Insurance specialist Kennedys has received approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to become an alternative business structure (ABS). The new status will allow the firm to retain four non-lawyers as partners. The new status took effect on 1 November.
Last week, Osborne Clarke, Reed Smith and Paul Hastings all expanded their City practices, while Clayton Utz hired Herbert Smith Freehills’ (HSF) Singapore real estate head.
Ashurst’s John Carrington, who helped handle the integration of Blake Dawson, has retired as Australian managing partner with no successor, as Herbert Smith Freehills bulks up in Asia with two corporate hires from the firm.
Vinson & Elkins London managing partner Alexander Msimang talks to Legal Business about how the firm has opted not to invest outside of its core sectors and geographic locations.
Linklaters and Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy have secured a judgment in favour of Visa after 12 major UK retailers, led by the Arcadia Group, sought damages in relation to Visa’s setting of interchange rates.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is set to advise Tesco on the formal criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) after leading the investigation into the retailer’s profit warning alongside accountancy giant Deloitte.
Steven Fennell, a former Halliwells partner, has won a High Court declaration that stops Halliwells’ liquidators’ claim of £125,000 against him for alleged overdrawings.
Baker & McKenzie has hired three partners from DLA Piper’s Mexico City office as the latter combines with a local outfit to extend its offering, meanwhile Clyde & Co has launched in Brisbane after taking three partners from Sparke Helmore.
After unexpectedly stepping down from his management role, former Olswang chief executive David Stewart has officially resigned from the firm, and is currently seeking new opportunities.
Linklaters and Baker & McKenzie have won lead roles advising on Novartis’ definitive agreement to divest its influenza vaccines business to Australian biotech firm CSL Limited (CSL), for $275m.
