26 April 2010
The Lawyer
7 Bedford Row to go down LDP route
Civil and criminal set 7 Bedford Row (7BR) is mooting plans to employ lawyers and paralegals as part of a legal disciplinary partnership (LDP) following the implementation of the Legal Services Act (LSA).
ACC conference flags up irreversible change to GC-private practice relations
Partner, not firm, loyalty and cheaper, quicker advice emerge as top issues.
Addleshaws’ new chair plugs flexibility and profit
“We’ve got a lot of work to do to enhance our City reputation,” admits Monica Burch in the last few days before becoming Addleshaw Goddard’s new chairman.
Australia open
It may taste a bit nasty to some, but A&O’s arrival could be just the tonic for Australia’s legal marketplace.
Berryman
Nottingham firm Berryman has undergone a raft of changes since managing partner James Jarvis arrived at the firm in 1999.
Brave few buck the promotions trend as majority plump for consolidation
This year’s round of partner promotions reveals a market in which law firms are still cautious about promoting talent. However, there is some relief in the associate ranks, with numbers generally stabilising after tailing off dramatically this time last year.
Cambs, Northants mull combined legal function
The County councils of Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire are in preliminary talks to merge their legal departments.
CC, Cleary gear up for e4.5bn Volkswagen capital raising
Clifford Chance and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton have secured prize roles on one of Europe’s biggest capital raisings of recent times - Volkswagen’s e4.5bn (£3.9bn) rights issue.
Channel 4 turns to Travers for HD advice
Travers Smith has advised new client Channel 4 on a deal that will see it broadcast Channel 4 HD on Freeview.
Curtis Mallet-Prevost names new Milan chief
US firm Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle has appointed a new managing partner in its Milan office.
Edwards Angell scores Dewey partner
Dewey & LeBoeuf insurance partner Francis Mackie, who joined the firm after more than a decade at Norton Rose, is leaving for Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge.
Edwin Coe bags Taylor Wessing coms partner
Taylor Wessing has been left without a telecoms partner in its London office after Ted Mercer signalled his intention to quit for Edwin Coe.
Eversheds handed £450m Qatar skyscraper project
Eversheds has advised Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance Company (QGIRC) on a QAR2.5bn (£450m) project to construct four skyscrapers in Qatar.
Farrers faces French trial over NGN-Mosley farrago
Farrer & Co is facing court action in France over its role acting for News Group Newspapers (NGN) in its 2008 battle with former FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) president Max Mosley.
Farrers hires boost commercial property
Farrer & Co has moved to bolster its commercial property team with a pair of senior lateral partner hires, with a third partner also joining to boost its commercial disputes practice.
Focus: New Faces - The future is bright....
In this special, The Lawyer profiles more than 30 of the most talented and promising legal practitioners at work today. Specialising in all areas of the law, the one thing these rising stars have in common is that, although this may be the first time you’ve heard of some of them, it definitely won’t be the last.
Freeth Cartwright opens London base with focus on retail clients
Midlands firm Freeth Cartwright has launched in London with a view to improve its service to London clients, particularly those in the retail sector.
Herbies’ Paris finance boss returns to BNP Paribas in global GC role
Herbert Smith’s Paris international banking and finance head Georges Dirani has been appointed global general counsel of BNP Paribas.
Law versus the volcano: what some lawyers will do to get back to the office
If you had asked lawyers a fortnight ago what might cause the biggest disruption to their work you would have received a few different answers.
Links’ global partnership meeting turns to dust
The continuing disruption caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano has forced Linklaters to cancel its annual global partnership meeting.
Matrix to focus on diversity and environment
Matrix Chambers has put diversity and the environment at the forefront of its new core values ahead of the set’s tenth birthday.
Money Oriented
China’s private equity market is presenting both opportunities and challenges for international funds as the domestic players make their presence felt in an increasingly fertile environment.
Opinion: Outsourcing back office work helps firms focus on law
The legal profession is often accused of remaining in the Dark Ages when it comes to how we present our business to the outside world.
Orrick tops the list of suitors for tie-up with SJ Berwin
City firm thought to be ’too hot to handle’ for many other potential US candidates
People moves
Thomas Eggar has announced that partner Richard Jordan is to succeed Patricia Woolgar and take over as head of the firm’s private client group on 1 May.
Pinsents, SJ Berwin score CareTech deal
Pinsent Masons and SJ Berwin have secured the mandates on AIM-listed healthcare company CareTech Holdings’ £165m debt refinancing.
Recession finally takes bite out of Gide as 2009 turnover suffers e38m slump
Gide Loyrette Nouel saw its turnover decrease by nearly 15 per cent to e220m (£192.87m) over the 2009 financial year.
Reed Smith at the ready as Pinsents’ construction team prepares to defect
Are Pinsents’ consolidation plans going to score it an own goal?
Royal Dutch Shell slims down legal panel
Royal Dutch Shell has reduced its roster of external advisers after completing a major panel review.
Scottish law agents undone over ABSs
The Scottish Law Agents Society (SLAS) has arguably paved the way for alternative business structures (ABSs) to be introduced north of the border despite orchestrating a vote to oppose them.
Screen saver: Ted Shapiro, Motion Picture Association
Motion Picture Association general counsel Ted Shapiro is taking a leading role in the fight against copyright pirates.
Shoosmiths hires partner for consumer arm
Shoosmiths has brought in a new partner for Access Legal, the firm’s consumer legal services brand. Personal injury (PI) specialist Debra Woolfson joins the firm from Pannone.
SJ Berwin’s Statesmanship
You can’t fault Ralph Baxter’s tenacity. It’s a standing joke among managing partners that at some point they will have received a call from the Orrick chairman, but a decade on from its failed talks with Bird & Bird the US firm’s obsession with completing a London merger has still never been realised.
Tulkinghorn: Kath and kin
Tulkinghorn doesn’t really watch TV. Not unless that delightfully grumpy upstart John Humphrys is on, that is. Tulkinghorn feels something of an affinity with old Humph.
Work Life Quiz: Seamus Smyth, Carter Lemon Camerons
What was your first-ever job? Schoolteacher.
