UK

UK updates from The Lawyer, covering London and regional law firms and the Bar.

Travel

Lawyers circled Earth 2,400 times more last year as travel bounces back

The UK’s top 20 firms logged the equivalent of 2,407 more trips around the world in 2023 than they did in 2022, as business travel surged post-pandemic. According to Companies House data, these firms in 2022 collectively emitted 25,766 tCO2e from business travel – the equivalent of driving 65.9 million miles in a typical petrol-powered […]

25 Moorgate

WFW set for first City office move in 30 years

Watson Farley & Williams has ended its search for new London premises, opting for a building that enables it to be the sole tenant of its City space. The firm has signed a lease at 25 Moorgate with developer Barings. The lease will run for 15 years, with the firm expecting to move into the […]

Weightmans elects successor to longstanding Schorah

Weightmans has appointed client relationships director Sarah Walton as its new managing partner. Walton will assume the role in April 2025 after a six-month transition period.  She will be replacing current chief John Schorah, who is retiring after 12 years in the role and 18 years on the Weightmans board.  In a statement, managing partner […]

Travers Smith

Travers pensions duo leaves firm

Weeks after losing a senior tax partner, Travers is set for a double partner exit – this time from its pensions team. Pensions partners Andy Lewis and Dan Naylor are the latest to leave the firm.  Lewis, who has been with the firm for over eight years, is set to join Sackers. He joined Travers […]

Phone

Ex-DWF partner barred from law after sending sexual messages and photos to minor

A former DWF partner has been banned from practising law after a judgment published by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) this morning revealed he had intentionally attempted communication with a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification. The ex-partner in question concerns David Storry Walton, who was part of the real estate team at DWF […]

Goodwin snaps up DLA duo for sports finance strength

Goodwin Procter has hired two partners from DLA Piper to strengthen its sports finance offering. Partners Paul Gray and Lewis Gaut are set to join Goodwin’s real estate finance practice in the London office. Gray joined DLA from Sidley Austin in 2014 and has been a partner at the firm for over 10 years. His […]

Analysis