17 May 2004
The Lawyer
3/4 South Square barrister joins St Philips
Birmingham chambers St Philips has scooped a senior barrister from premier insolvency set 3/4 South Square. Bristoll is making the leap after 14 years at 3/4 South Square, although she will retain an associate membership post there. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 12 May
A problem shared…
Tulkinghorn is pleased to announce a new section devoted to solving the problems of legal types everywhere. This week, a PR man tries to work out why it’s all going wrong.
A&O billings inch upward
Allen & Overy (A&O) is set to post provisional billings of £649m, a slight increase on last year’s revenues of £647m. As with most top 10 City firms, profits are expected to be down on last year’s £675,000 per equity partner. According to an internal memo, A&O is also expecting to pay out its annual worldwide bonus at the equivalent of three weeks’ pay – again down on last year’s figure.
Allen & Overy names German senior partner
Allen & Overy has appointed finance partner Neil Weiand as senior partner for Germany. Weiand, who is just 42, replaces Arndt Overlack who has stepped down. Cornelius Fischer-Zernin has been re-appointed as managing partner for Germany for a second term.
Apax ‘key-man clause’ adds new twist as top Travers Smith rainmaker resigns
Apax’s panel review has taken another turn, with the private equity house set to introduce a ‘key-man clause’ agreement with its new panel firms.
Beachcrofts makes triple partner hire
Beachcroft Wansbroughs has recruited three partners for its property, employment and corporate finance teams in London, Bristol and Manchester. Monica Blake joins the London commercial property team from Mishcon de Reya, Frank Morton has quit Osborne Clarke for Beachcrofts’ employment team in Bristol and Leila ...
Bespoke LPC wins Law Society validation
The Law Society has formally validated the first ever firm-specific LPC devised by Linklaters and the College of Law. It is hoped this will pave the way for the college to pioneer similar firm-specific LPCs with Allen & Overy and Clifford ...
Bird & Bird raids French independent for lateral
Bird & Bird’s Paris office has scooped the head of the data protection group from powerhouse IT boutique Alain Bensoussan Avocats.
Blake Lapthorn Linnell completes internal review
Recently merged Blake Lapthorn Linnell has completed a shake-up of its practice groups, introducing a sector-focused strategy to its business.
BLP secures acquisition for hotel chain
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has closed its first deal for boutique hotel chain Malmaison, advising on its recent purchase of The McCausland Hotel in Belfast.
Box clever
In Alex Mehta, legal compliance consultancy Judicium has more than just a head of legal on its books – it has the world white collar boxing champion. Alex Wade is ringside
Boyes Turner reports turnover hike
Reading's Boyes Turner has recorded its fifth consecutive year of revenue growth. Turnover was up 15 per cent, from £7.2m to £8.3m. Final profit figures were not yet available but chief executive Andrew Chalkley sa...
BPI shake-up yields new legal head
The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has recruited a new general counsel as part of a shake-up on its legal department.
BSN wins seat on Law Society Council
The Law Society Council last week approved the allocation of a seat to the Black Solicitors Network (BSN). The seat, one of three held in reserve, will be filled after an election on 16 September. An overwhelming majority of council members voted in favour of the application. It is hoped that the seat will help remedy inequalities within the profession and provide better representation of black and Asian solicitors within the Law Society. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 13 May
Burges Salmon seeks a new home in Bristol
Burges Salmon has set in motion plans to invest up to £50m for new city-centre premises in Bristol.
Capital gains
Carl Lobell has been GE’s top relationship partner at Weil Gotshal in New York – and now he’s moving to Europe. But with GE shaking up its external advisers, should he be worried? By Dearbail Jordan
Careers: In brief
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is launching its first ever UK qualification in reward management, which will amalgamate its existing courses and introduce assessed coursework and exams. The course will be launched in October. For more information, email training.hotline@cipd.co.uk
Careers: In brief
Last week the House of Lords upheld unanimously a transvestite’s claim to become a police officer. It held that it was unlawful sex discrimination by the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire to refuse to employ ‘A’ as a police officer. The case was supported by the Equal Opportunities Commission.
Careers: People
Leicester firm Harvey Ingram Owston has made two partner appointments.
Careers: People
Former Ashurst leveraged finance partner Jonathan Nabarro has joined the Paris office of Allen & Overy.
Careers: People
South West firm Bond Pearce has made three internal partner appointments: Bristol-based property litigator James Rees, Bristol-based insurance litigator Nathan Peacey and Southampton-based corporate finance specialist Sebastian Briggs.
Careers: People
US firm Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP has appointed two new special counsel to the firm, London project finance lawyer Charlotte Rogers and New York real estate specialist Angela Works.
CC unveils appraisal programme
Clifford Chance is rolling out its partner appraisal programme, marking the first time in its history that the firm has put a formal assessment process in place.
Charter One deal secures Linklaters’ position at RBS
Linklaters has firmly demonstrated that it, rather than Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, is the Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) first-choice plc-level adviser by closing the substantial UK elements of the bank’s latest US expansion.
Cheating death
When two people find each other, it is a beautiful thing. So Tulkinghorn was cheered to hear a heart-warming tale of young love from a top UK firm.
Cleary Gottlieb scoops fourth Linklaters hire
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has plucked a fourth Linklaters lateral, this time from its London derivatives and structured products group.
Clementi response draws a blank as Law Society Council fails to decide
The Law Society Council last week rejected proposals to divest professional legal bodies of regulatory powers, but was unable to agree an alternative model.
Clifford Chance hit by West Coast defection
Clifford Chance’s West Coast practice has lost its first partner in the region, as an anti-trust and trade regulation lawyer joins Cooley Godward.
Clifford Chance profits crash below £600,000
Profits at Clifford Chance have tumbled by 13.4 per cent, nose-diving to £558,000.
Clifford Chance reinstates NQ salary benchmark
Clifford Chance has upped newly-qualifieds’ salaries, returning pay to pre-September 2003 levels. Newly-qualifieds will now be paid £50,000, the same rate they enjoyed before the firm introduced a salary review last April, which saw pay cut from £50,000 to £48,000 for those joining after September 2003. Trainees will be paid £29,000, a small increase on the firm’s past rate of £28,500. The salary ...
Clifford Chance West Coast hit by three partner losses in two days
Clifford Chance’s West Coast practice has lost another two partners, making a total of three defections in just one week.
Court of Appeal rulings put paid to hopes of ADR boom
Hopes of a sudden rise in mediation have been shattered after the Court of Appeal ruled against fining two companies that refused to consider alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
Covering costs
Professional indemnity cover is continuing to rise to astronomic proportions. Lynne Abess reports on how partnerships are responding
Crosby Renouf takes Azorean fishing fight to EU
Brussels firm Crosby Renouf has been instructed for the first time on behalf of Portugal’s Azores Islands in a landmark action against the EU’s Council of Ministers.
Curtailing the long arm of US law
Two acts enabling US courts to pass sanctions against foreign companies are being challenged by three landmark cases
Czech wait
Following Clifford Chance’s announcement that it is ‘re-emphasising’ its commitment to Prague (to quote regional managing partner William Knowles) by moving to new offices there, Tulkinghorn was delighted to see that the firm had already begun a major recruitment drive.
Dechert, Schnader save a life in death row case
The Philadelphia offices of Dechert and Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis last month announced a victory following a 10-year pro bono battle to save a mentally retarded prisoner from death row.
Doing the deed
Partnership – no longer till death do us part. By Ronnie Fox and Michelle Levin
Dundas & Wilson takes Tite & Lewis tax partner
Dundas & Wilson has recruited its sixth new partner in as many months with a former Tite & Lewis partner.
Eversheds bucks the market trend with growing turnover
Eversheds has overcome marketwide economic pressures by beating its billing budget with revenues of £296m.
Fasken boosts London team with Osler hire
Canadian firm Fasken Martineau has bolstered its presence in London with the hire of Canadian Jim Lisson, formerly a partner with Osler Hoskin & Harcourt.
FFW takes Linklaters man
Linklaters construction partner Marshall Levine is leaving the magic circle firm for Field Fisher Waterhouse.
Firm profile: Clarke Willmott
A lot of law firms talk about understanding their clients’ needs, but Clarke Willmott claims to offer “more understanding”. This is the South West firm’s brand, and it means what it says. “It could sound a bit nebulous,” says managing partner David Sedgwick, “but we’re serious.”
Fladgate Fielder boosts construction with lateral
West end firm Fladgate Fielder has strengthened its construction practice with the hire of a former Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw partner.
Follow the leader
A number of barriers still need to be brought down for more major firms to convert to LLPs. Bruce Gripton reports
Former Yukos head looks to EU for freedom
The Canadian lawyer representing imprisoned Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky is set to lobbying the European Union (EU) in his latest bid to win the release of his client.
Freshfields sucked into Iraqi row over Saddam’s lost gold
Magic circle firm sidelined on Oil for Food probe as Coalition Provisional Authority demands US advisers
Fujitsu and Co-op face retrial
The House of Lords has rejected Fujitsu’s pleas to hear its infamous case against the Co-op, which is now set for a complete retrial.
Generous helpings
Tulkinghorn very much enjoyed stuffing his face at the Variety Club’s legal gastronomic evening at the Dorchester last week. Judging by the way lawyers were staggering out of the hotel that evening, the celebrity chefs lived up to their billing.
Gianni Origoni signs up former Clifford Chance tax ally
Leading Italian firm Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners has signed an alliance with tax boutique Vitali Romagnoli Piccardi e Associati, a former ally of Clifford Chance.
Halliwells’ turnover hits record high
Halliwell Landau has posted a record turnover, which is up by 12.7 per cent to £40m for the last financial year. Halliwells also announced nine internal partnership promotions, with one intellectual property lawyer gaining equity. At the same time, the Manchester firm has lost property partner Nancy Brown to Eversheds. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 11 May
Hearsay
Which magic circle partner drunkenly stole a taxi in Hong Kong to drive home, thereby provoking a city-wide manhunt?Which female City partner regularly uses male prostitutes?
Heatons firms up Baugur relationship after winning Goldsmiths brief
Niche Stoke-on-Trent firm Heatons is cementing its relationship with retail giant Baugur after winning its third instruction from the Icelandic company, this time to advise on the £110m acquisition of UK jewellery retailer Goldsmiths.
Herbert Smith frozen out of Standard Life demutualisation
Standard Life has finally held a beauty parade for its massive demutualisation, but it is understood that the mutual has not asked Herbert Smith’s star corporate insurance team to pitch for the work.
Hertz lawyer steps into Jimmy Choo in-house role
Former Hertz in-house lawyer Hannah Merritt has scooped one of the most coveted jobs in the legal market.
How to make the farewells fonder
Mark Brandon asks: when is enough enough for law firm partners?
IBB Solicitors announces peak in turnover
South East firm IBB Solicitors is boasting a record turnover of £10.59m for this financial year, an increase of 12 per cent from last yeart. In May, personal injury partner Malcolm Underhill joined the firm from Vizards Wyeth.
Law Society considers training contract shake-up
The Law Society’s council has given the green light to a plan that could spell the end of the two-year training contract period for trainees solicitors.
Lawrence Graham edges closer to south side
Lawrence Graham has entered exclusive negotiations with More London to take 125,000 sq ft of space in the South Bank development.
Leader
There is no doubt that Milbank has stolen the jewel of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s private equity practice with the Nussbaum, Rieger and Fuger trio. It has cut the heart out of Freshfields’ Munich office with a more ruthless raid than Weil Gotshal’s failed attempts to capture Clifford Chance’s ...
LeBoeuf picks up Vinson’s UK head
LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae has poached US rival Vinson & Elkins’ London managing partner.
Leigh Day & Co splits
Leigh Day & Co’s London and Manchester offices have parted after the North West four-partner group opted to set up as a separate entity.
Lester Aldridge lures Shoosmiths team to new Milton Keynes office
South Coast firm Lester Aldridge is opening an office in Milton Keynes with the hire of a team from Shoosmiths.
Linklaters employment head appointed ELA chair
Linklaters head of employment Raymond Jeffers has become the first magic circle partner to be voted chair of the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA). Jeffers was appointed at the ELA annual general meeting last Wednesday (12 May). He takes over the reins from Osborne Clarke’s Julian Hemming.
Linklaters smashes ceiling on NQ salaries
Linklaters has become the first magic circle firm to break the £50,000 benchmark for newly qualifieds’ (NQ) salaries.
Linklaters: average profits fall on unchanged turnover
Linklaters has joined a growing band of law firms reporting flat gross for the financial year after billings remained unchanged at £720m.
Lovells clinches Autobar buy in first deal for Charterhouse
Derek Baird wins private equity house as client as former firm Dickson Minto is conflicted out
LSC and College of Law devise first legal aid-based LPC
The College of Law and the Legal Services Commission (LSC) have teamed up to create the first legal aid-orientated LPC.
Masons targets Iraq with Dubai launch
Masons is set to open an office in Dubai two months after announcing an alliance with an Iraqi firm.
McCann Fitzgerald set to net millions on property deal
Equity partners at Dublin’s McCann Fitzgerald could be in line for a multi-million euro windfall after completing a sale and leaseback of its new premises at Grand Canal Docks.
Milbank opens in Munich
Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy has scored a huge coup by recruiting Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s global co-head of private equity to open its Munich office.
Olswang makes management rejig as group heads step down
Olswang has undertaken a management shake-up after three of its four practice group heads decided not to stand for re-election.
Opinion
The Jersey Financial Services Commission recently issued a new policy to ensure that funds aimed at expert investors can be established quickly and cost-effectively in Jersey, and to provide certainty and guidance to those wishing to establish such funds. The policy follows detailed consultation with industry in Jersey and the UK and a benchmarking exercise against other relevant jurisdictions. Its aim is to position Jersey as the jurisdiction of choice for offshore funds, particularly ...
Partners in time?
Have you got the right stuff to be an equity partner? Marjorie Knight outlines the psychological traits that can indicate who makes it to the top
Perot’s advisers under pressure as in-houser joins from Hewlett-Packard
US IT services giant Perot Systems has recruited a new European general counsel from Hewlett-Packard (HP) after the previous incumbent left for rival Accenture.
Pinsents man in City shift to spearhead financial litigation push
Pinsent Curtis Biddle is relocating its national head of dispute resolution and litigation Nigel Kissack from Leeds to London in a bid to increase its penetration into the City’s financial litigation market.
Private function
The Middle Temple Annual Dinner is almost upon us and inevitably the all-star event will generate the usual oodles of gossip.
Reaching the limit
Is conversion to LLP status a panacea for all risks? Chris Roberts reports
Reed Smith ups recruitment drive with projects hire
US firm Reed Smith has recruited former Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft partner Vinay Ganga after a spell at One Essex Court.
Regional firms buck City trend in year-end results
Regional law firms have shrugged off the economic malaise impacting their City contemporaries by reporting solid figures for the last financial year.
Richards Butler sails off with Hill Taylor man
Hill Taylor Dickinson’s maritime insurance department has been hit with the loss of another key partner, Chris Zavos, who is joining Richards Butler.
S+W posts record revenues
Scottish heavyweight Shepherd + Wedderburn has posted a 13.4 per cent increase in revenues for the year 2003-04, with annual income rising from £25.6m to a record £29m.
Separated at birth
The leafy lanes of Berkshire are where the more genteel Southern cousin of the legendary foul-mouthed Northern club comic Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown can be found. Derek ‘Skinny’ Child, head of 11-partner firm Gardner Leader, has had a case management system recently installed at the firm. He says it “underpins everything, but also has a human face”. Rumours that the face is that of the Tourette-style funnyman Brown have yet to be confirmed.
Shanghai dawn for Squire Sanders
Squire Sanders & Dempsey is continuing its push into China with the unveiling of a Shanghai office.
Simmons tax guru joins Treasury
Simmons & Simmons is losing a second senior partner to the Government in just over a year.
SJ Berwin joins Lawrence Graham in revenues hike
Two more mid-size City firms are revealing strong year-end provisional figures as the financial reporting season gets underway.
Speechly Bircham see income bounce back
Profits at Speechly Bircham have rebounded this year, rising by 10 per cent.
Stevens & Bolton jumps on LLP bandwagon
Guildford-based firm Stevens & Bolton is the latest in a long line of firms to convert to limited-liability status. Following a slew of recent conversions, including Allen & Overy, Eversheds,
The Lawyer Corporate Intelligence Network
The Lawyer Corporate Intelligence Network is running a one-day management masterclass for senior in-house lawyers on 25 May. ‘How You Can Become More Trusted and Valuable Within Your Company’ will focus on how in-housers can add value, become a more integrated part of the management team, benchmark and measure the value of their team, and is worth six CPD hours. Chaired by Mark Harding, group general counsel at Barclays, it includes speakers from BAE Systems, BT and Legal & General, ...
The power of two
Partnerships are not just about individuals. The bigger picture is partnerships between law firms. Peter Scott assesses why so many of these alliances fail
Trevisan focuses on food in Parma
Italian intellectual property (IP) boutique Trevisan & Cuonzo is to launch a new office in Parma specialising in IP issues for the food and food-related sectors.
Trowers wins and loses lawyers in hiring merry-go-round
Trowers & Hamlins is losing an employment partner to Kendall Freeman just as the firm recruits a team of three public sector specialists from Nabarro Nathanson.
UN clamps down on Yugoslavia war crimes
The UN Security Council has been asked to pressure Serbia and Montenegro into restarting effective cooperation with the UN War Crimes Tribunal on Former Yugoslavia.
Watson Farley NY makes second Shearman lateral
Watson Farley & Williams’ New York office has raided Shearman & Sterling for a new partner for the second time in 12 months.
Work-life quiz
Joy Kingsley, managing partner, Pannone & Partners
