16 August 2010
The Lawyer
Agenda for change
By donning wigs and gowns and marching through London to mark last month’s Pride, a group of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) barristers were walking proof that sexual minority lawyers have finally gained some degree of workplace recognition.
Ashurst PDL is the cat’s whiskers with prize-winning second career as children’s author
Some might say that being a professional development lawyer (PDL) at a top firm is the perfect training ground if you want to understand the mindset of a child.
Bakers posts 56 per cent PEP hike
Average profit per equity partner (PEP) at Baker & McKenzie’s London office rose 55.5 per cent to £650,000 in the 2009-10 financial year.
Calm under pressure: Hugh Peart, Harrow Council
Providing legal services to local councils - which often come under considerable public scrutiny - may not have the cachet of working for the private sector, but it’s certainly not without its share of controversy.
Davis-White new chair of Chancery Bar
Malcolm Davis-White QC of 4 Stone Buildings has been elected as chairman of the Chancery Bar Association.
Day tipped as next SJ Berwin chief
Rob Day has emerged as the early favourite to take over from departing Ralph Cohen as managing partner at SJ Berwin.
Eversheds’ IT revamp hits on ‘cloud-based solutions’
Eversheds is to revolutionise its IT arrangements, with the firm moving to ’cloud-based’ virtual networks while floating the possibility of giving staff allowances to buy the equipment they want.
Focus: LGB Careers: Pride and prejudice
While the UK has made considerable strides over the past decade in protecting the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual lawyers, many still encounter discrimination in the workplace.
Football Association revamps legal team
English football’s governing body the Football Association (FA) is overhauling its legal team, following the departure of senior solicitor Rhodri Lewis.
Harbottle & Lewis
Despite the continuing softness in some of its transactional areas, media and entertainment-focused Harbottle & Lewis had a solid 2009-10.
Hill Dicks loses ‘whole’ of Halliwells as clients walk
Hill Dickinson had to shelve plans to take over the entirety of Halliwells because clients were abandoning the financially troubled firm once it looked as if it would enter administration, according to Hill Dickinson’s managing partner Peter Jackson.
LUPC unveils legal services panel firms
The London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC) has named 13 firms on its legal services panel.
Magic circle seeks to make impact on US-dominated high-yield market
New hires highlight UK firms’ ambition to break into sector.
Norton Rose faces hiring battle in wake of new Govt visa quota
The Government’s new points-based work permit scheme hinders law firms from hiring overseas talent
Notts County FC caught offside in wrangle over unpaid invoices
City Law Financial has launched a legal battle with former client Notts County Football Club, claiming £300,000 in unpaid fees.
People moves
A five-strong team of banking partners has left Latham & Watkins’ New York office to join Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy.
Shalom
While opening an office in Israel is a sensitive issue for magic circle firms, the country has become quite a magnet for individual lawyers - many from the UK - who are relocating in their droves. By James Swift
Survey points to increasing LGB prejudice in legal sector
Almost one fifth of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) lawyers have experienced homophobic abuse at work, resulting in a small but rapidly growing number of employment tribunal claims.
Taylor Wessing engages BRIC ‘territory partners’
Taylor Wessing has put growth in the BRIC territories (Brazil, Russia, India, China) at the forefront of its international plans with the appointment of ’territory partners’ to oversee development in key jurisdictions as the firm examines the possibility of opening new offices.
The high cost of politically motivated extradition cases
“Politics not justice” was how Lord Ashdown characterised the attempt by Serbia to extradite Ejup Ganic, the former vice president of Bosnia, a victim of Serbia’s wars of aggression in the early 1990s.
The Optima-Capita deal: how the SRA arrived at its ‘severe reprimand’
The creation of Optima Legal Services (OLS) in May 2006 marked the entry of the first non-legal services provider into the legal profession.
Thomas Eggar brings in US strategy guru
Thomas Eggar has appointed veteran chairman of US firm Williams Mullen as a strategic adviser.
Tulkinghorn: LG and the tramp
A cautionary tale reaches Tulkinghorn from LG, where the dangers of having a brand spanking new and attractive building were evident recently.
Work Life Quiz: Brie Stevens-Hoare, Hardwicke
What’s your favourite film? I’m torn between Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd and Love Actually.
