4 January 2010
The Lawyer
18 St John Street adds trio to staff
Manchester’s 18 St John Street Chambers has made three new appointments.
Bilp prepares for Bristol rivals with cut-price LPC
The Bristol Institute of Legal Practice (Bilp) is shoring up its defences in response to the forthcoming invasion of the city by the College of Law (CoL) and BPP Law School by joining forces with Central Law Training (CLT) to launch one of the cheapest LPCs on the market.
Burges Salmon: ‘Business as usual’ despite exit
Burges Salmon’s incoming managing partner has insisted it will be “business as usual” at the Bristol firm, despite the shock exit of his predecessor after less than a year in the top job.
Eastern block
Against a backdrop of financial and political upheaval, the established local firms in Romania are proving formidable opponents to the international players in the battle for the choicest mandates.
Eversheds’ new three-year Gulf strategy plumps for consolidation over launches
Eversheds is putting corporate, banking and infrastructure at the heart of a new three-year Middle East strategy that is focused on consolidation.
FFW crushes Rok in High Court dispute over fees
The High Court has upheld a claim that Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) made for unpaid fees from a former client.
Focus: Hogan Lovells, The big match
In his first interview post-green light, Lovells senior partner John Young makes his case for why the merger with Hogan not only looks good on paper, but will also work in practice
Freshfields unveils female retention plan
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has launched a gender diversity initiative in a bid to improve its retention rate among female solicitors.
Gifted state school students invited to Lawyer 2B Careers Day
The Lawyer’s sister title for students Lawyer 2B is hosting a careers event for promising A-level students attending state sixth-form colleges who are interested in training as solicitors and barristers.
Kings head becomes law commissioner
The Law Commission has appointed Kings Chambers chief Frances Patterson QC as a law commissioner.
Law firms ready to ring in the changes for uncertain 2010
Surviving recession still top of agenda; diversification, restructuring and mergers could save the day
Legal market evinces mixed emotions as new decade promises big changes
Fee models, outsourcing and the implications of the Legal Services Act (LSA) are among the hot topics as the legal market gears up for a tough 2010. Indeed, it is the need to adapt to a changing market that is exercising most minds at the cutting edge of the business.
LG’s international referral list slashed
LG is revamping its international network with the aim of reducing the total number of referral firms with which it works.
Making a splash: Huw Brooker, Ofwat
With the issues of severe flooding, an increased remit for the regulator and a legal panel to finalise, it’s sink or swim for Ofwat legal director Huw Brooker.
Mayer Brown real estate finance chief quits
Mayer Brown’s real estate finance head Iain Thomas has left the firm to pursue a career at LG.
Needham & James
Needham & James is on the hunt for extra revenue. Nothing unusual there, except that in the Stratford-upon-Avon headquartered firm’s case the search is likely to end in a merger.
Ofgem goes straight to bar to cut costs
Energy watchdog Ofgem is going directly to the bar on competition, EC and public law in a bid to save money.
Outsourcing was 2009’s big deal
This time last year it felt as if we were all staring into an abyss. Law firm leaders were beginning to question their very business model. But of the big events last year only one - the Linklaters New World restructure - falls into the category of root-and-branch thinking.
People moves
Weil Gotshal & Manges has elected Barry Wolf (left) to the position of executive partner. Wolf began his career at Weil Gotshal in 1984, when he joined as an associate in the firm’s tax department.
Public sector loses its safety-net status
At the start of 2009 the public sector was seen by many firms as a cushion against the stagnation riddling their private sector clients.
Ten ways to reveal your lover: coming out the easy way
Homosexuals are the hidden minority. Don’t look round but the person sitting at the desk next to you may be one. Unlike other minorities we’re not immediately obvious (apart from a few flamboyant individuals I could mention). This means you won’t know unless you’re told.
Tulkinghorn: Spiffy upper lips
Cast your mind back to November last year and the serried ranks of Movember pics that did the rounds. Here’s one that slipped through the net.
UK behind US in deal volume recovery – but is it just a mirage?
Slaughters, Links, Freshfields retain top UK slots but still suffering from downturn. By
Ward Hadaway wins major NHS panel spots
Ward Hadaway has won places on the panels of two major NHS buying consortiums.
Withy King signs deal with insurer FirstAssist
South West firm Withy King is the latest to sign a delegated authority deal with an after-the-event insurer.
Work Life Quiz: Ian Brent, Davies Arnold Cooper
What was your first-ever job? - Greengrocer’s assistant.
