The Solicitors Regulation Authority has unveiled its long awaited work-based learning pilot, which may result in the abolition of training contracts. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has unveiled its long awaited work-based learning pilot, which may result in the abolition of training contracts. The regulator is piloting two separate models. The first, which is expected […]
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has bagged the mandate advising Germany’s privatised postal service, Deutsche Post, on its €2.79bn first stage disposal of its majority share in Deutsche Postbank to Deutsche Bank. The instruction is a coup for Freshfields, which is understood not to have acted for Deutsche Post on any major transactions in the past, reported […]
Mystic Morley 12-September-2008“When peering into the future, it’s sometimes instructive to look at the past,” says Allen & Overy chief David Morley – and we agree. “When peering into the future, it’s sometimes instructive to look at the past,” says Allen & Overy chief David Morley – and we agree. Our UK 200 Annual Report […]
Olswang has slashed a range of employee benefits including the end-of-year bonus in favour of appreciation such as “good feedback”. Senior partner Mark Devereux said the firm has taken a review of expenditure as a result of the economic downturn, which he said “leaves nobody unaffected.” In the past staff within the five practice groups […]
Former Resolution legal chief Randal Barker has joined Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) as general counsel and company secretary. As revealed by The Lawyer (1 September), Barker left Resolution following its takeover by Pearl Group. At ENRC Barker replaces Paul Waters, who has left the company. It is not known where Waters has moved on […]
Construction and building materials giant Lafarge UK has slashed all top 20 firms from its legal panel in favour of regional firms in a bid to slash its legal spend. The company held the tender to cut down on its sprawling list of external advisers, which ran to around 80 firms, including five to eight […]
Herbert Smith has won a competitive tender against 36 other firms to become the principal adviser to the National Lottery Commission. Herbert Smith beat a shortlist of five other firms for the five- year appointment, including Bristol’s Burges Salmon, Denton Wilde Sapte, Eversheds, LG and Nabarro. National Lottery Commission head of licensing Marcia Boys said: […]
Jones Day and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have bagged the top legal roles in the bankruptcy proceedings of XL Leisure Group, the UK’s third largest package holiday operator. XL, the latest victim of the economic slump, went into administration today after a dramatic hearing late last night at the offices of Jones Day. Freshfields finance partner […]
Cobbetts has made six redundancies, four of whom are associates, across its domestic conveyancing and professional support departments. Of the four associates, three were based in Manchester and one in Leeds. Two national professional support lawyers will also lose their jobs. The move follows a redundancy consultation that covered all levels and practice areas of […]
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has snared New York Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regional director Mark Schonfeld as a partner in its litigation group. After a 12 year career at the SEC, Schonfeld will join the US firm in November to co-chair its securities enforcement practice group alongside Washington DC partner Barry Goldsmith. Schonfeld will […]
Five silks have been appointed to the bench as four High Court judges are set to retire, the Ministry of Justice announced today. These include two women, Radcliffe Chambers silk Sonia Proudman QC (pictured), assigned to the Chancery Division, and 11KBW’s Elizabeth Slade QC, appointed to the Queen’s Bench Division. 11KBW’s Philip Sales QC and […]
BAE Systems has appointed its first chief counsel for India, sending land systems legal chief Mike Elston to Delhi. The move is part of a BAE business strategy to exploit growth markets. India has boosted its defence spending by 8 per cent this year. In a memo sent out to staff, seen by The Lawyer, […]