BLP bank debt up sharply as 2012/13 annual reports filter through Growing debt was a recurring theme in the limited liability partnership (LLP) accounts filed in January, led by Legal Business 100 top-20 UK firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, which, after a year of partner departures and a significant drop in profit per equity partner, revealed …
Continue reading “Latest LLP filings show increased borrowing”
While most of central and eastern Europe (CEE) predictably remains in recovery mode from the global financial crisis, the buoyant energy sector has led to a steady stream of foreign investment and some prized mandates for law firms active in the region. Anything that can galvanize the region’s economy is to be welcomed. While the …
Continue reading “Breaking new ground – advisers hope shale revolution can restart CEE market”
Following on from its roll out of high-end contract lawyer service Peerpoint last November, Allen & Overy is continuing to challenge and develop its model with the introduction of an initiative to adopt new business practices from its clients. The Magic Circle giant, led by senior partner David Morley, has pulled together five panels of between …
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has become the second Magic Circle firm to release its 2012/13 limited liability partnership (LLP) filings with Companies House, revealing a drop of 5% in average equity partner numbers and a reduction in the pay packet of its highest paid member. The LLP, which saw its 2012/13 profits fall to £312.3m from £329.1m …
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has opted to remove questions relating to criminal history from its job application forms in a bid to assess job seekers for its business services and support services functions on the basis of merit. The Magic Circle firm says it is the first law firm to remove the criminal-record disclosure box from …
As the unconventional method of extracting shale gas increasingly becomes a phenomenon in the UK, Dentons has taken the lead on advising French oil and gas corporation Total on its 40% interest in two shale gas exploration licences in the UK- the first major oil company to invest in UK shale. The energy giant confirmed …
Continue reading “Deal watch: Dentons advises Total on UK shale gas interest”
The expiry of Clyde & Co’s three year post-merger partner lock-in appeared to pass almost unnoticed last April but the top 20 firm has lost two London partners as its established US practice is this month hit with a 15-strong team walk out including three litigation partners. London commercial partner Alan Meneghetti, who joined the firm …
Firms have kick-started the year reporting high trainee retention rates with Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Ashurst retaining the vast majority of their newly qualified (NQ) trainees, although total intake numbers at the firms were noticeably lower than last time around. BLP confirmed 89% of its spring 2014 qualifiers will remain at the firm, rising …
US firms Katten Muchin Rosenman and K&L Gates have strengthened their international corporate practices this month through lateral hires from rival Global 100 firms. Hogan Lovells’ private equity partner Philip Watkins has quit the firm to join US firm’s Katten Muchin’s London office. He joined Katten Muchin Rosenman at the beginning of the year, along …
Hogan Lovells has expanded its Latin America offering with the launch of its second office in Brazil, with the hire of former Clifford Chance partner Isabel Costa Carvalho. Its new São Paulo office will operate as a foreign legal consultancy offering services to local and international companies and banks after the Brazilian Bar Association awarded …
Continue reading “Hogan Lovells expands Latin America footprint with hire of CC partner in Brazil”
