As the likes of Allen & Overy and Norton Rose set out ambitious litigation growth plans, Herbert Smith is busy consolidating. Global litigation head Sonya Leydecker is keen to emphasize just how important a cross-border litigation practice is to the firm. “We say it’s an international practice not a London office,” she says, on message […]
The newly appointed board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is littered with City stars, highlighting a change in direction for the SRA, which has come under fire for failing to address the concerns of major commercial firms. The board, chaired by lawyer Peter Williamson, is dominated by people with public sector backgrounds, with just […]
Travers Smith’s incoming managing partner Andrew Lilley, who takes over from Chris Carroll in January, will take a five-week break during October and November to work at Ashray Akrutia, a school for the deaf in India. Adopt A Business, a UK company that organises sabbaticals for professionals, arranged the sabbatical for Lilley, who will apply […]
Eversheds has teamed up with City rivals and three recruitment firms to tackle the issue of diversity in legal recruitment. Caroline Wilson The initiative, spearheaded by Eversheds, will see 11 firms work with recruiters First Counsel, Taylor Root and Shilton Sharpe Quarry to gather diversity statistics so as to monitor access to the UK legal […]
First day back from the summer break, and lawyers across the country are rushing to their desks with smiles on their faces and a song in their hearts. Of course, September is traditionally a time for workplace resolutions, pledges and vows. Kicking off is Macfarlanes, which as we reveal today (see story), has vowed to […]
Tulkinghorn would like to doff his cap, incline his head and metaphorically shake the virtual hand of Eversheds, for what turned out to be the serendipitous invitation of the summer. But first, thanks are due to all the hosts of some splendid summer bashes this season, from Lovells’ traditional curtain raiser at the start, […]
Osborne Clarke is set to strengthen its banking and finance disputes practice with the hire of partner Ed Crosse from Clifford Chance. Move of the week Peter Clough, head of Osborne Clarke’s disputes practice, said: “We believe the market for litigation and disputes services in the sector will be very busy over the next few […]
What was your first-ever job?A summer job fixing wooden boxes at a greenhouse compound. I was given a lesson in work ethics by being reprimanded for working too intensively. Ilya Nikiforov What was your worst experience as a trainee?Interviewing suspects in a rundown detention facility as a government-appointed attorney, witnessing the sorrow felt by wretched […]
Ignoring the lure of international expansion, the Greek legal market remains primarily made up of family-run firms focused on the local market. The Greek legal industry has long been regarded as one of the most traditional in Europe, with local, family-run law firms dominating the market. While Greek firms have long-served local companies and banks […]
The Radmacher case heard in the Court of Appeal, which accepted the viability of a prenup against the ruling of the first instance judge, appears to have allowed for an incursion of foreign law into English courts. By Henry Brookman Katrin Radmache In July one of Germany’s richest women, Katrin Radmacher, claimed victory in her […]
For someone who doesn’t drink much, Sabine Chalmers has made a niche for herself in the top legal post at Anheuser-Busch InBev. Sabine Chalmers Sabine Chalmers claims she likes to kick back with a bottle of Bud Light after a long day at the office, while her husband is a fan of Beck’s. It is […]
From an explosive setback in the 1990s, the past decade has seen Norton Rose consolidate its business – yet its key overseas ambitions remain a work in progress Peter Martyr You could forgive Norton Rose’s leadership a moment of quiet satisfaction after securing a tie-up with Australian outfit Deacons in June. After all, the firm has had […]