16 December 2002
The Lawyer
...Stop the press...
It's been a year of turmoil for law firms, with layoffs, closures, panel cuts and failed merger talks. The Lawyer gives a roundup of the ten biggest news stories this year
1 Crown Office Row wins duo from Henderson
1 Crown Office Row has bolstered its public law team with the hire of Marina Wheeler and Wendy Outhwaite from Henderson Chambers.
Ashursts German finance partner lasts six months
Ashurst Morris Crisp has lost German finance partner Rainer Eichholz after only six months at the firm
Australian High Court sends warning to online publishers
The Australian High Court last week delivered a landmark judgment that could have implications for the UK regarding the flow of information over the internet
Barristers' pay packets in chaos after LSC boob
A catalogue of errors and poor management of the financial payments system of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) is plaguing the publicly funded Bar, The Lawyer can reveal
Beswick chosen as Osbornes chief
Osborne Clarke has appointed international head of private equity Simon Beswick as the firm's new managing partner from May 2003
Birmingham corporates look on the bright side of the downturn
Size isn't everything, goes the adage, but for Birmingham's corporate market, it is actually quite misleading.
Birmingham, the world's favourite?
If you asked a group of people from outside the West Midlands to list their top 10 favourite Birminghams - of which there are more than 30 around the world - you certainly wouldn't expect everyone to include the version inside the M42
Blake Dawson appoints new London resident
Australian firm Blake Dawson Waldron has appointed Geoff Hone as its new resident partner in London. Hone, a partner with the firm since 1975, specialises in corporate and commercial work. He replaces former resident partner Mary Padbury, who after two years is returning to Melbourne. Hone has already spent a year as resident partner in London, prior to Padbury's appointment.
CC’s Arquit in shock resignation for Simpson Thacher
Global co-head of anti-trust Kevin Arquit quits CC, leaving just one other off-lockstep partner; fellow anti-trust partner Aimee Goldstein expected to move with him
Don't quote me on that...
From the sublime to the ridiculous - some of the most talked about profiles from 2002
EU creates judicial network
EU judges and courts requiring assistance with cases that involve more than one EU member state will be able to summon help from special international contact points from the New Year, when the details of the new European Judicial Network are posted on the internet.
Eversheds promotes corporate head
Eversheds has appointed Stephen Hopkins as the firm's new managing partner for Leeds and Manchester. He succeeds David Gray, who was elected as firmwide managing partner in October. Hopkins, who is currently head of corporate for the region, will take up the post on 1 January 2003. Peter Halpin will hand over his current role of national private equity to Mark Spinner in order to succeed Hopkins as head ...
Ex-Radclifffes consultant pleads guilty in fraud case
Former RadcliffesLe Brasseur property consultant Jeremy Franks has pleaded guilty in a Southern Ohio district court on one count of conspiracy to defraud, and is on bail awaiting sentencing
Flavell takes over Landwell management from Arnheim
Landwell corporate lawyer Leon Flavell has replaced Chris Arnheim as the accountancy-tied firm's managing partner
Fujitsu legal head quits after a year
Fujitsu Services' commercial and legal director Paul Lush has left after less than a year with the company
Gallaher's panel shake-up sees Simmons downgraded
Simmons & Simmons will have to share its role of adviser to tobacco company Gallaher following a panel review
Hess Weiberg and Brandenburg in German tie-up
German insolvency boutiques Hess Weinberg Freund & Partner and Brandenburg & Wilhelm have merged. The merged firm has 12 partners and 56 other fee-earners and a strong presence across the north and east of Germany. Hess Weinberg has offices in Mainz and Dresden, while Brandenburg & Wilhelm is based in Hamburg.
Kirkland to carry United through Chapter 11
Kirkland & Ellis is set to reap millions of pounds in fees after landing the lead advisory role to United Airlines, which last week became the biggest Chapter 11 filing in airline history
KLegal in crisis talks with trainees
In a volte face, KLegal has held negotiations with its trainees to improve on the compensation package offered to 2003 starters forced to defer for a year
Law Society vetoes £48m Midlands site
Treasurer breaks rank from management over proposed OSS development
Linklaters in anti-sleaze drive as former Swedish partner is jailed
A former Lagerlöf & Leman (now Linklaters) partner has beeen sent to prison while one former and one current partner have been fined £150,000
Litigating circumstances
From groundbreaking cases to QCs' squabbles, the court were as entertaining as usual. Here are some of the best
Liverpool Law Society chooses new president
The Liverpool Law Society has appointed partner Mark Feeny of local firm Brabners Chaffe Street as president. Feeny replaces John Leith and will hold the post for one year.
Partner profits come top of firms' list of concerns for next five years
The ability to meet partners' profit expectations is considered the single most important issue facing firms in the next five years, according to a recent survey
Peter Carter-Ruck and Ptnrs faces legal action over Private Eye case
John Stuart Condliffe, the accountant who dropped a 10-year libel battle with Private Eye last year, is attempting to sue Peter Carter-Ruck and Partners, which acted for him in the case, for negligence
Pitmans in GLA planning swoop
Reading-based firm Pitmans has boosted its planning department with a new recruit from client the General London Authority (GLA), and has added a new partner to its commercial property department
QC joins both St Philips and Selborn
St Philips' commercial silk barrister Jeremy Cousins QC has joined Romie Tager QC's new London set Selborne. Cousins now has full membership at both chambers and will pay chambers contributions to both sets based on the level of work he does out of each.
Report claims councils need ADR to save cash
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) could save councils more than half a million pounds a year, said an ADR and local government report produced by Nabarro Nathanson and Bristol-based ADR Group. It reported that 44 per cent of local authorities are handling more than 200 disputes a year. According to the report, if these councils referred just 25 per cent of these disputes to ADR and avoided litigation, ...
Rizor chosen for Bertelsmann suit
Media conglomerate Bertelsmann has appointed Osborne Clarke's new German managing partner Stefan Rizor as part of its defence in a million-dollar lawsuit brought by two former employees
Salans appoints joint London managing partner
Salans has appointed senior corporate partner Philip Enoch as the new co-managing partner of its London office. Enoch has been with the firm since 1998, when he joined from London firm Franks Charlesly, which disbanded not long after his departure. As well as his position as co-managing partner, Enoch will continue his role as co-head of corporate. Former co-managing partner Roger Abrahams has stepped down to focus on the role of global chairman.
Six contenders emerge in race for A&O global banking head
As Morley triumphs in managing partner election, who will take on one of the biggest jobs in the City?
St Paul's set for Mercury marriage
Leeds criminal specialist set St Paul's Chambers is merging with neighbouring civil set Mercury Chambers on 1 January
Sullivan & Cromwell sets the pace for NY assistant bonus
Sullivan & Cromwell has upped the ante in the annual New York associate bonus war by topping Cravath Swaine & Moore's rate for first year qualifieds
Suspended Hammonds partner resigns
Hammonds’ former London head of finance Andrew Visintin resigns following period of ill health
Taylor Wessing to deliver first post-merger profits
Taylor Wessing's German partners are to receive their first post-merger profits at the end of the calendar year, due to the merged Anglo-German firm having installed a system of paying the legacy partnerships separately
The Leader Column
According to our highly scientific poll of 200 lawyers last week, the year’s champion law firms, in order, are: 1. Allen & Overy; 2. Herbert Smith; 3. Freshfields; 4. Latham & Watkins; and 5. DLA.
Theodore Goddard turns to detectives
Private investigators brought on board to stop leaks of potential merger partners
Top corporate deals in 2002
The Lawyer team picks ten of the best deals of 2002
Top finance deals in 2002
The Lawyer team picks the best deals of 2002
Top real estate deals in 2002
The Lawyer team picks ten of the best deals of 2002
Top ten restaurants 2002
We asked 200 City lawyers about their favourite eateries and venues. Here's what they said...
Top ten venues 2002
We asked 200 City lawyers about their favourite eateries and venues. Here's what they said...
Trademark in-houser joins Field Fisher
Trademark agent Markforce Associates has lost managing director Allan Poulter to Field Fisher Waterhouse. Poulter, who specialises in name clearance projects for brand owners, will become the fifteenth partner in Field Fisher's brands, technology, media and telecommunications group when he joins in January 2003. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com/lawyernews on 11 December 2002.
White & Case wins second case for Ukraine
White & Case has secured its second court victory on behalf of the state of Ukraine in less than a month
William Fry kingpin denies impropriety
O'Connell claims vital information did not come from Lowry
Wragges cashes in on shopping development
Wragge & Co's property development team is advising on the development of the UK's largest shopping park, expected to be worth more than £200m.
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