Freshfields rolls out Kira Systems as law firm rush for AI continues
Freshfields has adopted AI provider Kira following a year-long trial from its Manchester legal services centre. 5 July: Clifford Chance and DLA Piper partner with Kira Systems
Ex-BG Group legal chief Vinter joins Covington as head of project finance
Former BG Group general counsel Graham Vinter has resurfaced at Covington & Burling’s London office as head of project finance, 18 months after he left the oil business.
HSF biggest winner as FTSE 100 set aside £31bn for litigation bills
The FTSE 100 set aside £31.3bn in the last 12 months to pay litigation legal bills, compensation and regulatory fines, new research by Thomson Reuters has found.
How Steve Cooke and Mike Lynch masterminded the Slaughters AI revolution
Sometimes it really is all about who you know. Only months into his reign as Slaughter and May senior partner, former M&A head Steve Cooke has just introduced artificial intelligence (AI) technology to what is outwardly the most conservative firm in the market. And this is AI that has been purpose built to revolutionise the way Slaughters does deals.
Chinese national firms need to learn a lesson in collaboration
Time to take the kid gloves off. A pecking order is emerging in China, but you can already see mistakes being made by some of the biggest firms there. Those dubbed the Red Circle – Fangda, Haiwen, JunHe, KWM and Zhong Lun – have opened up a gap between them and the national firms – and that gap doesn’t look like closing any time soon. The reason? While the red circle firms have successfully institutionalised their businesses, many national firms can’t let go of their traditional structures where each partner and his or her team represent a separate profit centre. What’s more, the partner shells out for the salaries and business development costs of his or her team members.
Don’t waste a good crisis, GCs
GCs are turning a business crisis to their benefit, by making the legal department’s skills and knowledge indispensable, developing junior members’ skills, and networking with internal departments and external lawyers.
China Elite: Top 30 Chinese firms’ financial results revealed
The highest-grossing law firms in China produce some of the lowest revenues per lawyer in the country, exclusive research by The Lawyer has found.
Allen & Overy outlines plans for major US IP push
A&O is searching for US IP litigation capability amid a worldwide strategy revamp, with expansion plans already taking place in London and Germany, The Lawyer can reveal. 23 Sept: A&O raids Simmons again to boost IP practice
Linklaters senior partner Elliott to become consultant as Jacobs takes over
Outgoing Linklaters senior partner Robert Elliott will become a consultant at the magic circle firm when he is replaced by M&A partner Charlie Jacobs next month.
Royal London Asset Management appoints litigation adviser
Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) has introduced its first litigation lot to its existing legal panel. Wedlake Bell has emerged as the investment management company’s litigator of choice and will act as its sole advisor. Head of commercial litigation David Golten will work as the firm’s client partner. Following its appointment the firm will handle all […]
Allen & Overy raids Simmons again to boost IP expansion
A&O has hired a third and fourth partner from Simmons & Simmons as part of its strategy to boost its international IP practice. 5 Aug: A&O hires Simmons head of IP in London
Government launches tender process for £400m panel
Around 50 firms have started pitching for seats on the UK’s Government’s most expensive panel of the year, having increased the value of its general legal framework to £400m, The Lawyer has learned.