New Athens office
We are pleased to announce the opening of our new affiliated office Christodoulos G Vassiliades Law Firm in Athens, Greece, located at 34, Akadimias Street, 5th Foor, P.C. 106 72.
Conyers advises Full Alliance on S$339m privatisation of Yongye
Conyers Dill & Pearman provided BVI legal advice to Full Alliance International in connection with the S$339m privatisation of Yongye International. Partner and Co-Chairman of the firm David Lamb and Associate Angie Chu, based in Conyers’ Hong Kong office advised on the matter, working alongside Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
No5’s James Dixon helps lorry driver win back license on pro bono basis
Marek Durkiewicz, a lorry driver who was deprived of his driving license is now back on the road thanks to No5 Chambers barrister James Dixon and solicitor Agata Dmoch from Mills & Reeve. Durkiewwicz suffers from a medical condition, which could affect his ability to drive, and consequently has to surrender his license to be […]
Debt levels in UK market top £7bn as firms return to growth mode
Long-term lending to UK law firms has risen to £7.35bn, a rise of 28 per cent over the last four years from £5.75bn in 2010, new research has found. Commercial finance business LDF, which provides loan and lease solutions to a broad spectrum of both corporate and professional businesses, said the increase in debt was […]
Balfour Beatty promotes new GC from within as Vaughan leaves the company
FTSE 250 construction giant Balfour Beatty has appointed David Mercer as its new group general counsel and head of legal following the departure of former general counsel and chief corporate officer Chris Vaughan. Mercer was previously UK general counsel for the company’s construction and services businesses, having joined Balfour Beatty in 2011. Before Balfour Beatty […]
Wragges increases borrowings to £15.3m after Birmingham office move
Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co has seen its borrowings increase by 391 per cent, from £3.9m to £15.3m at the end of the last financial year, as a result of moving offices in Birmingham. The firm’s recent financial results were the first to be announced since it was formed through the merger of Wragge & […]
BLM hires sexual abuse specialist from DAC Beachcroft
BLM has boosted its public sector group through the hiring of ex-DAC Beachcroft (DACB) abuse claims expert Paula Jefferson. Jefferson previously led DACB’s national disease unit where she focused on advising clients regarding claims of historic sexual abuse allegations. As part of this work she represented the BBC in connection with the Jimmy Savile claims. […]
Top 10 stories: 7-13 August 2015
The debate over the future of the legal profession hotted up last week and dominated our most-read stories list. Overture strategy director Mark Brandon’s response to last week’s piece by Adam Smith, Esq’s Bruce MacEwen prompted a lot of comments as readers joined the debate over what tomorrow’s law firm will look like. While some […]
Prudential set to announce new legal panel
Financial services giant Prudential is currently in the process of reviewing its legal panel with the line-up set to be announced imminently. The panel was last reviewed in 2011 by Prudential’s general counsel Margaret Coltman, who is understood to be carrying out the current review. Coltman previously worked at Lloyds Banking Group and was a […]
Macfarlanes’ Charles Martin: “We needed a wake-up call”
After two years of financial decline in 2010, Macfarlanes knew it needed to change. But senior partner Charles Martin says in retrospect the downturn was a positive catalyst, making the firm more adaptable than ever before. Like much of the market, Macfarlanes suffered in the financial downturn. Its revenue dropped 11 per cent in 2008/09, […]
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Foot Anstey pilots ‘warm-desking’ in Bristol ahead of flexible working plans
South West firm Foot Anstey has launched a ‘warm-desking’ pilot in its Bristol office, with managing partner John Westwell saying he also wants to encourage flexible working at the firm. The pilot began recently and is set to run for 12 months. Warm-desking is similar to hot-desking, with staff members not assigned a specific desk, […]
Shoosmiths advises creative duo on record release
Shoosmiths has advised celebrated classical composer Joe Duddell and renowned Mancunian poet Mike Garry on the release of their record ‘St Anthony: an ode to Anthony H Wilson’. The record is in memory of former Factory Records boss and broadcaster, Anthony Wilson. Joe Duddell, who has previously collaborated with a broad range of musicians from […]