Editor's Note
The pricing is right at Olswang
Olswang's hunt for more pricing specialists underscores one of the key market trends right now which is having an impact on most if not all of a firm's back office staff. Well, that term in itself ('back office') is becoming increasingly out-dated, as senior members of BD, finance and other core support teams take a leading role on client pitches.
Every firm is looking for that extra edge. Learning from other industries has never been UK Legal's strong suit, but at some firms - Olswang among them - it looks as if the message is finally filtering through.
Elsewhere in this edition of The Lawyer Management there is a word of warning for finance teams from Louis Baker at accountancy firm Crowe Clark Whitehill. Baker helpfully points out that HMRC has the tax treatment of 'salaried members' of LLPs and mixed partnerships ie those that are a mix of individuals and companies as partners, in its cross hairs. It is proposing new legislation from 6 April 2014 to clamp down on what it sees as abuse, some of it by law firms, and has launched a consultation. If you want to have your say, the time is now.
In addition, check out WorkShare's guide to managing metadata, IntApp's risk management briefing which offers a fresh approach to new business intake and Informance on how lawyers can view, analyse and interact with data and monitor their firm's financial performance more effectively.
Matt Byrne
Features editor
matt.byrne@thelawyer.com
News
Taylor Wessing to put 96 secretarial roles in redundancy consultation
Taylor Wessing is set to put nearly 100 London roles in redundancy consultation as part of a restructuring of its secretarial function.
Addleshaws to cut costs with process-mapping initiative
Addleshaw Goddard is rolling out a new legal process-mapping initiative across more than 40 of its primary transactions in an attempt to provide cheaper and more efficient services to clients.
You have to be good to worry about fee rates
Mid-market firms fret about their image, while the elite focus on pricing
Ashurst has its reasons for choosing Glasgow
There’s more to Ashurst’s Scottish venture than a quest for the lowest cost
SRA examines financials across the profession as 160 enter intensive supervision
As many as 160 UK firms are facing financial difficulties according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), with eight judged as being at an “immediate risk” of collapse.
ABS News and Analysis
Co-op Legal Services unveils first-ever TV campaign
Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) has unveiled its first-ever advertising campaign, directed by qualified barrister Jamie Rafn.
Minster acquired by Compare the Market owner BGL
Insurance business BGL Group, the owners of insurance website comparethemarket.com, has acquired volume personal injury firm Minster Law.
LSA prompts strategy rethink at quarter of firms, says survey
The Legal Services Act (LSA) is making traditional firms more innovative with 25 per cent planning on changing their strategy as a direct result of the legislation, a survery by advisory firm Baker Tilly has claimed.
Thrings names Simon Holdsworth as new managing partner
Bath-headquartered Thrings has named company commercial head Simon Holdsworth as its new managing partner succeeding Thomas Sheppard.
Irwin Mitchell closes in on £200m turnover
Irwin Mitchell’s legal practice is closing in on the £200m revenue mark, with the firm’s commercial business generating revenues of £40m over the last financial year.
Financial News
Osborne Clarke revenues rise to £112m, growth slows in the UK
Osborne Clarke has seen turnover increase by 14 per cent over the last financial year from £98m to £112m.
SJ Berwin revenue rises as firm prepares for 10 per cent PEP drop
SJ Berwin has reported a 2.5 per cent rise in revenue for the latest financial year against an anticipated drop in average profit per equity partner (PEP) of roughly 10 per cent.
Pinsents smashes £300m barrier with revenues of £309m
-- Pinsent Masons has broken through the £300m barrier to post a five per cent increase in turnover from £295m to £309m, a year after its merger with McGrigors.
Nabarro turnover up 2 per cent to £116.3m, PEP to rocket
Nabarro’s turnover increased by 2.6 per cent to £116.3m in 2012-13, with the firm predicting that its PEP will soar by 30 per cent based on preliminary figures.
Garrigues London revenue soars by 32 per cent for 2011/12
Revenue at Iberian firm Garrigues’ London office shot up by 32 per cent in the 2011/12 financial year, the firm’s LLP accounts have shown.
Opinion
Profile
The Lawyer Management: Bonelli Erede Pappalardo
Marco D’Angelo, marketing and business development director
Briefings
What Supreme Court’s Myriad decision means for biopharma companies download subscription
On 13 June 2013, the US Supreme Court ruled that certain patent claims owned by US biotech company Myriad Genetics are invalid as products of nature.
London property prices breaking new ground weblink subscription
The rising disparity in property prices between the north and the south and between London boroughs themselves appears to breaking new ground.
Changes to charge registration regime at Companies House weblink subscription
As of 6 April 2013, the Companies Act 2006 (Amendment of Part 25) Regulations 2013 have been in force.
Changes to VAT accounting: good news for LPA receivers weblink subscription
LPA receivers collect rents, together with any VAT payable on those rents, and incur input VAT on costs associated with their appointment, such as development costs.
Appropriation and relief from forfeiture weblink subscription
The Financial Collateral Arrangements (No.2) Regulations introduced a new means for a security holder to enforce its security in respect of financial collateral.
