In the first few months since its eye-catching merger at the beginning of December last year, Burness Paull has climbed the ranks to post revenue and profit growth that contrasts starkly with the fortunes of the traditionally elite Scottish firms in recent years. The 57-partner firm, formed following the union of Burness in Edinburgh and …
Unsurprisingly, what little major real estate work that is around has found its way to the usual trio of law firms – Berwin Leighton Paisner, Hogan Lovells and Nabarro. And while the usual suspects continued to do what they do best, 2012 Legal Business real estate team of the year, Mishcon de Reya, has strengthened …
In a case where the profile of the parties far outshone the legal substance and had many media outlets overexcited, global popstar Rihanna yesterday ( 31 July) won a High Court battle against high street retailer Topshop over the unauthorised use of her ‘brand’. The £5m case has resulted in untold lovely column inches and …
Continue reading “Good girl gets mad: Rihanna wins t-shirt tiff against Topshop”
Despite the wave of redundancies and poor financials of late, firms are still posting high retention rates of junior lawyers who can almost all breathe a sigh of relief this coming September. However, not every firm has been as generous this year as they were last summer – a sign that supply is still outstripping …
Continue reading “Retention round up: UK firms score top marks on trainee job offers”
It’s been a good summer so far for Essex Court Chambers and Outer Temple Chambers, with Daniel Oudkerk QC recently moving from 11 King’s Bench Walk to Essex Court, while David Russell QC and Robin Barclay have joined Outer Temple. Oudkerk QC took silk in 2010 and focuses on employment disputes and commercial work, having …
Continue reading “Bar round-up: Essex Court and Outer Temple Chambers boost their ranks”
The Government’s plan to take the Student Loans Company debt off its balance sheet has moved up a gear as firms have formally been invited to tender for the role as legal advisor in the sale of the company’s £40bn loan portfolio. Announced last Friday (26 July), the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) …
The stream of UK law firm job cuts continues apace as DWF, Hill Dickinson and Taylor Wessing have today (30 July) confirmed that recent redundancy consultations have resulted multiple job losses. DWF, having completed five mergers in less than 18 months and with a remarkable 84% increase in turnover to £188m, has become one of …
Continue reading “Redundancy watch: DWF, Hill Dickinson and Taylor Wessing all confirm job cuts”
While the post-Legal Services Act (LSA) shake-up moves far more slowly for barristers than their solicitor cousins, the Bar continues to modernise at its own pace with new conduct rules unveiled this month heralding significant reforms. The Bar Standards Board last week unveiled its new code of conduct for barristers allowing self-employed advocates to conduct …
It’s not as if anyone needs reminding that the legal market remains challenging, and doubly so for regional advisers. But driving home that point this month, Midlands-based Challinors has become the latest sizeable practice to call in the administrators after the failure earlier this year of Cobbetts and Scots practice Semple Fraser. The Birmingham-headquartered adviser, …
Hogan Lovells’ senior management has begun discussions over whether to retain the firm’s dual US-UK chief executive (CEO) structure or continue with a single head if UK CEO David Harris steps down as expected next year. Harris and US counterpart Warren Gorrell have opened the discussion on succession plans with the transatlantic firm’s board, which …
