Revolving doors: DWF, CMS, BLP and Mayer Brown make key hires
DWF, CMS Cameron McKenna, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), and Mayer Brown have all made strategic hires in the last week, bolstering key practice areas in London, Scotland and New York.
Becoming a partner: Mishcon de Reya acquires ABS licence to include non-lawyers in partnership
Mishcon de Reya has become the latest firm to acquire an alternative business structure (ABS) licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), a move that was prompted by bringing up to four key employees into the partnership.
A $4bn fund in Asia: Debevoise & Plimpton advises Baring Private Equity Asia on weighty fund raise
The Hong Kong office of Debevoise & Plimpton has secured a heavyweight instruction advising Baring Private Equity Asia on the formation of Fund VI, a $4bn fund believed to be the largest private equity fund ever raised by an Asia-based manager and one of the largest targeting the region. Offshore firm Maples and Calder also …
Sending the ‘right message’: Arthur Cox sees donations rejected by Irish Cancer Society due to client
A leading charity has decided it will no longer accept corporate donations from Big Five Irish law firm Arthur Cox as the firm is currently acting for tobacco giant Japan Tobacco in a dispute against the Irish government.
Of ‘strategic importance’: NRF expands African footprint with two new alliances
Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) is continuing to expand its offering in Africa and has agreed a strategic alliance with both Ugandan firm Shonubi Musoke & Co Advocates and Zimbabwean firm Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans.
Leadership: Hogan Lovells re-appoints Nicholas Cheffings as chair
Hogan Lovells has re-appointed London real estate disputes partner Nicholas Cheffings (pictured) as chair of the firm for a second three-year term.
In-house: Mercedes Benz appoints Nabarro and Shoosmiths to UK legal panel as WLG loses out
Nabarro and Shoosmiths have secured a joint appointment to the legal panel of Mercedes-Benz UK following a competitive tender process, while Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co has failed to win a place.
Showing its teeth: Law Society invokes Magna Carta as it launches legal action against court fees’ ‘flat tax’
The Law Society is challenging the government’s decision to increase certain court fees by over 600% and has issued a pre-action protocol letter for judicial review saying the move would be tantamount to ‘selling justice’.
Damned statistics: BLP found massaging trainee retention figures
Berwin Leighton Paisner has been caught manipulating its trainee retention figures for this spring’s intake, with its actual figure dropping from 70% to 61%.
Deregulating education: BSB proposes to put barristers in charge of pupillage
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today (20 February) announced in a new report that chambers and employers are best placed to decide how to plan and provide pupillages and should be put in back in charge of designing the experience for aspiring barristers.