Charles Russell Speechlys (CRS) managing partner James Carter has revealed he is working on a five-year plan to “build the brand” of the combined firm one year after the merger of legacy Charles Russell and Speechly Bircham. The new firmwide strategy is the first since the merger was announced in July last year, which created a […]
DWF client development director Clifton Harrison has exited the firm to join Eversheds as head of marketing and business development. Harrison, who also sat on DWF’s executive committee, took up his new role on 28 September. He has been replaced by Dentons head of client development for the UK, Europe and Middle East and Africa (UKMEA) David Irvine. The […]
Baker & McKenzie has retained its title as the top global law firm brand, while Allen & Overy (A&O), Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have all dropped down in the rankings. Baker & McKenzie came out top across all categories that make up the law firm brand index, including: awareness, favorability and consideration […]
All the latest partner hires and other appointments within Continental European firms and offices. Baltics Sorainen has hired the former managing partner of Borenius in Lithuania, Daivis Švirinas, and its head of litigation, Žygimantas Pacevičius, along with a team of 11 qualified lawyers. Benelux CMS has announced the appointment of telecoms, media, data protection and […]
Pitmans has acquired City-based Calverts Solicitors, adding £1m to its top line and taking headcount to over 250. Calverts’ three partners, four consultants and a trainee all moved into Pitmans’ London office on Thursday (1 October), with support staff expected to move over in the coming weeks. Pitmans’ managing partner John Hutchinson told The […]
A nudist resort caught the eye of real estate lawyers after a dispute arose between its owner and tenants. The tenants had constructed a chalet on a plot of land leased to them and in 2011 and 2012 carried out extensive renovations on the building. The disgruntled landlord objected to the work and served the […]
The creditors of liquidated firm Manches are seeking legal advice to bring a judicial review of the SRA’s handling of the liquidation, after they were left with a £4.2m shortfall in tax receipts. HMRC is Manches’ largest unsecured creditor, accounting for 83 per cent of the total debt. The decision to launch court proceedings followed […]
Shoosmiths has acted for the management team of Milton Keynes based business Compello Holdings Ltd in the £113m sale to Hoist Finance (UK) Ltd in July 2015. Compello, which has been providing collection services since 2003, and became a debt purchaser in 2010, held a portfolio of more than one million agreements at the time […]
Karanović & Nikolić has provided legal counsel to Air Serbia, the Serbian flag carrier, regarding financing agreements for funds to be used for capital expenditures and investments in its fleet. Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates and a 49 per cent stakeholder in Air Serbia, raised over $700m to be distributed to […]
Former 39 Essex silk Rohan Pershad QC has been disbarred following his criminal conviction over £600,000 VAT fraud. Pershad was found guilty of cheating the public purse in February 2013 after “deliberately” not paying a total of £600,000 VAT over a period of 12 years. The jury took almost 10 hours to convict him on […]
Across the personal injury (PI) claims market firms are feeling the force of the fixed-fee system first brought about by the Jackson reforms. Profit margins are under attack. Winn Solicitors, which once boasted a managing partner on a £5m salary, is one such firm grappling with the new world order. When The Lawyer first met […]
The story behind the formation of the Essex Court Choir begins at a dinner for Gordon Pollock QC in February 2014, held to commemorate his 20 years’ service as head of chambers. “Sing, then. Sing, indeed, with shoulders back, and head up so that song might go to the roof and beyond to the sky. […]