The Lawyer
18 February 2008
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CMS members' same name aim
18-Feb-2008
At the end of 2007 all the talk within the CMS network was about a full-blown Deloitte-style integration. However, many in the CMS family seemed less than keen on dropping their colourful surnames to promote such a union.
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People
18-Feb-2008
• Bird & Bird has hired Johnny Nichols as head of human resources from Allen & Overy.
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Sainsbury's hires litigator
18-Feb-2008
Sainsbury's has appointed a dedicated litigator, Tirpat Bhogal, to its in-house legal team.
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A&O advises BSkyB on Competition Commission challenge
21-Feb-2008
BSkyB is relying on Allen Overy (A&O) to lead a legal challenge against the Competition Commission's ruling that it reduce its stake in ITV.
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A&O and Latham guide sale of luxury yacht builder
20-Feb-2008
Allen & Overy (A&O) and Latham & Watkins have advised on the £50m sale of luxury yacht builder Oyster Marine to private equity house Balmoral Capital.
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A&O's Indian tiger
22-Feb-2008
A&O's Indian tiger22-Feb-2008"Very smart guys... know their market... at the top of their game..."No, not The Lawyer editorial team, ho ho - Allen & Overy's new India partner firm, Trilegal. See story
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Allen & Overy signs Indian alliance
22-Feb-2008
Allen & Overy (A&O) has signed a referral relationship with Indian law firm Trilegal.
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An age-old problem
18-Feb-2008
How do I keep my cool while being 'managed out'? How do I ensure my firm doesn't short-change me? And what does the future hold?
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Armarchand loses 15 per cent of its equity as 13-lawyer team goes solo
18-Feb-2008
Indian giant Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co has lost two equity partners in an unprecedented move among India's jealously guarded equity partnerships.
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Australasia
18-Feb-2008
Australia has one of the most mature legal markets in the world.
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Banking sector leads the way despite FTSE100 reluctance to take on trainees
18-Feb-2008
The number of training contracts offered by the UK's biggest companies has inched up by 3 per cent.
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Bell & Scott elects new managing partner
21-Feb-2008
Niche Scottish property firm Bell & Scott has elected Paul Jennings as its next managing partner with incumbent Iain MacDonald due to step down in November.
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Bindman staves off DWP appeal over pensions ruling
18-Feb-2008
Bindman & Partners has sealed a Court of Appeal victory that deals a major blow to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
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Bird & Bird stamps its mark on Asian IP battleground with Colin Ng partner
18-Feb-2008
Bird & Bird has boosted its Asia IP practice with the appointment of partner Ai-Leen Lim from Singapore firm Colin Ng & Partners.
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BLP wins big at The Lawyer HR Awards
18-Feb-2008
Berwin Leighton Paisner was the biggest winner of the night at The Lawyer HR Awards last Tuesday (12 February).
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Brief relief over fraudsters' beef
18-Feb-2008
Two barristers were saved by a judicial review on 6 February from going into the legal history books for the wrong reasons.
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Bryan Cave London turnover up 22 per cent
20-Feb-2008
The London office of St Louis-headquartered US firm Bryan Cave has recorded a 22.4 per cent leap in turnover for 2007.
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Cesar and Fidel
22-Feb-2008
So it's farewell Fidel and hello New Cuba. Or, at least, it will be when the world's longest-serving head of state really does call it a day by checking out permanently.
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Charity Tribunal's first president named
18-Feb-2008
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Alison McKenna as president of the new Charity Tribunal.
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Chilean bank, ISDA to open up derivatives market
18-Feb-2008
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) is working with the Central Bank of Chile to open up the jurisdiction's derivatives market with a new 'master agreement'.
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Christopher Heather: MySpace
18-Feb-2008
As the man tasked with overseeing MySpace's drive into Europe, Christopher Heather is well travelled even for a lawyer.
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City trio in £1.2bn biffa take-private
18-Feb-2008
A trio of City firms has bagged roles on the proposed £1.2bn take-private of waste collection company Biffa.
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Clifford Chance secures Mayer Brown JSM litigator
18-Feb-2008
Clifford Chance's Hong Kong office has hired litigator Brian Gilchrist from newly-merged Hong Kong firm Johnson Stokes & Master.
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CMS Hasche Sigle hit by Moscow departures
19-Feb-2008
Three Moscow partners and 11 lawyers have defected from CMS Hasche Sigle to German firm Beiten Burkhardt.
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Cobbetts
18-Feb-2008
Under the new system, 44 of the total 97 partners the firm has will be made up to the assured equity partner (AEP) position and 28 to the variable equity partner role (VEP).
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Costain prestige for Pinsents, Addleshaws and Bevan Brittan
18-Feb-2008
Talk to the lawyers on Costain's new panel and they are quick to tell you how much fun it is to work for the UK's oldest builder.
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Coup case collapses as suspect is detained
18-Feb-2008
The apparent actions of the state of Equatorial Guinea have led to the collapse of one of the most important cases of the last decade.
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Cripps reacts to partner criticism with redefined sabbaticals
18-Feb-2008
Tunbridge Wells firm Cripps Harries Hall has overhauled its longstanding compulsory sabbatical scheme for partners, which has proved both popular and divisive.
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Crying down to Rio
18-Feb-2008
The corporate surroundings of the 12th floor of an office block is an unlikely venue in which to recreate the throbbing rhythms of the world's most famous street party.
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David Carter: Ashurst
18-Feb-2008
What was your first job?Helping the school milkman. I'm not sure this constitutes a job as I was paid in bread and orange juice.
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Dewey bags bp land sale to urban village
18-Feb-2008
Dewey & LeBoeuf has represented oil giant BP on the sale of a 1,000-acre oil refinery site for a regeneration project.
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DLA Piper advises Our Cilla on psychic love venture
18-Feb-2008
Davenport Lyons and DLA Piper have won lead roles on a joint venture between Psychic Investments Limited and Cilla Black.
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DLA Piper bags Ferrovial legal chief
20-Feb-2008
DLA Piper has bolstered its Spanish corporate practice with the hire of engineering company Grupo Ferrovial's corporate legal chief.
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DLA Piper makes 15th hire of 2008
19-Feb-2008
DLA Piper has made its 15th lateral hire in Europe this year, taking litigation veteran Rob Ludding from Dutch corporate and competition law boutique Van Wylick & Ludding.
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DLA, Mayer Brown slow down in 2007
18-Feb-2008
Transatlantic firms DLA Piper and Mayer Brown both experienced slowing rates of growth in 2007, but did finish the year with strong sets of financials.
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DMH adds two to corporate commercial
18-Feb-2008
DMH Stallard has beefed up its corporate commercial team with the hire of partner Jonathan Grant and associate Frank Jennings.
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Dubai set to open arbitration centre
18-Feb-2008
The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) yesterday (17 February) signed an agreement to launch a dedicated arbitration centre in the Middle East region.
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Duty bound
18-Feb-2008
Lawyers are required to act in good faith towards the other party in a dispute as well as their clients. But how far need they go?
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Edwin Coe prepares Northern Rock suit against government
19-Feb-2008
Edwin Coe partner David Greene is seeking to grow his group of Northern Rock's smaller shareholders in anticipation of a lawsuit against the Government.
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English law already makes provision for sharia councils
18-Feb-2008
The media storm surrounding the Archbishop of Canterbury's speech about sharia in the English legal system is understandable, bearing in mind what he calls the "unclarity" in its delivery.
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False economy
18-Feb-2008
Failing to invest in after-the-event insurance - as still happens in one in four cases - is leaving personal injury firms at risk of being sued by losing clients. Here, three experts give their views on best practice
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Firm profile: Rowe Cohen
18-Feb-2008
Manchester-based Rowe Cohen was established less than two decades ago when Simon Cohen and Ivor Rowe decided to set up on their own. The firm now has a turnover of £5m. Rowe has since left the law for private business, but Cohen still sits at the helm, sharing the managing partner role with David Horwich.
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Freshfields' Rawlinson made trainee chief
18-Feb-2008
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has revamped its interview panel following the appointment of corporate rainmaker Mark Rawlinson as the firm's new trainee recruitment partner.
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From Russia with love
18-Feb-2008
The cold war between the US and Russia may have long been consigned to the 1980s dustbin along with Orville the Duck, but Tulkinghorn is pleased to learn that some of the cultural affinities between the two nations are still very much in place.
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Fulbright raids BLG for sub-prime litigation partner
19-Feb-2008
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) has been raided by US law firm Fulbright & Jaworski for litigation partner Melanie Ryan.
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GLA recruits Sutton Council's legal chief
18-Feb-2008
The Greater London Authority (GLA) has hired Sutton Council legal chief Fiona Ledden as head of law and procurement. Ledden replaces Thelma Stober, who left the role last August after less than a year in office. Ledden is due to join the GLA at the end of March, until which time interim legal chief Charlie Aiden will continue to deputise. Ledden joined Sutton Council as a childcare lawyer in 1991 and became executive head of legal and democratic services in 2004.
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Gladman creates Scottish in-house team
18-Feb-2008
Speculative development company Gladman Developments has established a legal department in Scotland with the appointment of Biggart Baillie associate Afshan Khan.
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GMC spurs 1COR's Manchester move
18-Feb-2008
Civil set One Crown Office Row (1COR) has launched an annexe in Manchester in response to its increasing workload in the region.
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Growth areas in the Australian market
22-Feb-2008
During 2007, Australia's corporate legal market provided significant revenue and profit growth for the major law firms, despite the "top-end" Australian legal market being generally regarded as mature. Work levels were close to capacity, while most firms faced significant people challenges, including recruitment and retention in a very tough demand market, particularly at the senior associate lawyer level.
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Halliwells professional negligence trio quits for Weightmans
18-Feb-2008
Weightmans has recruited three professional negligence partners from North West rival Halliwells.
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Herbert Smith streamlines corporate client teams
18-Feb-2008
Herbert Smith corporate head Michael Walter has restructured the firm's internal practice groups to streamline client teams and improve associate development.
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Hill Dickinson to create chambers with Halliwells barrister
18-Feb-2008
North West firm Hill Dickinson has become the latest firm to launch an in-house chambers, following in the footsteps of litigation giants Eversheds and Herbert Smith.
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Hogan's City base excels with 28 per cent growth
18-Feb-2008
Washington DC-based Hogan & Hartson has had a bumper year in London with revenues rising by 27.6 per cent, from $43.1m (£21.96m) to $55m (£28.03m).
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Howrey launches Spanish IP practice with Gómez raid
21-Feb-2008
Howrey has launched an IP practice in its newly-formed Madrid office, grabbing a four-lawyer team from Spain's leading firm for IP Gómez-Acebo & Pombo.
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Investment into New Zealand
22-Feb-2008
2007 saw another year of strong international investment into New Zealand. The main investors over the past 12 months have been offshore investment funds and private equity firms.
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Judgment reserved on McCartney/Mills divorce
18-Feb-2008
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills have reached stalemate in their divorce hearing with the presiding judge, Mr Justice Bennett, reserving judgment on the case.
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K&L Gates woos BLP property associate
18-Feb-2008
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis has expanded its property team with the appointment of John Hussey as a partner from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP).
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Kennedys in insurance bid with launch in Singapore
18-Feb-2008
Kennedys is set to launch a Singapore office in the summer with the aim of servicing its insurance clients.
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Latham launches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar
18-Feb-2008
Latham & Watkins is to simultaneously launch three offices in the Middle East at the end of the first quarter of this year, becoming the first law firm to do so.
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Law Soc sets up public affairs arm
18-Feb-2008
The Law Society has launched a public affairs unit to be headed by new recruit Nicky Edwards.
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Linklaters usurps Freshfields to advise new Northern Rock board; Slaughters to advise on nationalisation
19-Feb-2008
Linklaters has been handed a key mandate in the Northern Rock saga as rival magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer looks likely to be marginalised.
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Linklaters: first Manhattan...
18-Feb-2008
NY honeymoon to beget global powerhouse?It was way back at its 2003 partners' meeting that Linklaters decided to really go for it in New York. It was the only item on the agenda.
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Macfarlanes and Travers lead on Pret a Manger sale
22-Feb-2008
Macfarlanes and Travers Smith have been handed key roles in the private equity buyout of sandwich chain Pret a Manger.
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Make or break: why Lovells is ditching referral firms in global IP drive
18-Feb-2008
Is entry into the US and Japan total madness or entrepreneurial genius?
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MoFo, Herbies win roles on Buy.at's sale to AOL
18-Feb-2008
Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) and Herbert Smith have won instructions on the sale of Buy.at to US internet services company AOL.
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New Teesside hospital build led by Ward Hadaway
18-Feb-2008
A trio of City firms has bagged roles on the proposed £1.2bn take-private of waste collection company Biffa.
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Olswang ally Greenberg busts budget by £20m
22-Feb-2008
Greenberg Traurig has posted a 15 per cent increase in gross revenue for 2007, with turnover at the US national firm rising from $1.04bn (£519m) to $1.2bn (£599m).
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Olswang raids BLP in financial services drive
18-Feb-2008
Olswang has appointed Brian McDonnell from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) as a partner to launch its financial services practice in a drive to establish a three-strong team.
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Olswang scoops fourth photon buy
18-Feb-2008
Olswang has advised communications company Photon Group on its largest acquisition to date.
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Olswang thwarts MoJ to secure access to judicial review files
18-Feb-2008
Olswang has scored a High Court ruling that will give the public and the media automatic access to court documents in judicial review cases.
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Pillsbury in fresh UK assault with double partner hire
18-Feb-2008
US firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has hired two partners for its London office in a bid to re-launch its UK offering.
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Pinsents picked as main Willmott Dixon adviser
18-Feb-2008
UK construction company Willmott Dixon has appointed Pinsent Masons as its principal adviser in what is the firm's second major construction win of 2008.
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Professional negligence
18-Feb-2008
A professional negligence claim is every lawyer's worst nightmare, and every managing partner's worst nightmare in particular, because this issue can affect firms large and small.
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Public enterprise
18-Feb-2008
A public listing may not be for everyone, but it has paid off for Slater & Gordon in Australia
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Rev Commentry
19-Feb-2008
Top of the PEPsRevenue Table
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Revealed: Akzo Nobel threat to global firms
18-Feb-2008
The Akzo Nobel ruling, which controversially stripped in-house counsel of privilege, has again come under fire for having the same impact on non-European private practice lawyers in the EU.
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Risky business
18-Feb-2008
As the economy slows, claims against lawyers are set to rise. But risk management is as essential in the good times as in the bad.
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Search launched for 2008’s new QCs
21-Feb-2008
The Queen’s Counsel selection panel launched the 2008 silk round today, just four weeks after 2007’s 98 new QCs were announced.
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Separated at birth
18-Feb-2008
When it comes to holding one's nerve, Tulkinghorn has a flawless reputation. Regrettably, the same can't be said for Jimmy 'The Whirlwind' White. For all his ability, the mercurial snooker star made a career out of losing important finals.
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Shearman rebounds with 12 per cent PEP rise
20-Feb-2008
Shearman & Sterling has posted encouraging year-end results, with PEP increasing 11.76 per cent.
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Simpson Thacher dropped on Microsoft’s Yahoo! bid
21-Feb-2008
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has lost its plum role advising Microsoft on its $46.4bn (£23.91bn) hostile bid for internet giant Yahoo!
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Skadden takes second plunge in China with Shanghai launch
18-Feb-2008
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom today (18 February) opened an office in Shanghai, the firm's fifth in the Asia region and its second in mainland China.
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Slater & Gordon announces 56 per cent profit growth
22-Feb-2008
Australian firm Slater & Gordon, which last year became the first law firm in the world to float on a stock exchange, has increased profit by more than half since its IPO.
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South East NHS trusts join forces to appoint £3m panel
18-Feb-2008
Firms including Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG), Beachcroft and Weightmans have been appointed to a new legal panel providing advice to 27 NHS trusts in Surrey, Sussex and Kent.
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'Spineless' Govt's high street retreat
18-Feb-2008
The Competition Commission has been looking at the 'big four' supermarkets and the UK food shopping market since May 2006, and on 15 February it published its latest provisional decision on remedies, which straddles such areas as planning law, land law and codes of practice.
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SRA sets up body to investigate racism claims
22-Feb-2008
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has set up an independent working party to investigate claims that it is racist.
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Ten partners made up after Gianni's 2007 exodus
18-Feb-2008
Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners has promoted 10 new partners this year as the firm regroups following a 16-partner split late last year.
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The in-house advocacy set-to
18-Feb-2008
So Hill Dickinson is the latest firm to launch an in-house chambers with the hire of barrister Sarah Venn from North West rival Halliwells. The timing is impeccable, coming just a month after new Bar Council chair Timothy Dutton QC slammed in-house advocacy units in his inaugural address.
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The pick of the bunch...
18-Feb-2008
White & Case is known in the market for its cosy atmosphere and emphasis on family, but one feels that new hires might get more of this than they had originally bargained for.
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Thomas Eggar joins City revolt over non-doms' tax
18-Feb-2008
Thomas Eggar has joined leading City figures in their campaign against the tax crackdown on non-domiciled individuals living in the UK.
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TLT managing partner gets a third term
18-Feb-2008
West Country firm TLT Solicitors has re-elected David Pester as managing partner. Pester will commence his third term at the helm in April.
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Two to replace Plapinger as Sullivan’s London chief
19-Feb-2008
Sullivan & Cromwell has appointed partners Vanessa Blackmore and Robert Schlein as co-managing partners of the firm’s London office.
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Untoward award
18-Feb-2008
They tried to make Tulkinghorn go to another awards ceremony but he said no, no, no. Instead he dispatched a drone to the event at a London hotel, where said worker bee drank formaldehyde-based wine and watched lawyers receive plastic trophies from somebody or other.
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Web week
18-Feb-2008
The Lawyer's Web Week is a weekly commentary on legal activity on the web. This includes an overview of the best of the week's blogs. If you want to direct us to useful links, email webweek@thelawyer. com.
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Weil's watergate veteran to run for NY district attorney
18-Feb-2008
Weil Gotshal & Manges litigation partner Richard Davis, one of the firm's highest-profile lawyers, confirmed exclusively last week to The Lawyer (11 February) that he is planning to run for the post of New York County district attorney.
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Welsh government bodies name chosen few
18-Feb-2008
Firms including Eversheds, Browne Jacobson and Hugh James have won places on the biggest public sector panel in Welsh history.
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William Hill defends itself over punter's gambling debt
20-Feb-2008
Bookmaker William Hill is up in the High Court today (20 February) facing charges that it allowed a punter to run up debts of over £2m.
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World beaters
18-Feb-2008
As Latham's and Skadden's $2bn performances show, the future is global. So which firms' strategies will be the ones to lift them into the hierarchy of the new world order?
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Wragges ally Graf goes it alone in Shanghai
20-Feb-2008
German firm Graf von Westphalen is opening an office in Shanghai to complement its joint ventures with best friend Wragge & Co in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
