It took a while, but it was worth it. Cooley’s launch in London had been awaited for over a year, but it didn’t diminish the impact. Indeed, The Lawyer’s revelation ten days ago that the firm was opening in the UK with 19 partners dominated our most-read stories list. Quite apart from the magnitude of […]
The key to new year’s resolutions is to rein in your ambitions in the first place. New year’s resolutions are a bit like warranties. (Note to pedants: ignore the fact there is no consideration. Anyway, I execute mine as a deed.) They’re well-intentioned, some thought is usually given to them before the commitment is made […]
German firms are hanging on to their independence despite continued international competition One would hardly expect the leading firms in a sophisticated legal market such as Germany to do much without thinking about it very carefully indeed. This was the case when many of the top firms gave in to the pressure to merge with […]
Belfast has become the focus for UK and international firms’ back office expansions. Are local players finding themselves increasingly sidelined? Northern Ireland has become the latest magnet for office openings and expansions in the past few years. Allen & Overy , Baker & McKenzie and Herbert Smith Freehills all now have back office functions in […]
How was 2014 for Irish firms? And how is 2015 shaping up? Looking at elements such as workflow and financial performance, how would you say 2014 was for the firm? John Cronin, chairman, McCann FitzGerald: Very satisfactory. We’ve been recruiting record numbers: our trainee intake increased by over 40 per cent in 2014 and solicitor […]
This year’s case line-up has an international theme running through it, underlining the English High Court’s reputation as a global litigation centre. If there was any doubt remaining that the English High Court has become a global litigation centre, this year’s round-up of the 20 cases to watch will surely eliminate it. Because while 2015 may […]
Collapsed oil prices and Ebola have hit businesses hard, while European plans to copy UK restructuring tools could challenge British courts’ dominant role. City Link, Phones 4U, London Mining – in recent months we have witnessed the unexpected collapse of some industry giants. However, for the most part, the market was kind to ailing companies […]
Bread might sound a little humdrum for an ex-Royal Air Force officer but Helen Selby has been able to spread her wings at freshly-sold Hovis. Helen Selby joined Hovis as general counsel in May last year after Premier Foods sold off a 51 per cent stake in the business to Gores Group in April, ending […]