Constitutional Affairs Minister Lord Filkin has today extended the remit of the committee that advises the government on international court cases. The Advisory Committee on Private International Law will give expert advice on rules dealing with cases where there is a connection with an overseas jurisdiction. It already advises the government on the continuing negotiations […]
Solicitors at the Law Society AGM this afternoon voted against the Council in favour of a motion proposing a renewed ban on referral fees. The resolution, brought by 45 lawyers from across England and Wales, stated: “The meeting deplores the decision of the Law Society Council to sanction the payment of referral fees and calls […]
Weil Gotshal & Manges has joined the growing throng of US firms targeting China by opening a new office in Shanghai. The firm, which has been scouting out the region for a number of months, obtained its license to open the office, which took place on 7 July, from the Ministry of Justice of the […]
The Law Society Council voted this morning by an overwhelming majority to endorse the new conflicts and confidentiality proposals. Only two council members voted against, while 62 voted for the new regime. There were six abstentions. The new rules set down a narrower definition of conflict than current guidelines, and separates out matters of conflict […]
City firm Nicholson Graham & Jones (NGJ) has entered the final stages of merger discussions with US national firm Kirkpatrick & Lockhart just six months after negotiations with Pinsents broke down. The transatlantic firm will be known as Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham and will contain more than 900 lawyers. Kirkpatrick has 10 offices in […]
The group of City law firms involved in the ongoing takeover battle between Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Philip Green has gained another member, after Herbert Smith acted for fashion guru George Davies on the £125m sale of Per Una to the retail company. The sale, which formed part of M&S’ new chief executive Stuart […]
US firm Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy has raided Allen & Overy to land star partner Laurence Jacobs in a major assault on the IT sector. In a statement. London managing partner Phill Fletcher said: “Laurence Jacobs is an undoubted star in his field. His arrival will afford us the depth of experience and capabilities […]
Westminster law firm and parliamentary agent Winckworth Sherwood is splitting off its healthcare group, as the head of the practice leaves to set up a new outfit. The firm decided to close down healthcare in order to concentrate on its core clients. Simon Eastwood head of the group at Winckworth Sherwood, is establishing his own […]
Mills & Reeve is set to almost double its office space in Birmingham, signing a lease on 20,000 sq ft of space in the city centre. The Cambridge-based firm will take three floors at 84 Colmore Row. Mills & Reeve has occupied its current 11,000 sq ft premises for the past three years, during which […]
BellSouth Corporation’s general counsel has quit the Fortune 100 telecoms group, to be immediately replaced by two vice presidents in the legal department. The company said that general counsel Charles Morgan has left for personal reasons. It was recently reported that Morgan was arrested in May on one account of battery on his wife and […]
The Ogier Group is set to become the first Channel Islands firm to expand into New Zealand, taking advantage of the country’s low tax regime. The group, which includes of Ogier & Le Masurier and Ogier & Boxalls, will staff the New Zealand post with staff from the its Fiduciary Services arm, the third component […]
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has drafted in one of its most senior New York-based corporate partners to its Australian office in a bid to bolster the Asia Pacific practice. Christopher Kell, who has been with Skadden Arps for 20 years, has relocated to the 15-year old Sydney office, doubling the partner count to […]