21 January 2008

Linklaters v Freshfields: the arms race starts here

Linklaters’ shock ‘New World’ partner cull sparked by magic circle fight for supremacy Linklaters’ plan to trim its partnership by up to 70 has sparked furious debate across the profession. As exclusively revealed by TheLawyer.com last week (23 January), the management is considering cutting up to 70 partners and 10 per cent of associates in […]

Lawyers who rock

Lawyers who rock25-Jan-2008The appointment of Chris Saul as Slaughter and May’s senior partner has set tongues wagging in the legal market. Not least when he declared in his first interview as managing partner: “I want to make sure we have fun.” The appointment of Chris Saul as Slaughter and May‘s senior partner has set tongues […]

Ashurst makes rare Hengeler hire

Ashurst Germany has enticed a corporate counsel away from Hengeler Mueller, Slaughter & May’s German best friend. Claudia Junker will join Ashurst’s equity partnership in its Frankfurt office’s corporate department, reported German magazine Juve. Hengeler has famously never lost a partner to a rival but that at a more junior level “it can happen that […]

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Disability: the final frontier?

How do attitudes towards recruiting and retaining people with disabilities compare with gender and ethnic equality? Karin Pappenheim, CEO of Employment Opportunities examines the latest developments in diversity employment in the legal sector. In a sector that demands continual improvements to stand out from the competition, law firms are realising the need to create a […]

Ireland’s economic growth

Over the past decade or more, inward foreign investment (FDI) by foreign multinational companies has played a significant role in Ireland’s economic development. While Irish businesses have traditionally accessed overseas markets through exports, they are increasingly expanding their commercial presence and activities in overseas markets through mergers or acquisitions of overseas businesses, the establishment of […]

Trust us

Most people already know that the Chancellor’s pre budget report in October scored an own goal in its attempt to simplify capital gains tax. In the case of inheritance tax (IHT), a tax which given the cost of collection has more to do with politics than UK fiscal and economic need, the announcement of transferable […]

A&O management elections: the runners and riders

The race for Allen & Overy‘s (A&O) future management is on, as a total of four candidates have stepped forward to take over the top two roles at the firm. Belgian managing partner and co-head of corporate Wim Dejonghe will be running against London finance partner and management board member Boyan Wells in the fight […]

Let’s be friends

Splits are often said to be “amicable”. For the lawyers at Anderson Kill & Olick, let’s hope it’s especially true in their case. On Tuesday (22 January), we reported that the ever-growing international juggernaut that is Reed Smith was taking 55 lawyers from the 126-lawyer New York firm (see story). And it is. Just not […]

Lovells and Brick Court prepare to defend Terra Firma over Boxclever collapse

Terra Firma is set to become the sole defendant in the case brought by French Bank Ixis over the collapse of television rentals company Boxclever. Ixis had claimed for co-purchase agreement and acquisition losses arising from the collapse of Boxclever. The original claim had been brought against the private equity group, German lender WestLB and […]

House of Lords hears Norris extradition case

The House of Lords will today begin hearing the case of Ian Norris, determining conditions under which a UK citizen can be extradited to the US. The House of Lords will today (24th January) begin hearing the extradition case of Ian Norris which will determine the conditions under which a UK citizen can be extradited […]

FSA launches first prosecution of GC

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has launched its first criminal prosecution for insider dealing, accusing the former general counsel at telecoms company TTP Communications of profiting from insider information. Christopher McQuoid appeared at City of London Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday on a charge of insider dealing, along with his father-in-law James William Melbourne. McQuoid is […]

Withers launches in Hong Kong

Private client specialist Withers is to open in Hong Kong, focusing on cross-border legal and wealth planning. Withers launches in Hong Kong” />Private client specialist Withers is to open in Hong Kong. The firm’s new office will focus on the cross-border legal and wealth planning needs of entrepreneurs, families, businesses and their advisers throughout East […]