24 November 2008

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No Mo’vember

As the end of the month draws near, it is time to bring Tulkinghorn’s Movember odyssey to a close. It is fair to say the results of a month of growth have been mixed. Although some of the team initially struggled to raise anything more than a dark shadow, all managed to sprout a moustache […]

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Berryman lays off 12; Berrymans hiring 12

Nottingham firm Berryman has made several redundancies. It is understood that 12 have lost their jobs in total, although the firm has not yet confirmed specific numbers. Chairman Richard Brackenbury said: “The pressures on businesses throughout the UK caused by the current economic downturn are obvious. For any business, the basic task is keeping profit […]

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Furnival barristers launch breakaway chambers

Fourteen barristers from Furnival Chambers have split from the set to launch a new chambers dedicated to credit crunch-related practices. The new set launches on Monday (1 December) and will be headed by Andrew Mitchell QC, who is a former Furnival chambers head. Mitchell is joined by Alistair Webster QC, who will remain the head […]

TLT in redundancy consultation with 20 staff

Southwest firm TLT Solicitors has become the latest firm to launch a redundancy consultation, talking with up to 20 staff. Southwest-based TLT Solicitors has become the latest firm to launch a redundancy consultation, talking with up to 20 staff. TLT said it would be able to minimise the losses by moving staff to busier areas […]

Bar Standards Board elects new chair

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has selected a chair and vice-chair to succeed Ruth Evans and George Leggatt QC. Baroness Ruth Deech and Sir Geoffrey Nice QC will begin as chair and vice-chairman respectively on 1 January. Timothy Dutton QC commented on their appointment, saying: “We look forward to working with the BSB under their […]

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Field Fisher lawyers freed from Mumbai terror ordeal

Mark Abell and Christopher Jackson, the Field Fisher Waterhouse partners trapped in a Mumbai hotel siege, have been evacuated. Mark Abell (pictured) and Christopher Jackson, the Field Fisher Waterhouse(FFW) partners trapped in a Mumbai terrorist hotel siege, have been evacuated. As reported on TheLawyer.com, Abell was trapped in his room when the attacks began on […]

Freshfields’ Terry stands down as disputes head

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer disputes resolution head Ian Terry has stepped down from the role with Chris Pugh due to succeed him. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer disputes resolution head Ian Terry (pictured) has stepped down from the role after three years with Chris Pugh due to succeed him at the beginning of January. Terry, who served as […]

Bevan Brittan income up 1 per cent at half-year

Bevan Brittan‘s half-year results show turnover growth of only 1 per cent on the same period last year. In the previous full financial year 2007-08, Bevan Brittan’s turnover increased by only 1.5 per cent, from £41.1m to £41.7m. Bevan Brittan chief executive Andrew Manning said in a statement: “I am very pleased to report such […]

Claiming up

Apparently the reason that some consultations are dragging on is because of the number of grievance procedures in place. As already mentioned, a raft of unfair dismissal claims is bubbling under the surface (see post). On the whole these are from individuals who feel they have been accused of underperformance by managers wanting to avoid […]

Cadwalader will not keep any City NQs in spring

US firm Cadwalader Wikersham & Taft will not offer jobs to any of the trainee solicitors who are due to qualify into its London office next spring. Three trainees have been affected by the move, which it is understood has been blamed on market conditions and the rapid expansion of Cadwalader’s UK-based graduate recruitment programme. […]

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Speechly Bircham wins MFI administration mandate

Troubled furniture chain MFI has gone into administration, despite a last-ditch rescue attempt by its management, with Speechly Bircham getting the call from administrators MCR. Speechly Bircham private equity partner Andrew Clarke has been advising the MFI management throughout the crisis. Last month the company’s private equity owners, Merchant Equity Partner sold the business back […]

Aussie firm Blake Dawson opens in Singapore

Australian firm Blake Dawson has opened an office in Singapore as part of its expansion into South East Asia. Blake Dawson managing partner John Carrington said that the Singapore office would concentrate on providing advice in specialist areas to Australian and international companies wishing to grow their Asian operations. The firm’s main focus in the […]