15 April 2013

Shoosmiths announces 2013 promotions

Six new partners are among 22 promotions at Shoosmiths. The partners are joined in the law firm’s 2013 round by 16 new senior associates. The new partners are Helen Burgess and Stuart Lawrenson (both employment), Paul Kirkpatrick (commercial litigation), Karen Procter (corporate), Phil Ryan (regulatory) and James Wynne (real estate). The new senior associates are […]

mountains
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High anxiety: how the new financial regulatory regime will affect lawyers

Nerves are mounting over the ‘twin peaks’ financial regulation regime which could see accountants grabbing top-end advice work Students slogging through law school two decades ago spent far more time than their lecturers would have liked glued to the TV phenomenon of the era – David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. Those who still managed to qualify […]

Katie Dowell
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Legal accountancy firms, anyone?

Let’s kick off this week with some bad news – yet more misery is looming on the horizon for mid-tier firms, as their accountancy counterparts attempt to steal a march on their clients by acting for the major financial institutions. Sorry to be blunt, but there you are. The arrival of the Financial Conduct Authority […]

men vs women

Men still dominate law at the top level

No progress on gender diversity at partnership level in the City As the picture of 2013 partnership promotions begins to come into focus, the forecast for women remains bleak, reflecting the fact that the profession is failing to get to grips with issues surrounding gender diversity. The number of women being promoted to partner across […]

training
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Traditional training model is dead

So says Knights managing partner, who believes ABSs are being sidelined For aspiring lawyers a training contract has long been considered the holy grail, so those who have fought tooth and nail for a spot might not care to hear what Knights Solicitors’ managing partner David Beech has to say: the traditional training model, he […]

riyadh saudi arabia

Split up in Saudi

HSF and Fasken Saudi links run into the sand The legal market has again cranked out the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ cliché, with both Herbert Smith Freehills and Fasken Martineau ending ties with their local Saudi partners last week. The former says its break-up with Saudi firm Al-Ghazzawi was down to developing “in ways […]

King Abdullah

Judgment Call 15 April

VAT Investment Trust Companies (In Liquidation) v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2013] EWHC 665 (Ch). Henderson J. 26 March 2013 The scope of the remedy established in Woolwich Equitable Building Society v Inland Revenue Commissioners [1993] A C 70 to recover tax that had been unlawfully exacted was confined to those who had themselves paid […]

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How to tell who’s boss after a merger

‘Merged’ firms’ board make-up and partner status show who really took over who Leaders retaining their management positions and holding onto the firm’s name are usually seen as signals that a business is not being taken over. But those negotiating mergers might look elsewhere for the real sign of a surrender to a predator. Thomas […]

Rajan Shori

Work Life Quiz: Rajan Shori, HowardKennedyFsi

What was your first ever job? Trainee solicitor – and it showed. What was your worst experience as a trainee? None. I have fond memories of my training contract. Actually, there was this one time… Where’s the best place to go if you want to find out what’s really going on in the office? Mark […]

Neil Coulson

EU know it makes sense for patents

If it comes to fruition, the single EU patent system will be of tremendous benefit to small businesses For what now seems like decades the member states of the EU have been debating the concept of a single patent system to cover the whole of the union, with a single court to hear cases. Now […]

Clifford Chance

Number Crunching: Clifford Chance, private equity practice

Last week’s news that Clifford Chance global head of private equity David Walker is leaving to join Latham & Watkins in London marks yet another major departure from the magic circle firm’s practice, following six previous key partner exits from the firm’s funds, tax or buyouts teams since 2009. The departure puts the spotlight back […]

Barbara Hewson
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The right to remain oppressed

Human Rights Act aids state attacks on freedom and is effectively a tool of social control Justice secretary Chris Grayling and the home secretary recently sparked a debate about the value to British society of the Human Rights Act 1998. This initiative is timely, despite the outcry it has provoked in some quarters. This act […]