Browne Jacobson: Environmental control” />Nottingham-based law firm Browne Jacobson made it into The Sunday Times annual best places to work list for the first time this year. HR director Eileen Henry is convinced that the firm’s debut on the list was due to the firm’s friendly culture and flexible work policies, although she is humble […]
Addleshaw Goddard: Onus on the bonus” />The growing pains of mergers and becoming one of the UK’s biggest national law firms has not been easy for Addleshaw Goddard, but out of it the firm has evolved an HR strategy that has proved a winner with the staff. Competitive remuneration systems, defined career paths, alternative tracks […]
Wragge & Co: Culture hub” />Career paths for young lawyers are at the top of the agenda at Midlands powerhouse Wragge & Co. The HR team, led by director Linda Bellis, developed a career path for every single job offered at the firm following a full review three years ago.Most recently, the team introduced a […]
Hiring laterals is often a risky business. The different cultures of law firms means HR has to be sensitive to the shock of changing firms, both for the new partner and their expectant team at the new law firm. Diane Price, head of HR at Martineau Johnson, argues that social contact is key. The partner […]
Trowers & Hamlins: Keeping them keen” />The legal market’s biggest challenge will be keeping assistants happy, warns Malcolm Lewis, head of HR at Trowers & Hamlins. Lewis sees a new Generation X developing, which will defy the traditions treasured by the established partnership.“The young have different expectations and ideas about work to the partners in […]
For the third successive year, Manchester-based Pannone & Partners came out as the top firm in The Sunday Times best places to work list. Rachel Dobson, the firm’s HR director, is quite rightly pleased with the result and believes it is a testament to the firm’s open culture. “We’ve always been an egalitarian firm. You […]
Clifford Chance has strengthened its Dutch capital markets team with a new partner from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Pieter van Welzen joins the magic circle firm’s Amsterdam office in May where his main focus will be securitisation and structured finance. Van Welzen a qualified lawyer in England and Wales as well a qualified Dutch lawyer. The […]
While larger law firms still believe a juicy cash bonus is the best incentive, other firms are realising that the way to keep staff motivated and happy is to offer remuneration packages that account for a wider range of needs The average lawyer undisputedly spends the majority of their waking hours in the office, making […]
Publisher Informa has appointed its first general counsel picking its CMS Cameron McKenna relationship partner John Burton. Burton has been Informa’s key outside counsel for a number of years. He advised the company on its $1.4bn acquisition of US conference organiser IIR in 2005 and its £1.1bn merger with publisher Taylor & Francis in 2004. […]
Ronnie Fox, the former senior partner and founder of Fox Williams, is leaving the firm at the end of April, it emerged this morning (13 April). The firm issued a short statement announcing Fox’s departure, but refused to comment on his plans for the future. Fox stepped down as senior partner a year ago, to […]
Swedish firm Mannheimer Swartling has launched a dramatic raid on Scandinavian rival Vinge, poaching its sole Hong Kong partner and Shanghai office head to launch its China practice. Mannheimer recruited Vinge’s sole Hong Kong lawyer Thomas Lagerqvist along with Shanghai office head Ulf Ohrling. Mannheimer will initially move lawyers from its Swedish operations to China […]
Pinsent Masons has raided Charles Russell for the firm’s joint head of professional liability. Jacquetta Castle will join Pinsents from April 24 as a partner in the firm’s professional liability practice, which comes under the 30-lawyer insurance and reinsurance group. Pinsents insurance and reinsurance head Tim Burton said: “Jacquetta is a highly rated and experienced […]