19 September 2011
The Lawyer
A&O, Eversheds bosses boost links with Russia, joining PM on trade delegation
Allen & Overy (A&O) managing partner David Morley and Eversheds managing partner Lee Ranson have become the latest in a line of UK lawyers to join government trade delegations overseas, joining a mission to Russia last week.
Addleshaws focuses on billing innovation
Addleshaw Goddard has put pricing strategy at the top of its agenda by creating the role of commercial director to spearhead the firm’s push to develop new ways of billing clients.
Ashurst braces for stiff test with Aussie tie-up
Ashurst faces a tougher challenge than previous UK-based firms that have ventured into Australia. By Yun Kriegler
BLP, LG, Macfarlanes, Wedlake Bell act on sale of Pinsents’ high-rise HQ
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), LG, Macfarlanes and Wedlake Bell have all landed roles on the £139m sale of prime-location skyscraper 30 Crown Place - the site of Pinsent Masons’ London headquarters.
Bott & Co
A decade on from its foundation, Bott & Co broke through the £10m turnover barrier in 2010-11, recording growth of more than 20 per cent.
Brum council law team scoops work from firms
The age of austerity has seen local authorities’ legal budgets slashed by as much as a third, throwing down a huge challenge for legal heads to keep their departments afloat.
Chaos as SRA e-registration system generates ‘gibberish’
Annual registration for the roll of solicitors has descended into chaos after the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) moved registration online.
Eversheds digs in on L&G student property deal
Eversheds has acted for Legal & General Property (L&G Property) on its £116m purchase of Battersea-based student accommodation Griffon Studios from Berkeley First and Imperial College London, which were advised by Ashurst.
Farrers partner heads for News Group
Farrer & Co partner Benjamin Beabey has left the firm and is understood to be joining News Group Newspapers.
Focus: Proskauer Rose - Pulling power
After the breakdown of its talks with SJ Berwin, Proskauer Rose decided to go it alone in London. Can it keep its momentum?
Foot Anstey reveals top team for Bristol base
Foot Anstey has unveiled the partner line-up for its new Bristol office, which is targeting £5m in revenue within three years.
From Ashurst to the Paralympics
Not much could have tempted Chris Holmes away from his legal career, except the chance to play a key part in the London 2012 organising effort.
Herbies set to reveal its post-‘Blue Sky’ thinking
Herbert Smith is poised to release the results of a far-reaching strategic review ’imminently’, according to sources close to the firm.
Hogan Lovells to replace senior partner
Hogan Lovells is gearing up to find a successor to co-chair and senior partner John Young, who is due to end his current term and retire from the firm in April.
HS1 nabs first GC from Porterbrook
Rail infrastructure company High Speed 1 (HS1) has recruited its first general counsel since spinning off as an independent entity from London Continental Railways (LCR) last year.
Learning verve
Legal education needs to be in tune with a rapidly changing profession. Sarah Hutchinson looks at what the future holds for trainees
Move of the week
Manches has recruited a new partner to head its IT and outsourcing practice in the Thames Valley region.
Opinion: Promotion: a double-edged honour?
Management positions in law firms are usually seen as a form of promotion.
Part-time for a change
As student costs rise part-time law courses are booming, but is the profession ready to shake off its bias against the option?
Peters & Peters guides Mittal in oil access row
Litigation boutique Peters & Peters is advising steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal on a claim being brought against him by businessman Moni Varmer.
Road to somewhere
Gordons is rolling out a legal apprenticeship scheme. Barbara Rollin explains why it is a win-win situation for all concerned.
Route minders
As commoditisation of legal services continues apace, Chris Ashford argues that the time is ripe for the introduction of legal apprenticeships
SH loses £20m Ablyazov role to Addleshaws
Stephenson Harwood (SH) has been ditched as adviser to the ousted chairman of Kazakhstan’s BTA Bank Mukhtar Ablyazov, in favour of Addleshaw Goddard.
Skadden client Colfax outbids Melrose in battle for Charter
A variety of firms are playing a part in US manufacturing group Colfax’s £1.5bn cash and shares bid for Charter International, which has trumped the initial offer by Melrose for the FTSE250 Dublin-based engineering company.
Standard Chartered Bank set for global panel rejig
Standard Chartered Bank has taken the first step towards a global overhaul of its legal advisers, launching an internal survey to gauge satisfaction with its current framework of panels.
The high cost of cheap training
One of the perennial problems faced by law firms is predicting how many trainees and newly qualified lawyers (NQs) they are likely to need, because they hire graduates two years in advance of them joining.
Trainees for hire: SRA backs revolutionary plan
New training scheme aims to cut upfront costs for law firms
Trust worthy: Natacha Onawelho-Loren, Natacha Onawelho-Loren
Natacha Onawelho-Loren, head of legal for Investec Trust, says life is never dull in an industry that is under the political spotlight. By Joanne Harris
Tulkinghorn: Get unknotted
A new managing partner’s first edict is a statement of intent.
Uncertainty hangs over LDA panels as legal dept combines with GLA team
As the closure of the London Development Agency (LDA) looms closer, speculation is growing as to the future of its three panels of external legal advisers.
Under exposure
With global firms stepping up their Australian capabilities, Joanne Harris examines their prospects against those of the domestic powerhouses
Work Life Quiz: Louis Manches, Manches
What’s the toughest thing about your job? The (luckily few) occasions when we’ve had to make people redundant.
