: AIM dropping
Many companies have been tempted to ease their financial woes by delisting from AIM. But this is not a decision to be taken lightly, say Claire Clarke and Stephen Hamilton
Financial services & Pensions Special Report: Pension tension
Employers are keen to find ways of keeping pension liabilities in check as the recession continues to bite. By David Saunders
Fladgate hire signals employment advance
Fladgate Fielder is expanding its employment practice after hiring Charles Russell partner Brian Palmer as its employment chief.
Focus partner promotions: Forgotten generation
The recession has seen promotions dry up. Is this a necessary step or a knee-jerk reaction?
Halliwells dip fails to shake confidence
Halliwells has revealed a turnover of £83m for the 2008-09 financial year, a drop of 4.6 per cent on last year’s total of £87m.
Hextalls regroups as LLP following administration
Failed insurance firm Hextalls has unveiled its new management lineup as a limited company, with partner Alex Padfield appointed as managing director.
Hill Dickinson adds commodities nous with Middleton Potts tie-up
Hill Dickinson is to merge with London boutique Middleton Potts in a move designed to boost the Liverpool-headquartered firm’s commodities expertise.
Kent council sets up practice in Brussels
Kent County Council (KCC) is set to take the unusual step of launching a legal practice in Brussels.
Legal teams advise power giants on next generation nuclear plants
The UK is one step closer to having a new generation of nuclear power stations, following the successful acquisition of three sites by potential developers.
Litigation bears the brunt as Clifford Chance wields axe
Clifford Chance’s New York office is preparing for large-scale partner cuts in its litigation practice as the firm thrashes out its partnership restructuring.
Malaysia moves to open up legal market receive a muted response from UK firms
Magic circle firms will not extend their Asian network into Malaysia despite moves to open up the legal market to international firms.
Mark Landon: Weightmans
What was your first-ever job?Children’s entertainer, Welsh holiday camp.
New director to push Hardwicke overhaul
Hardwicke Building is completely overhauling its structure and organising into four key client divisions as it aims to break into The Lawyer top 20 sets by revenue within five years.
Nordic Special Report: Dane crash
A bumper fraud is the least of Denmark’s worries, with insolvencies hitting record figures. But Tom Phillips finds optimism for the country from those in the know
Nordic Special Report: Pole survivors
Nordic firms are looking beyond their borders in a bid to weather the coming economic storm.
Opinion: Politics must not jam road traffic process reforms
When I received a letter from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) last week saying the road traffic process reforms would be delayed, I was not surprised.
People moves
Move of the weekStephenson Harwood has recruited project finance and banking partner Natalie Elphicke to its London finance team. Elphicke joins from Addleshaw Goddard where she was partner in the structured and specialised finance team.UK
Promotions hail M&A recovery
Securing partnership might not be the all-encompassing goal it once was, but for the majority of associates it still represents first prize in the career game.
Promotions: corporate wins out
Associate careers special: corporate and finance most prevalent in partnership rounds despite recession
Rouse
Next year London-headquartered IP firm Rouse will celebrate its 20th anniversary, and while neither the firm nor its clients are immune to the impact of the economic downturn, one recent deal in particular has highlighted how its lawyers believe the firm is well placed to capitalise on the rare opportunities that are out there.
Simpson Thacher’s City gent
NY giant continues global advance as CC’s Signy signs up for the ride. By Julia Berris
Slaughters secures plum role on £700m 3i rights issue
Slaughter and May has won a choice instruction from 3i over its impending rights issue.
Speechly Bircham promotes four partners
Speechly Bircham has made up four new partners in its annual promotions round: Emma Bartlett and Tracy Eviogidis in employment, and Richard Hogwood and Sanjvee Shah in private client.
SRA offers paltry trainee pay rise
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced a modest increase in the minimum salary for trainee solicitors.
Tods Murray leads way on £170m Fife hospital deal
Scotland’s Tods Murray has helped its client Consort Healthcare (Fife) reach financial close on the £170m Fife General Hospital and Maternity Services PPP.
Tulkinghorn: Eggy White's chicken fight
Nottingham Law School’s LPC director Bob White is known for running a tight ship at work. But now it looks as though the law school chief has started to expect the same high standards from his pets. Namely, his chickens.
Wanted: a lawyer for Arsenal
Arsenal FC has begun the hunt for its first general counsel, following the growing number of clubs seeking to bolster their in-house legal capability.
Weightmans revenue rises four per cent
Insurance specialist Weightmans has unveiled a 4 per cent rise in revenue during the 2008-09 financial year.
Weil, Cleary, Baker Botts star in US media merger
A trio of us firms have scored lead roles on DirecTV’s merger with Liberty Media Corporation.
