It was in late 2008 that the then Master of the Rolls Lord Clarke set in motion a route to reform aimed at cracking down on spiralling litigation costs. Lord Justice Jackson was to propose that regime and the courts were to impose and enforce it. More than five years later litigators are still working […]
Barrister Tom Restall warns that the CoA has raised the stakes by offering a ‘third way’ on costs after it attempted to provide clarity on the Mitchell ruling The Court of Appeal’s (CoA’s) recent decision is more ominous than you may think Some judges have been misunderstanding and misapplying Mitchell. So says the Court of […]
Eversheds has announced its results for the 2013–14 financial year, confirming a two per cent year-on-year increase in top-line revenue. Substantial investments were made by the firm during the course of the year, with more than £30m (eight per cent of revenue) committed to investments in key areas, including expanding its international operations in Asia, […]
Ashurst, Simmons & Simmons and Addleshaw Goddard have won coveted first-time spots on BP’s UK panel, unveiled today (9 July) following a three-month review process. The panel has expanded its roster from eight firms to ten, reappointing all of its existing firms with the exemption of Fieldfisher, for a three year mandate with effect from […]
It’s kicking off online thanks to Mark Brandon’s Industry Leaders article. If you missed it, here are some of the highlights: London will fall to US firms, ABS is no big deal, Vereins have had it and the modern obsession with process is a waste of time. Brandon, the founder of consultancy Motive Legal, argues […]
Mafarlanes upped its turnover by 22 per cent in the 2013/14 financial year, from £114.16m to £139.75m. The increase follows the previous year’s rise of 11.7 per cent from £102.2m, bolstering revenue by more than a third in just two years (4 July 2013). In 2013/14, net profit rose by 31.3 per cent from £49.2m […]
Three brothers who ran one of Gibraltar’s largest law firms were jailed last week for fraud, four years after their firm, Marrache & Co, was put into liquidation. Benjamin, Isaac and Solomon Marrache were found guilty of fraud last week after a trial which was adjourned 47 times and saw the jury discharged last year. […]
DLA Piper has represented Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida (Florida Blue) in its agreement to sell affiliate Comp Options Insurance Company (OptaComp) to AmTrust Financial Services. The deal is expected to close in autumn 2014. OptaComp is a Florida-based workers’ compensation insurer that works with small businesses with low-hazard risk profiles. The DLA […]
DLA Piper has announced that Kevin Finger and Jeffrey Torosian, the former co-chairs of Greenberg Traurig’s Chicago litigation practice, will join the firm’s litigation practice as partners in the Chicago office. Finger focuses his practice on civil and bankruptcy litigation, corporate compliance and white-collar criminal matters. He also represents hedge funds, large corporations and officers […]
Gateley’s banking and finance team has advised on a recent deal that saw Shropshire-based Bridgnorth Aluminium, a producer of lithographic aluminium strip, secure £62m in funding from the Birmingham office of Lloyds Banking Group. Andrew Madden, banking and finance partner, and Rebecca Sherwin, real-estate partner, provided legal advice to Lloyds Banking Group, assisted by Tammy […]
DLA Piper has advised the shareholders of GVA Grimley Holdings on its sale to Bilfinger SE. GVA is a commercial property consultant, while Bilfinger SE is an engineering and services group based in Germany. The Birmingham-based DLA Piper team was led by corporate partner Jim Lavery, who was assisted by senior associate Nigel Cooke.
Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co has announced the promotion of 13 lawyers to the firm’s legal director role. The appointments, which took effect from 1 July 2014, enhance the firm’s capabilities in core practice areas and growth sectors. The new legal directors are: John Coldham (intellectual property), Marie-Aude Fichet (real estate, Paris), Sarah Galvin (real […]