The Anthony Barker QC Memorial Shield, a cricket tournament organised by No5 Chambers, was held at Brislington CC in Bristol on 20 June 2014 in aid of Avon & Bristol Law Centre and Marie Curie Cancer Care. The tournament is a tribute to Anthony Barker QC, a former head of chambers and head of the […]
On 30 May 2014, Allen & Overy hosted the London leg of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre’s (HKIAC’s) Road Show, showcasing its new 2013 Administered Arbitration Rules. The event was in two parts: first, a session on the changes introduced in the 2013 rules and recent trends in Asian arbitration; and, second, a mock […]
The topic of gender diversity has become increasingly under the spotlight recently, with just this year firms including Pinsent Masons, Herbert Smith Freehills, Linklaters and Ashurst upping their game by setting long-term gender diversity targets. But, with just 27 per cent of all partners female, there’s still plenty of work to be done. Now, five […]
FTSE 250 outsourcer Serco has hired BT Global general counsel David Eveleigh as its legal chief in the wake of accusations that it overcharged the Government for electronic tagging. After a 2013 Government review revealed that Serco and G4S had both overbilled the Ministry of Justice, in some cases charging to monitor non-existent tags, Serco […]
Five associates from London firms are setting up a grassroots women’s legal network in a bid to engage and promote the next generation of female solicitors. The group, called Women In Law London (WILL) is thought to be the first of its kind. It is positioning itself as a network ‘by associates for associates’ and […]
Clifford Chance’s new corporate chief has named private equity dealmaker Jonny Myers as private equity co-head alongside Oliver Felsenstein. New global corporate head Guy Norman appointed Myers to co-lead the group a month after stepping into the top role in May. It is the third major corporate leadership change in as many months, following the […]
North East firm Ward Hadaway has reported a 23 per cent drop in net profit for the 2013/14 financial year, although turnover rose by 2.2 per cent to £33.7m. The Newcastle-headquartered firm said profit had fallen to £2.7m from £3.5m last year. Average profit per equity partner (PEP) also fell by 23 per cent, from £322,000 […]
Nicky Richmond is surprised and delighted by Shoreditch restaurant Lyle’s. Last time I crossed town to go to Shoreditch, it was for The Clove Club, on Valentine’s Day. Stupid mistake. I should have wondered why a table was available at this most-difficult-to-book of restaurants. Of course, there was torrential rain and C and I practically […]
Dentons has split up with its Ghanaian ally Bentsi-Enchill Letsa & Ankomah after a 12-year relationship, forcing the international firm to find a new partner in the West African state. Dentons has signed a new association with JLD & MB Legal Consultancy to replace its tie-up with Bentsi-Enchill. In a statement, Bentsi-Enchill said the two firms […]
Sadly it’s a safe bet that the total when Charles Russell Speechlys goes live on 1 November will be fewer than currently work at the two firms. Mergers are always partly about cost savings, and in the current climate, more so. Added to that is the growing acceptance among many firms of the benefits of […]
The back story to the Patton Boggs/Squire Sanders merger highlights why there comparatively few mergers stateside. One of the ways of increasing a law firm’s client base and revenue stream in this age of shrinking demand for legal services and downward pressure on legal fees, is by entering into a merger. Although the same negative […]
What images fill your mind when you hear the names Speechly Bircham and Charles Russell? If it’s a vision of landed estates and leather-bound books, you’re probably not alone. But, perhaps these two firms are not as traditional as they appear. Yesterday 99 per cent of partners at both firms voted in favour of merging […]