Reed Smith is opting for 70 per cent open-plan space in its new building, transforming the way the firm’s London office is fitted out when it moves home this summer. The move is in stark contrast to the way the firm currently operates in its Broadgate Tower office, which is majority cellular, reflecting a significant […]
The fate of King & Wood Mallesons’ (KWM) final European office has been decided with the firm’s Madrid partners joining Addleshaw Goddard. KWM’s 13-partner Madrid office will join Addleshaws next month, launching the UK firm’s first office in Spain. The new office will be led by KWM Spain managing partner and corporate/M&A lawyer Roberto Pomares. […]
EasyGroup takes on “brand thieves” again in new suit EasyGroup, the owning group of budget airline EasyJet, has filed a part 7 “passing off and trade marks claim” in the Intellectual Property List, continuing its long-running campaign against what it calls “brand thieves”. Stephenson Harwood has been called in to represent EasyGroup in this latest […]
Santander has cut its UK panel by five following the bank’s latest review of its roster. Originally a panel of 19, the roster of firms has been cut to 14. Firms that have made the cut include Slaughter and May and Allen & Overy, as well as Hogan Lovells and Addleshaw Goddard. A source told […]
Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling have announced the first promotions round for A&O Shearman, with 40 lawyers making the grade. Ahead of the merger going live next month, A&O has made up 32 partners, while Shearman has promoted eight. In the UK, A&O has promoted a total of nine partners across the firm’s […]
Ropes & Gray has appointed a new managing partner to lead the London office, taking over from Jane Rogers. Rohan Massey makes the step up. He currently leads the firm’s data, privacy and cybersecurity group, as well as the technology, media and telecoms group, and frequently works on deals for clients such as 3i Group, […]
Kirkland & Ellis has swiped another partner from Allen & Overy, just one month ahead of the magic circle firm’s tie-up with Shearman & Sterling. Vanessa Xu is making the move to Kirkland, having spent the entirety of her 17-year career at A&O. She was made partner in 2017. A leveraged and acquisition finance partner, […]
Hill Dickinson is swiftly growing its new Birmingham office, with the addition of two more teams from Irwin Mitchell. The firm has significantly strengthened its real estate capabilities in the Midlands, adding expertise in both transactions and litigation to the five-strong corporate team it onboarded in February to launch the office. The real estate team […]
Sports Direct takes on Newcastle United in kit rights clash The Magpies are heading to the Competition Appeal Tribunal tomorrow (9 April) for one day in a claim brought by Sports Direct, as the high street sports equipment retailer challenges Newcastle United over its third-party kit sales policy. Sports Direct, represented by Travers Smith, alleges […]
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan client Phones 4u (P4u) has been granted permission to appeal its £1bn competition suit against some of the biggest mobile network providers, following a defeat in the High Court last year. The firm has succeeded in having eight grounds approved to take to appeal, including the allegation that an exchange […]
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has come under fire for its candidate confidentiality policy for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), as the backlash surrounding the latest set of results rumbles on. A lack of transparency around the content is said to be having a negative impact on preparation course delivery and candidates’ ability to make […]
Dentons’ client Stagecoach South Western Trains has agreed to settle part of consumer champion Justin Gutmann’s boundary fares class action, which concerns train passengers paying higher fees when travelling between zones. Gutmann, represented by Charles Lyndon and Hausfeld, filed a joint application for a collective settlement approval in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) with Stagecoach […]