ABS growing pains: Co-op Legal Service’s losses simply teething troubles, says GC

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With news that Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) has posted a £3.4m loss in the for first half of 2013, the group’s recently installed general counsel Alistair Asher says the business is still in its infancy and will flourish, provided it has the appropriate levels of investment. The loss comes despite turnover in the Co-op’s legal arm …

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Known unknowns – is the legal industry ready to repel the growing threat of cyberattacks?

Posted on | Analysis |

Combating cyberattacks on law firms is complicated by the lack of hard information and the shadowy nature of perpetrators. But, reports Legal Business, law firm tech chiefs and security specialists agree the threat is rapidly growing. What is a law firm if not a huge repository of commercially valuable information? On one side, of course, …

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Revolving doors: Macfarlanes continues lateral hiring spree as DWF and Walkers make key appointments

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As Macfarlanes’ tightly focused business model goes from strength to strength amid testing market conditions, its rate of lateral hires has increased considerably. The firm’s latest recruit is in fact a re-hire, with Michael Parkinson re-joining Macfarlanes in October after four years as private client group partner at West End firm Russell-Cooke. Parkinson trained and …

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Regulatory work: Cadwalader and Cleary face off over Ryanair/Aer Lingus, while Links and HSF advise on PPI compensation pot

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In a move being watched with interest by M&A lawyers and competition experts throughout Europe, the Competition Commission (CC) has today (28 August) dealt another blow to Ryanair’s long-held ambitions to buy Aer Lingus by ordering the airline to sell the majority of its 30% stake held in its rival, ruling that the minority stake …

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Revolving Doors: Ashurst makes key energy hire in New York as Gibson Dunn and Squire Sanders expand in London

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Ashurst this week announced the hire of Allen & Overy (A&O) energy partner Charles Williams in a bid to boost its New York energy, resources and infrastructure practice. The move strengthens the firm’s position within the US public-private partnership (PPP) space – dubbed P3 in the US – an area Williams focussed on at A&O. …

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Financial results 2013: LG’s revenue falls for a third year while Irwin Mitchell posts turnover and profit growth

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Top 25-firm Irwin Mitchell has today (26 July) posted strong revenue and profit growth for the last financial year, while Lawrence Graham (LG) has posted declining turnover for the third year running. In its latest results for 2012/13, Irwin Mitchell’s turnover was up by 9% to £200.2m from £183.7m for 2011/12. Profit for the group …

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After mounting controversy Bar watchdogs face court challenge to procedures in high-stakes move

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Regulators are never popular but the Bar’s watchdogs have seen sustained controversy finally escalate into a court challenge to their procedures. The High Court earlier this month heard a claim for judicial review of the Bar’s regulatory procedures related to problems with the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and Bar disciplinary tribunals identified last year.

Kirkland’s trophy hire – Robert Khuzami to join the firm in Washington

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If securing senior US regulatory agency lawyers can be compared to a highly competitive game of cards, then Kirkland & Ellis has just called poker with the hire of Wall Street’s top federal enforcer Robert Khuzami. Khuzami (pictured, who, incidentally, has a Wikipedia listing running into several pages) joins as a partner in the top …

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Turns out not all publicity is good as law firm admits it revealed JK Rowling’s secret crime novel side-line

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Media law firms have long received a profile far outranking their small size thanks to their close proximity to celebrity clients and headline-friendly stories. For once, that brand visibility has disastrously back-fired as it emerged this week that entertainment boutique Russells Solicitors was responsible for revealing the fact that its client JK Rowling had penned …

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Why the Serious Fraud Office should now be left to get on with its knitting

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The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is an organisation under pressure. Pressure from MPs over the severance packages of former executives, pressure after its annual report this week revealed that it has taken on and won fewer trials, and pressure to redefine itself within a highly politicised arena where it is an easy scapegoat for any …

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