2 October 2006
The Lawyer
A good result for Mishcons
The procession of football folk traipsing through Mishcons' offices may have reduced in size recently, but it looks like it will be continuing for some time yet.
A nice little learner
Does anybody believe in such a thing as 'altruistic capitalism'? Social philosopher, management scholar and best-selling author Charles Handy does.
A&L and Arthur Cox square up for airline battle
Irish giants A&L Goodbody and Arthur Cox are gearing up for a takeover battle following the rejection this afternoon (5 October) by the Aer Lingus board of rival airline Ryanair’s takeover bid.
A&O managing partner retains role until 2008
Allen & Overy (A&O) partners have voted to extend managing partner David Morley's tenure by another year to 2008.
A&O, CC, Freshfields and Herbies win Thames Water hopefuls
Allen & Overy (A&O), Clifford Chance and Herbert Smith Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have all netted instructions on what could be Europe's largest infrastructure deal this year, the sale of Thames Water by German utilities group RWE.
A&O, Clifford Chance enjoy Big Apple coups
Clifford Chance enjoy Big Apple coups" /Allen & Overy (A&O) and Clifford Chance surprised everyone, not least themselves, by enjoying some good news from their Manhattan offices this month.
Addleshaws' home comforts
The Lawyer Global 100 figures are in for 2006 and Addleshaw Goddard is happily sitting in 91st position, thumbing its noses at a number of firms around it.
Addleshaws targets outsourcing gap
Addleshaw Goddard has moved to capitalise on an expected surge in financial services outsourcing activity by establishing a dedicated middle office fund management outsourcing team within its technology and outsourcing group.
Akin Gump called in for whistleblower dispute
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has been parachuted in by US biopharmaceutical company Nektar Therapeutics to defend an unfair dismissal lawsuit filed by a former in-house legal adviser.
Ashurst leads Shard of Glass financing
Ashurst led the multi-firm team that secured a £196m financing for proposed London landmark building the 'Shard of Glass'. The 310m London Bridge Tower, known as the Shard for its unique architectural design, will be home to a Shangri-La Hotel, along with office and residential space. Ashurst, led by real estate partner Gary Watson, acted for developers Teighmore and Sellar Property Group. Nationwide Building ...
Baier Lambert rebrands following split with Eversheds
Eversheds’ former Austrian associated firm Baier Lambert has rebranded as Baier Bohm following the loss of its name partner following its split with the UK firm.
Bakers and Bond Pearce lawyers set up new firm in Plymouth
A new law firm named Bright has been launched in Plymouth with lawyers from Bond Pearce and Baker & McKenzie.
Baltic firm Sorainen bolstered by raid on rival
Sorainen Law Offices, a 75-lawyer Baltic firm with offices in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, has raided a Lithuanian rival for three practice heads.
BCCI, Equitable teams attend judge summit
The legal teams involved in the controversial BCCI and Equitable Life cases have been summoned to explain their roles at the high-level judges' meeting on case management reform taking place at the end of this month (October).
Cadwalader bags historic China deal
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has scooped a lead role advising on a groundbreaking Chinese investment fund transaction that integrates China more closely with international capital markets.
CC looks for savings on Indian breakaway
Clifford Chance held a conference for its senior non-fee-earning professionals this weekend. Amid all the bonding, we imagine that at least part of their time was spent discussing the new drive to push down costs.
CC steals a march on Freshfields by luring public policy specialist
Clifford Chance has bagged public policy specialist Gail Orton from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
CC transfers 300 jobs to India in £30m cost-cutting drive
Clifford Chance is set to move 300 jobs to India as it targets more cost-savings of up to £30m.
CC, Simmons banish PQE to stay within age rules
Clifford Chance and Simmons & Simmons have revamped their recruitment strategies after deeming the term 'PQE' to be in contravention of the new age discrimination laws that came into play yesterday (1 October).
China spotlights UK prowess
The world is getting smaller and the top 100 law firms are getting richer as a result. The Global 100, which we produce annually in association with The American Lawyer, now has - rejoice! - 17 UK firms in it. And that number does not even include the handful of transatlantic practices such as Dechert, Jones Day, Kirkpatrick ...
City Law School interns net US firm placements
US firms Sidley Austin, O’Melveny & Myers and Howrey have struck a deal with London’s City Law School to offer three-month internships to graduates of the school’s new masters in international law.
Clarke Willmott reviews strategy as Sedgwick retains helm
Clarke Willmott has turned its focus to an extensive strategy review following the re-election of managing partner David Sedgwick for a third successive term this morning (6 October).
Cooley Godward seals merger with disputes specialist Kronish
The merger between US firms Cooley Godward and Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman is effective from today (2 October), with the combined firm operating as Cooley Godward Kronish.
Dewey, Orrick make marriage plans
By far the biggest US merger news this month was that of Dewey Ballantine and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe (www.thelawyer.com, 12 September).
Diageo shores up in-house nous
Bucking the trend of in-house consolidation, global drinks giant Diageo has moved to expand its worldwide in-house legal function, hiring its first Indian-based regional counsel and creating two new positions in China.
Disney boosts IP protection with London hire
The Walt Disney Company has joined the long list of companies paying ever-increasing attention to IP protection, hiring its first anti-piracy chief for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Emea).Disney recruited Nick Hanbidge from Hit Entertainment for the London-based role. He will report to corporate legal and anti-piracy head Mary Fossier in California.Hanbidge has responsibility for copyright and trademark enforcement for more than 20 Emea jurisdictions.
DLA Piper departures force UK commercial and projects rejig
DLA Piper has restructured its UK commercial and projects practice, disbanding the group as three partners leave the firm.
DLA Piper furthers Italian growth with ten hires
DLA Piper has continued its frenzied lateral hire spree in the Italian market, making simultaneous raids for two finance partners and eight fee-earners across various practice areas.
DLA Piper Oslo office nets double GC haul
DLA Piper has boosted its Oslo office with the hire of two general counsel.
DLA Piper rivals transatlantic peers
DLA Piper's US and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Emea) arms sneak ahead of Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw's (MBR&M) by profit per equity partner (PEP) among this group of transatlantic peers, which have all either completed a transatlantic merger, or are planning one.
DLA Piper: Men of the world
DLA Piper's global reach continues to grow apace, but only time will tell whether the firm has the capability to make good on its expansion strategy. By David Middleton
Dundas & Wilson brings in barrister
Scottish firm Dundas & Wilson has hired barrister Hamish Lal from 4 New Square.
DWS wins Mobo Awards media mandate
Denton Wilde Sapte's (DWS) media team has scooped a role advising the organisers of the Music of Black Origin (Mobo) Awards.
Earning a few bob
What century does Salans live in? Directions to the firm's offices on its website offer the nearest riverboat station. Do many of the firm's clients arrive via the Thames?Apparently, according to the firm's head of PR Rob Holmes, they might just do that. "You'd be surprised," said Holmes, a response that did indeed surprise Tulkinghorn, although he suspects Holmes wasn't being entirely serious.Still, the next time Tulkinghorn visits Salans he's putting on his wetsuit.
EasyGroup appoints IP head
easyGroup has filled its head of IP role, hiring Anthony Robb-John as managing director of easyGroup IP from mobile content company Monstermob Group. Robb-John was head of legal at Monstermob and will take up his new position at the start of December, reporting to easyGroup founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou. His role is commercial rather than purely legal. Legal head ...
Eleventh-hour injunction blocks disclosure rules
The Law Society has blocked new court disclosure rules that would have made documents such as pleadings and defence of a claim available to all third parties.
EU ministers set rules on where to litigate
EU ministers have voted to establish common rules deciding which country's courts should hear cases involving more than one member state.
Fennemores chief sued for £2.4m by ex-partners
The former managing partner of dissolved Milton Keynes firm Fennemores is facing a £2.4m lawsuit brought by seven of his former partners.
Finnish firm enters Russia with bolt-on
Finnish firm Hannes Snellman Attorneys At Law has bolstered its northern Europe practice through a tie-up with Helsinki-rival ETL Law Offices.
Firms cash in on Sino-Indian energy deal
Allen & Overy (A&O), Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) and US firm Thompson & Knight have advised on a Sino-Indian $850m (£448.24m) energy joint venture. The venture, between China's Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration, Production Corporation of China (SIPC) and India's ONGC Videsh, involved the purchase of Colombian oil producer Omimex de Colombia. A&O advised Sinopec, led by Mitchell Silk, head ...
Footie lawyers threaten to roast Auntie
The BBC's Panorama football bung exposé stirred up a lot of welcome attention for media lawyers last week. Within minutes of the broadcast phones at boutiques across the country rang off the hook as outraged agents and managers looked to protect their names in the courts.
Former HP lawyer charged with identity theft
A former senior in-house lawyer at beleaguered Hewlett-Packard (HP) has been indicted on charges of fraud and identity theft in the US for his alleged involvement in the ‘pretexting’ scandal that rocked the company in recent weeks.
Forsters, Collyers support new complex
Collyer Bristow and Forsters acted on a £100m development in Camberly, Surrey.
Freshfields beats Linklaters in M&A rankings
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has knocked magic circle rival Linkaters off the top of the European M&A rankings.
Freshfields forms utilities niche with Anglian Water deal
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has scooped its second major water deal in as many weeks, announcing today that it is acting for the Colonial First State-led consortium bid of £2.2bn for AWG, the owner of Anglian Water.
Freshfields loses partner to Norton Rose's Paris offensive
Norton Rose has made its fifth French partner hire in two months, appointing Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer aviation specialist Glenn Matheson.
Gibson Dunn snares Jones Day NY finance head
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher’s New York office has pounced on the joint head of Jones Day’s global lending and structured finance, in a move that will significantly boost the Los Angeles-based firm’s New York offering.
Glaisyers lands Cobbetts property partner
Glaisyers has hired Cobbetts partner Eric Quirk to strengthen its commercial property team. Quirk, who specialises in property development and investment, leaves Cobbetts after three years as a partner to join Glaisyers. Quirk told The Lawyer: "I chose Glaisyers as it's a less management-driven, very enthusiastic midmarket firm. Even quite ...
Grapevine
Media boutique Schillings has been growing its client base again.
Hackney boss in the Dragon's Den
Hackney Council's head of legal Meic Sullivan-Gould is to go before a 'Dragon's Den-style' panel in the next stage of his plan to forge a brand-new qualification for lawyers specialising in local government.
Hammonds appoints first non-executive chair
Hammonds has turned to management consultants Bain & Co for its first non-executive chair, appointing Crawford Gillies.
Herbies faces old rival Fox Williams on Goldman Sachs-IFE litigation
Fox Williams on Goldman Sachs-IFE litigation" /Herbert Smith and Fox Williams go up against one another in court this week for the first time since the collapse of the Equitable Life trial in December 2005.
Hewlett-Packard cuts back its UK legal department
Hewlett-Packard (HP) completed an overhaul of its UK legal team this month as part of a company-wide cost-cutting review. The legal team has shrunk by 20 per cent, cutting loose one lawyer and five contract managers to give UK general counsel James Orman a total of six lawyers and 15 contract managers in his team.
High Court upholds block on disclosure rules
A High Court ruling has kept in place a block on new disclosure rules that would have opened up court files to the public for all cases.
How to keep working mums working
The appointment of 33 female silks earlier this year - the highest number ever - is undoubtedly good news for female barristers. Indeed, the bar generally is now more enlightened than it has ever been.
In-housers hold on tight as mergers bite
It was the month of the survivors for in-house heads of legal in September. A resurgence of M&A activity involving some of the UK's largest companies had resulted in sweeping changes to many in-house legal functions.
Jomati nets Barclays financial guru to advise firms
Jomati, the management consultancy headed by former Clifford Chance managing partner Tony Williams, has hired the founder and former head of Barclays' professional services team John Robinson.
Jonathan Waters: British Medical Association
BMA director of legal services Jonathan Waters doesn't just have to contend with a single entity's legal matters, he has to keep an entire profession happy. By Joanne Harris
Journo to pit himself
By the time you read this, one of Tulkinghorn's scribes will be safely back at his desk. Hopefully.
JPMorgan pushes 'Pride' diversity initiative to firms
JPMorgan assistant general counsel and managing director Tim Hailes spearheaded a major diversity campaign for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) employees in London and signalled his intention to open discussions on the topic with the bank's external advisers in the City.
Kaye Scholer beefs up in London with BLP raid
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) investment partner Tim Spangler has defected to New York firm Kaye Scholer to head up its global investment funds practice.
Kennedys formalises Chilean tie-up
Insurance firm Kennedys has formalised its relationship with Chilean firm Acuna & Cia, as part of a push to strengthen its presence in South America.
Kirkland makes up 64 as London growth continues
Kirkland & Ellis has radically bolstered its London corporate capability with the promotion of two specialists to its partnership and hire of a swathe of supporting associates.
Kirkpatrick targets Preston Gates merger
US firms Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham and Preston Gates & Ellis are in merger talks that, if successful, would see the creation of a 1,400-lawyer firm.
Larry Sonsini calls in 'Mad Dog' for best defence
One company's mess is a meal ticket for its instructed lawyers, and so it is with Hewlett-Packard (HP), the once golden paradigm of corporate America now in trouble for the way it went about sniffing out boardroom leaks.
Law Soc: Carter report will wipe out small firms
A Law Society-commissioned report warned last week that the impact of the Carter reforms of legal aid could see the elimination of virtually all small solicitors' offices carrying out criminal defence work.
Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés
Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés is growing in a shrinking market. The firm's turnover has grown by a steady 10-15 per cent each year for the past decade, hitting E38m (£25.44m) in 2006 despite the loss of two partners to other firms and one to retirement during the year.
Limited appeal
Setting up as a limited company is a viable alternative to LLP conversion in the post-Clementi legal landscape. Nick Carter-Pegg and Ben Potter report
Linklaters, A&O score Montagu's BCA buy
There were no major surprises on Montagu Private Equity's acquisition of British Car Auctions (BCA) last week. Linklaters led for Montagu, while Allen & Overy (A&O) advised the target. Partners Richard Youle and Dominic Welham led the team at Linklaters, while Stephen Matthews led for A&O. Montagu, which acquired ...
Littleton legend Kallipetis quits for solo role
The former head of Littleton Chambers Michel Kallipetis QC has left to set up his own practice.
Living the high life
What do you do when you've time on your hands? If you're former Shearman securitisation head turned Taylor Wessing partner Marke Raines, you fly your plane to Canada.Raines, who joined Taylor Wessing in September and who has a commercial pilot's licence, spent his year off flying his Piper Twin Commando, including a trip to Canada and back. Beats gardening, Tulkinghorn supposes.
Local authorities instigate 'panel sharing' scheme
A consortium of 18 South of England local authorities have banded together to select a combined legal panel and have managed to cut their legal costs by up to a third in the process.
Lovells Italian arm in management shake-up
Lovells’ Italian managing partner is to leave the firm, prompting a shake-up of its Italian management structure.
Marathon man
Is there anything Mark Stephens can't do? Arguably the market's highest-profile lawyer and certainly the most regularly quoted legal bod in the land, Stephens claims he walked 27 miles at the International Bar Association conference in Chicago last week.How did he know? Because the event was so earth-shatteringly enormous that the organisers decided to hand out pedometers as freebies to the delegates.Does it also have a calorie counter? Tulkinghorn wonders.
Mayer Brown confirms three-partner chairmanship
Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw (MBRM) has confirmed that three partners will assume the duties of chairman when incumbent Ty Fahner steps down next May, as first reported on www.thelawyer.com (18 August).
Media calls in Caldecott to fight disclosure injunction
The Law Society is to face the wrath of the world’s media organisations after it won a last minute injunction on new disclosure rules for court documents.
Mergers boost firms' rankings
Virtually all the biggest rises in turnover within the The Lawyer Global 100 2006 are attributable to mergers. DLA Piper leads the way with the biggest percentage rise of 53.4 per cent, thanks to the merger between Chicago's Piper Rudnick with San Francisco's Gray Cary Ware & Friedrich.
Mishcons advises Stevens as Bung report is released today
Mishcon de Reya is preparing to ramp up the work it is doing in connection with the Premier League inquiry once Lord Stevens has released his interim report into corruption in football transfers.
Mixed results as US firms embark on Euro drive
On This side of the Atlantic US firms have made progress with their particular forays into Europe. For Reed Smith that has meant laying the groundwork ahead of the completion of its tie-up with Richards Butler in January.
Nauta boosts London in record promotion round
NautaDutilh has made up seven new partners across its offices in the Netherlands, Brussels and London, the largest number of partner appointments the Dutch firm has ever made.Nauta’s corporate, banking and finance and intellectual property groups have benefited most from the new partners, which will take its total partner number to 85 from 1 January 2007.The appointments include David Viëtor, who has been promoted to partner and head of Nauta’s London finance team.
Nixon Peabody grows private equity with team hire
Nixon Peabody has raided the New York office of King & Spalding to expand its private equity practice.
Nortel hires Emea compliance chief
Canadian telecommunications company Nortel has raided Siemens for its director of compliance for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Emea).
Norton Rose enters fray in Aer Lingus battle
Norton Rose has won a key role on the EURO1.48bn takeover bid by Ryanair for Aer Lingus.
Norton Rose is floating on air
Norton Rose’s Mark Bankes should crack out the champagne this evening, assuming he has the energy.
Norton Rose Islamic finance star joins Al Salam Bank
Bahrain’s Al Salam Bank has appointed rated Norton Rose Islamic finance associate Mohammed Paracha as its first general counsel.
Ogier merges with BVI firm to create offshore powerhouse
Offshore giant Ogier has merged with WSmiths in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), giving the firm access to three further offshore jurisdictions.
Ogier shores up offshore market position
Slight confusion in the offshore world this week when itappeared that one of the leading firms had merged with awell-known chain of newsagents.
Old age tension
With age joining the multitude of discrimination laws, firms should strive to put in place fair and effective dismissal procedures or risk having their dirty washing aired in public, say Clive Greenwood and Fergus Payne
Old Square celebrates landmark ECJ ruling
Old Square Chambers played a high-profile role in the key equal pay case initially brought by Bernadette Cadman that was decided by Europe’s highest court yesterday (3 October).
'Open justice' wins as DCA rewrites claim access rules
Media lawyers have forced the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) into a U-turn over the introduction of a controversial rule that restricted the public's access to court documents.
Osborne Clarke raids Clarke Willmott for property team
Bristol-based Osborne Clarke has raided Clarke Willmott for a four-lawyer property team led by property development star David Powell.
Our man in Yorkshire
Far be it from Tulkinghorn to laugh at another man's name, but... Researching a news story earlier this week, one of the great man's minions came across five-partner outfit Merritts Solicitors, a Yorkshire firm that boasts clients including Bannatyne Fitness, the gym business owned by TV's Dragon's Den panellist Duncan Bannatyne.
Partnerships
What could be closer to the heart of lawyers than their own partnership agreements? But as the introduction of the Legal Services Bill looms, partnership structures are likely to encounter a dramatic change in shape.
Paul Hastings chair eyes Chicago after re-election
Los Angeles-based Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker is close to completing its much-touted expansion into Chicago, as the firm confirms the re-election of its chairman and managing partner.
People
Denton Wilde Sapte has hired planning and public law assistant Roy Pinnock from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Pinsents loses partner to Campbell Hooper
Campbell Hooper has raided Pinsent Masons for property partner Peter Stockdale, along with a team of two associates and five plot-sales specialists. Stockdale joins as a partner in the firm's regeneration group and has a practice that focuses on town centre redevelopments and urban renewal projects. Campbell Hooper managing partner Jeremy Dutton said: "Pinsent Masons is trying to grow in value and ...
Popham secures second term as CC snr partner
Clifford Chance has confirmed the re-election of senior partner Stuart Popham for his second four-year term, which will see him at the helm until 2010.
Pro bono is vital for lawyers establishing rule of law overseas
There are many things we take for granted in the UK. Ironically, one of the most overlooked is also one of the most fundamental - the rule of law.
PwC creates law, tax powerhouse in Italy
Accountancy giant PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has launched a combined tax and legal firm in Italy, raiding former network firm Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati for eight partners and 80 lawyers.
PwC takes Mayer Brown litigation head in Chicago
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has raided Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw (MBRM) to appoint international arbitration heavyweight Javier Rubinstein as global general counsel.
Readies waiting?
Whether law firms want to become LLPs is one issue but who are these potential investors and what do they get out of it? Simon Prideaux reports
Reed Smith re-elects Jordan to top job
Reed Smith has confirmed the re-election of managing partner Gregory Jordan for a third three-year term, which will see him remain at the helm until 2010.
Reprieve, Liberty question UK Govt's role in CIA torture flights
The British Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has come under fire from civil rights organisations for allegedly failing to investigate claims of Government ministers' involvement in 'torture flights'.
Scottish QC to launch English-style chambers
The first new set of Scottish advocates' chambers to be founded for more than 50 years has been launched by two advocates setting out to provide a more innovative service.
Sex blackmail judges suspended as investigation launched
The Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice have suspended the immigration judges at the centre of a sex blackmail case involving a Brazilian cleaner while the Office for Judicial Complaints carries out a preliminary investigation.
Simmons, A&O lead on RPL increase
Allen & Overy (A&O) and Simmons & Simmons lead the revenue per lawyer (RPL) table off the back of combined increases in turnover and reductions in lawyer numbers.
Sites of fancy
A whole industrial estate of law firms made the pages of the Financial Times (FT) on the weekend of 23-24 September) when the paper did a round-up of prime commercial property sites up for grabs.
SJ Berwin handles MEP's purchase of MFI for &163;1
SJ Berwin has scooped a role to advise new client Merchant Equity Partners (MEP) on the purchase of MFI's loss-making retail arm.
Slaughters makes PEP global top 10
The top 10 most profitable firms in the world all have an average profit per equity partner (PEP) of more than $2m (£1.14m). And only one UK firm is in that list: Slaughter and May. Slaughters is now the eighth most profitable firm in the world, up one place from the previous year.
Sony BMG appeals merger clearance reversal
Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) and Sony Music are appealing against the Court of First Instance judgment, which overturned the European Commission’s decision to clear the merger between the two companies.
Sungard in hunt for Asia general counsel
Software company Sungard is looking for a senior lawyer to run its Asia-Pacific legal team after revealing plans to grow and acquire technology companies in the region.
Tax litigation war is on for DLA Piper, Dorsey, McGrigors and RPC
DLA Piper may have won the latest MTIC GLO battle, but the war is far from won. By Steve Hoare
The Solicitors' Regulation Athority: The governor
The introduction of the Solicitors' Regulation Authority spells a dramatic shift for legal regulation. Steering the change is chief executive Antony Townsend
The work-life quiz david steward
Name: David Steward Firm: Ince & Co Position: Business development partner
Turbulent times at Winston
It was a mixed month for US firm Winston & Strawn.
UK firms lead way as China becomes new battleground
A record number of UK firms have made it into The Lawyer Global 100 2006, the definitive list of the world's top firms based on revenue.
US firms line up for tobacco class action
A host of US firms are preparing for battle after a New York judge ruled that a groundbreaking $200bn (£105bn) class action against tobacco firms could go ahead.
US trio scoop lead roles on Harrah’s bid
Latham & Watkins, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton have secured key mandates advising on the $15bn (£7.9bn) private equity bid for US casino operator Harrah’s Entertainment.
Veil Jourde shrugs off Gibson losses and raids Gide for corporate rebuild
French independent Veil Jourde has reinforced its corporate team with a four-lawyer hire from Gide Loyrette Nouel.
Video games publisher raids Pinsents for first GC
Video games company Mastertronic Group has hired its first general counsel, snaring Pinsent Masons IP senior associate Nav Sunner for the job.
Ward Hadaway raids Eversheds for new public sector head
Newcastle’s Ward Hadaway has snatched Eversheds partner Melanie Pears as its new head of public sector.
Watson Burton confirms ousted MP's successor
Newcastle-based firm Watson Burton has elected construction head Rob Langley to replace toppled managing partner Andrew Hoyle.
Watson Burton forced to rewrite script as Hoyle exits stage left
"O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason."
Web week 021006
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.
Weightmans captures RAC lawyer
Weightmans has recruited head of legal services Bavita Rai from the RAC to become the firm's first-ever head of litigation operations. Rai joins Weightmans as a partner. Weightmans managing partner Patrick Gaul said: "Bavita has the right skills. She's worked in commerce and has experience in this industry. She's also a very personable individual." The new role will involve focusing on improving the ...
White & Case raids CC for Berlin growth
White & Case has boosted its Berlin corporate team with a three-lawyer raid on Clifford Chance's Düsseldorf office. The former head of Clifford Chance's Berlin office, which was closed in November 2004, and corporate M&A partner Jorg Kraffel will move to White & Case at the end of this year after 16 years as ...
Wragges guards against recession
Wragges guards against recession" /Wragge & Co is aiming to boost the turnover of its public sector group to 25 per cent of total firm revenue in a bid to hedge against a downturn in the private sector.
Yanks draw a blank in property stakes
Money can buy a lot of things - for some people it can even buy happiness. But US firms can't seem to buy a decent real estate practice for love nor money.
