15 August 2011

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Cover versions

Here is the news: Big Law is doing fine. Factory Law is doing even better. This special edition of The Lawyer is a preview of The Lawyer UK 200 Annual Report 2011, published next month. We usually have way too much material to fit into the supplement, so this year we have decided to release […]

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Top of equity: Firms break into millionaires’ club as partner earnings rise

Largest membership since 2008 as Ashurst reappears and Clydes joins The number of firms with partners earning more than £1m now stands at 18 – the largest amount since 2008. As one would expect, the magic circle have comfortably inhabited that category for half a decade (although Clifford Chance slipped out of the millionaires’ club […]

Tulkinghorn: Rhyme of the times

The Bribery Act – bored of it yet? Mina Anand, an associate at Indian firm Surana & Surana International Attorneys in Chennai, certainly isn’t. In fact, Mina is so impressed/worried/delighted about the act that she’s penned a poem. Here, for your ­delectation, it is in its gorgeous entirety: Companies around the world beware – Before […]

Thaw points

Iceland is making a glacial recovery after the devastating 2008 financial crisis. Dale McEwan reports Few discussions on Iceland can dodge the country’s financial crisis of 2008. The collapse of the three big commercial banks – Glitnir, Kaupthing and Landsbanki – continues to occupy ­column inches. But according to Iceland’s law firms, there are signs […]

Friendly giants

Sovereign wealth funds’ investments are based not on politics but sound economic factors, say Dale Gabbert and Olivier s’Jacob Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are not a new phenomenon. The first SWF was established more than 50 years ago, but they attract more interest now than ever. This is both because of their sheer scale – […]

Investor muscle

Fund arrangements are being forced to become more flexible as the investors start to call the shots, says Bridget Barker Following the credit crunch there has been considerable upheaval in the private funds market. This has affected the private equity and real estate side, with many hedge funds also affected. The private fundraising market has […]

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The Lawyer UK 200 preview: Regional: North steams ahead in profit fightback

Northern and Midlands outfits overtake Southern firms as they recover after slump. Caroline Butcher reports Recovery was the theme for UK regional firms in 2010-11, with many focusing on regaining ground after practice areas such as corporate and property were hit in the recession.In the race to rebuild, firms in the North of England and […]

Irwin Mitchell Offices, London
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The Lawyer UK 200 preview: Insurance: Upstarts force pace of change

Volume houses are driving the delivery of legal services, says Katy Dowell Irwin Mitchell Offices, London” src=”Pictures/web/e/x/c/Irwin_Mitchell_150.jpg” /> Irwin Mitchell Offices, London It was no coincidence that the largest domestic merger between two law firms happened in the insurance sector. This is a market that is drawing the profession into a new way of working […]

Rob Day
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The Lawyer UK 200 preview: City: Silver circle weathers the storm

BLP and SJ Berwin shine; Stephenson Harwood in new leap forward. Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and SJ Berwin were the standout performers among the City firms in 2010-11, with both posting ­drastic increases in profitability. At BLP, net profit rose 50 per cent from £42m to £63m, while average profit per equity partner (PEP) was […]

Kevin Gold
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The Lawyer UK 200 preview: Top performers: Mishcon accomplished with lateral hires

Litigation powerhouse homes in on £80m target without resorting to merger. Joanne Harris reports Identifying the UK 100’s top-performing firms in 2010-11 has proven a difficult task, owing to the sheer amount of consolidation in the market. Mergers pushed three firms into the top 100 for the first time. ­Midlands firm Shakespeares, ­litigation boutique Stewarts […]