7 September
The Lawyer
4-5 Gray’s Inn pushes commercial with 39 Essex St silk
Richard Clayton QC has left 39 Essex Street to join 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square.
Ahead of the game
Innovative changes to Canadian corporate law go a long way towards challenging its conservative reputation. Kevin Carroll provides a rundown of the main developments
Ashurst, Slaughters join US duo on Songbird refinancing
Two UK and two US firms have been drafted in to advise on the £836m recapitalisation of Canary Wharf Group owner Songbird Estates.
Bircham puts projects growth top of wish list
Bircham Dyson Bell has prioritised growing its commercial projects team and has recruited DLA Piper partner Nick Maltby to head the group.
BLP boosts tax and trusts with CC arrival
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) is continuing to build its tax and trusts department with another recruit from Clifford Chance in the shape of private client partner Murray North.
Braham faces high expectations as Freshfields’ global corporate head
Can Ed Braham balance the needs of London, Germany and his clients? asks Kit Chellel
Clydes to work Gaddafi connections
Libya may not be the most popular country in the West right now, but for Clyde & Co, which acts for Colonel Gaddafi, it offers lucrative business opportunities.
Conyers makes bid for offshore supremacy with raids on rivals
Conyers Dill & Pearman has made a series of hires as it attempts to move up the offshore rankings.
Couchman scores sports duo from Addleshaws
Commercial boutique Couchman Harrington Associates has hired two lawyers from Addleshaw Goddard’s sports practice.
Cramer Pelmont
If you believe that the City bonus culture is now discredited, then you do not work at Cramer Pelmont.
Credit Crunchie
Clifford Chance has hardly been alone in feeling a little starved of big deals recently.
Dewey aims for summit of Apple
Stellar laterals and global coverage sees firm win big Disney, eBay deals. By Julia Berris
Dewey heads Redbell’s acquisition
Dewey & LeBoeuf has won a lead role advising Russian company Redbell on its purchase of oil company Timan Oil & Gas.
DLA in heavyweight hire for finance rejig
DLA Piper has hired former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer finance chief Bob Charlton to oversee a shake- up of the international finance and projects (F&P) department.
Earning power
It’s all too easy for a law firm to give a PEP figure that doesn’t show the entire picture. That’s why EPP is a better indicator of performance
Edwards Angell splashes out on IP
A pair of high-profile IP partner hires made last week by the City offices of US firms confirmed the continuing vigour of the practice area during the downturn.
Focus: Clyde & Co, Clydes’ strides
Libya, Iraq, St Petersburg… Why Clyde & Co is not afraid of risk. For a firm with such a staid reputation, it is remarkable how much Clyde & Co has embraced risk.
Freshfields, Lovells, Slaughters cut BPP grants
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Lovells and Slaughter and May have all reduced the maintenance grants for students on the fast-track City LPC Consortium, to be run by BPP Law School.
Intelligent design: Giles Millerchip, McArthurGlen Group
Giles Millerchip is yet to qualify as a fully fledged lawyer, but that has not prevented him from taking the top legal spot at designer outlet village group McArthurGlen. By Corinne McPartland
Law firms join Lawyers for Young People access to justice scheme
A group of law firms has signed up to a new service aimed at giving young people access to legal advice.
Law firms’ pick ’n’ mix
There’s no getting away from it. The news this week is dominated by partner moves. On the whole we shy away from overplaying them, but over the past 10 days there have been so many they’re impossible to ignore.
Legal network launches loyalty card in battle of the brands
Online legal alliance QualitySolicitors.com is launching a TV marketing campaign with the eyecatching gimmick of a loyalty card for clients.
Links matches Slaughters’ FTSE lead
Linklaters has caught up with Slaughter and May as the top legal adviser for FTSE100 companies.
NCTM ups China, East Asia offering
Italian law firm NCTM Studio Legale Associato has strengthened its presence in China and East Asia.
Olswang acts for US shock jock against ex-Home Secretary
Olswang media partner Dan Tench has been instructed by US shock jock Michael Savage to launch libel proceedings against the former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
On the move
Walker Morris has hired regulatory consultant Peter Atkinson from the Leeds office of Pinsent Masons, where he was a partner.
Opinion: When is a partner not a partner?
?Two non-equity partners are apparently suing Clifford Chance in Germany, following their removal in a recent firm restructuring. They are claiming that they were employees rather than shareholders and so were entitled to protection from unfair dismissal.
Pinsents lures Ashurst transport chief
Pinsent Masons has poached Ashurst head of transport Raymond Beven, who joins the firm as a partner in London.
Regional firms dominate tightest equity rankings
Lower mid-tier firms keep iron grip on equity amid falling margins
Rising 100 scale heady heights in alternative financial stakes
In 1999 The Lawyer launched its first full-scale analysis of the largest firms by revenue in the UK, the top 100.
Roschier confirms Swedish focus as new chairman takes over the reins
Roschier has a new-look leadership after its long-serving chairman stepped down to take a back seat at the firm.
Schoenherr secures Renaissance-PORR JV
Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised on a rare outbound transaction from a construction company in Turkey.
Students face heavy competition for vacation places as firms slash schemes
Despite many law firms becoming more optimistic about the end of the recession, would-be lawyers looking to secure a vacation scheme in 2010 will be facing a tougher battle as firms reduce their placement numbers.
Tulkinghorn: An eye for fine dining
There are some moments that cannot be captured with mere words, where only a high-resolution colour photograph can record the true glory of what has unfolded.
WilmerHale aims to triple headcount in Frankfurt
WilmerHale has vowed to triple the size of its Frankfurt office after its move to larger office space in the German city.
Women solicitors urged to apply to the bench
The Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) has launched a campaign to encourage more women to apply for judicial appointments.
Work Life Quiz: Ann Harrison, Stephensons Solicitors
Who is your hero and why? My husband, for putting up with me.
Working knowledge
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is monitoring closely the progress of the new work-based learning scheme for lawyers. By Clare Gilligan
