The UK’s law firms have abandoned Elon Musk
“I’ve seen the future, and it’s porn, sharks and Nazis.” Twitter hadn’t even been founded at the time, but the above quote from the niche 2005 sitcom Bromwell High turned out to be unintendedly prophetic when considering the journey of one of the planet’s largest social media companies. Once ‘the world’s town square’, Twitter, latterly […]
What a Simpson Thacher rumour says about A&O Shearman’s future
One of Europe’s most enduring rumours is about Simpson Thacher & Bartlett opening in Luxembourg. It is one of the jurisdiction’s key referrers of work for the local Luxembourg players, meaning there is an amount of paranoia among them about what would happen if Simpson Thacher decided to open its own office there. The idea […]
The UK’s best personal injury firm is also its best commercial one
Which is the best personal injury firm in the country? Irwin Mitchell, perhaps? Maybe Leigh Day, or Slater & Gordon? Wrong, wrong, wrong. The answer in fact is Cheshire six-lawyer outfit Gavin Edmondson Solicitors, which according to the website reviewsolicitors.co.uk scores better than almost 2,500 PI firms across the country for its quality. What about […]
All eyes are on Mishcon’s cash bet
Cash piles rose during the pandemic, but the latest year-end shows a turnaround. Across the UK 200, debt levels are increasing, and those precious cash reserves are being eroded by a tide of rising costs. This evidence suggests the trend is most prominent among firms that occupy the mid-tier; these firms are spending big as […]
Magic circle firms are too big
Who says UK firms are getting left behind in the global legal market? Whoever it is should take a look at the top end of this year’s UK 200, which later this month highlights that for the first time ever, all four magic circle firms have a turnover of more than £2bn (though it’s worth […]
Ashurst and Slaughters lead as Segro buys property rival
Slaughter and May is advising longtime client Segro on the property investment company’s purchase of Tritax Eurobox. Corporate partners David Johnson and Sally Wokes are leading for the London-listed warehouse heavyweight, Segro. Meanwhile, the target Tritax is being advised by Ashurst. Corporate partners Karen Davies and Simon Bullock are at the helm of the team, […]
Changing of the guard: Latham names new London boss
Latham & Watkins has appointed a new managing partner for its London office to succeed Stephen Kensell after four years at the helm. Ed Barnett will take charge effective immediately, with Kensell due to retire at the end of the year. Barnett is a corporate partner at Latham and has been with the firm since […]
Slaughters bows to pressure with NQ pay rise
Newly-qualified solicitors at Slaughter and May are officially joining the £150,000 pay club after the firm brought its pay review forward. The firm had previously stated it would hold its pay rate at £125,000 until at least November this year. The new salary took effect on 1 September, putting the firm in line with Freshfields […]
Revenues up, profits up: UK top 50 firms in record-breaking year
Five UK 200 firms posted a total turnover in excess of £2bn in 2023/24, while one topped £3bn for the first time in a year when both revenue and profit grew significantly. The top 50 firms ranked by global revenue generated a total £33.4bn last year, up by 8.4 per cent on the previous year. […]
TDR names new GC after Holdsworth exit
Private equity house TDR Capital has promoted Emma Gilks to the top general counsel role after David Holdsworth returned to private practice last month. Gilks has been at TDR Capital since 2015 when she joined as a legal counsel from Reed Smith. Having qualified at Reed Smith in 2012, Gilks worked in the firm’s corporate […]