Allen & Overy is set to become the first magic circle firm to convert to a UK limited liability partnership (LLP). The Lawyer understands that subject to a partnership vote, conversion could take place by the end of this financial year, although it is possible that not all of the firm will initially transfer to […]
Inefficient administration in court offices is hampering access to justice, according to the findings of the latest Law Society survey. The sixth Woolf Questionnaire surveyed solicitors across the UK, asking about the effectiveness of civil justice reforms. Nearly four out of ten respondents said that inefficient administration in court offices has had an impact on […]
Police are one step further to bringing disgraced former Lawrence Graham partner Michael Fielding back to the United Kingdom. In 2001, after running up millions of pounds of debt with the Royal Bank of Scotland, Michael Fielding allegedly took £2m out of client London & Regional Properties’ account. On 2 June that year, Michael Fielding […]
Willkie Farr & Gallagher is spearheading a move into the compliance field after scooping two partners from Foley & Lardner. Martin Weinstein and Robert Meyer will lead the firm’s new compliance and enforcement group, based within Willkie Farr’s rapidly expanding Washington office. Weinstein, a former assistant US attorney in the fraud section of the Northern […]
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has at long last concluded its convoluted panel review. The Lawyer understands that Addleshaw Goddard has been appointed onto the RBS general advisory panel for the first time. However, Slaughter and May, which has historically advised the bank on its own account work dropped out of the tender process at […]
Pinsents property partner Alex Jones has quit to join the Birmingham office of DLA. Jones, who has been based Pinsents since 1996, is the third property partner to leave the national firm this year. Jon Austin and Eleanor Deady left Pinsents in March and April respectively. Pinsents joint managing partner for Birmingham, Paul Finlan, said: […]
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is set to shake the German legal market by opening its second regional office in Cologne. Cleary Gottlieb’s new Cologne office will officially open on 10 November when its high-profile anti-trust lateral Dirk Schroeder joins the firm from Linklaters, as exclusively revealed by The Lawyer (3 November). The office adds […]
Clifford Chance is sending out a clear signal of its commitment to Italy post-Grimaldi by hiring the partner in charge of Carnelutti’s Padua office and four other lawyers. Corporate partner Oliviero Pessi brings clients including insurance giant Assicurazioni Generali and major exhibition centre Padova Fiere to Clifford Chance. The haul of four other lawyers includes […]
A Stephenson Harwood team acting for Westminster Council has emerged victorious in its battle to uncover millions of pounds of assets belonging to Dame Shirley Porter, the council’s former leader who was fined £37m last year for gerrymandering in the 1980s. Dame Shirley fled to Isreal after being found guilty of gerrymandering in the “homes […]
Canadian and US firm Torys has hired the tax head of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg. James Guadiana arrival at Torys’ New York office takes the number of partners in the firm’s tax group to four. Guadiana’s practice focuses on advising clients on the tax aspects of cross-border deals and business operations. He represents public […]
Norwich-based Steeles has become the latest law firm to convert to a limited liability partnership (LLP). The move, effective from 1 November this year, will see Steeles file a full set of accounts with Companies House in 2004. It joins other firms, including Wragge & Co, Eversheds, Harbottle & Lewis and Gateley Wareing, all of […]
London private client specialist Lee & Pembertons has gained Hamlins partner and head of family Rosemary Carter. It is understood that Hamlins, a commercial property-orientated West End firm, will no longer be active in family law, but Carter will maintain a reciprocal referral relationship with her old firm. Carter, who is a former chairman of […]