Womble Bond-BDB Pitmans: The data driving the national tie-up talks

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Womble Bond-BDB Pitmans: The data driving the national tie-up talks

The Legal 500’s Ben Wheway takes a look at the rationale behind the proposed merger and what a combined firm could look like

The latest merger news to hit the headlines involves two firms which have been down this road before – Womble Bond Dickinson and BDB Pitmans.

On the Womble Bond side, the 2013 union of Newcastle’s Dickinson Dees and Bristol’s Bond Pearce created Bond Dickinson, which then combined with US firm Womble Carlyle in 2016. Meanwhile, BDB Pitmans was formed by the 2018 merger of London’s Bircham Dyson Bell and South-East firm Pitmans. Continue reading “Womble Bond-BDB Pitmans: The data driving the national tie-up talks”

Life During Law: Robbie McLaren

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Life During Law: Robbie McLaren

University in my family was always something vocational. I hated science, so that was doctor and vet out the way. I did an accounting internship and found that just a bit dull. That really left law. That was basically it.

Studying law at university was awful. I enjoyed arts subjects at school, history and geography. I quickly realised that, when you’re studying at school, you’re rewarded for creativity. Studying law, you’re not. The first couple of years were just the building blocks of the legal system and it was very much – ‘this is what the rules are, you need to know them and apply them to the facts’. Overall, I’d give it a six out of ten, but the first two years were more like a three out of ten. Continue reading “Life During Law: Robbie McLaren”

The Legal 500 View: Chart-toppers: the elite firms dominating this year’s UK Legal 500 rankings

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The Legal 500 View: Chart-toppers: the elite firms dominating this year’s UK Legal 500 rankings

UK editors Georgina Stanley (pictured) and Ben Wheway take a deep dive into the performance of the Legal Business 100 firms in the most recent UK Legal 500 research

Spotting trends across research as vast and wide-ranging as The Legal 500 UK Solicitors isn’t always straightforward. The research by Legal Business’s sibling title is unique in the depth and granularity with which it covers the UK market, identifying the market-leading law firms everywhere from the upper echelons of the premium private equity market in London to agriculture and estates in Scotland. Continue reading “The Legal 500 View: Chart-toppers: the elite firms dominating this year’s UK Legal 500 rankings”

Baker McKenzie breaks up UAE alliance following homophobic tweets

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Baker McKenzie breaks up UAE alliance following homophobic tweets

Baker McKenzie in September announced that it is ‘parting ways’ with Dr Habib Al Mulla, name partner of member firm Habib Al Mulla & Partners, following a series of anti-gay Twitter comments.

Confirming that the ‘separation process is underway’, the firm said in a statement that it ‘strongly believes that however much we may disagree with the beliefs and personal views of others, we must find ways to disagree respectfully, encourage inclusive dialogue and to ensure an inclusive work environment for all.’ Continue reading “Baker McKenzie breaks up UAE alliance following homophobic tweets”

EU parliament eyes litigation funding regulation

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EU parliament eyes litigation funding regulation

The EU is gearing up to regulate the third-party litigation funding market following an EU parliamentary vote in favour of the resolution.

The regulations are intended to increase transparency, fairness and proportionality in the market, which until now has escaped formal regulation. Among the proposals is a 40% cap on the percentage of a court award or settlement that funders can claim, requirement for disclosure of third-party financing and for court awards to be sent directly to claimants. Continue reading “EU parliament eyes litigation funding regulation”

Global 100 firms expand in Asia as Dentons and Goodwin establish new bases

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Global 100 firms expand in Asia as Dentons and Goodwin establish new bases

Dentons has become the first global law firm to combine with a law firm in India, as it finalised its tie-up with full-service firm Link Legal in October.

Link Legal has five offices across India in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, as well as an existing New York office, which it launched in February 2022. It is ranked across nine practice areas in The Legal 500’s Asia-Pacific guide, with top-tier rankings in aviation and projects and energy. Continue reading “Global 100 firms expand in Asia as Dentons and Goodwin establish new bases”

Strategic recruitment: Kirkland takes four from the Magic Circle as global players make moves in Madrid

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Strategic recruitment: Kirkland takes four from the Magic Circle as global players make moves in Madrid

The beginning of autumn has seen the lateral hiring merry-go-round intensify after the more muted summer months, as UK and international firms secured substantive reinforcements in corporate, funds, tax and infrastructure.

The headline City arrival came as Kirkland & Ellis brought in Allen & Overy (A&O)’s global co-head of infrastructure Sara Pickersgill. Ranked in The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame, Pickersgill is an established market leader in infrastructure, energy and renewables corporate transactions, having been with the Magic Circle firm for more than 20 years. Pickersgill was swiftly followed to Kirkland by infrastructure funds partners James Boswell and Paul Sampson, who arrived from Clifford Chance and A&O respectively. Then in October they were joined by infrastructure M&A partner Toby Parkinson, who had been co-head of CC’s infrastructure sector. Continue reading “Strategic recruitment: Kirkland takes four from the Magic Circle as global players make moves in Madrid”

Stick or twist? City firms battle it out in NQ salary brinkmanship after Allen & Overy freezes rates

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Stick or twist? City firms battle it out in NQ salary brinkmanship after Allen & Overy freezes rates

The war for junior talent at the top end of London’s legal market entered a new phase of brinkmanship this year, as firms jostled for position after Allen & Overy (A&O)’s decision to freeze its associate rates.

A&O froze its newly-qualified (NQ) salaries in late June, citing a ‘more challenging business environment’. The firm typically reviews pay later in the year, but A&O decided to bring the decision forward. Continue reading “Stick or twist? City firms battle it out in NQ salary brinkmanship after Allen & Overy freezes rates”

‘Never say never’: KPMG legal chief Nick Roome on law firm buyouts and supercharging lateral recruitment

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‘Never say never’: KPMG legal chief Nick Roome on law firm buyouts and supercharging lateral recruitment

At a watershed moment in the Big Four’s protracted entrance into the UK legal market, KPMG’s head of legal remains bullish about making a big impact

A provocative 2017 Legal Business cover, featuring EY’s UK legal head Philip Goodstone, questioned: ‘Big Four, Big Threat?’ At the time it felt like a pressing question. These days it feels more rhetorical. Continue reading “‘Never say never’: KPMG legal chief Nick Roome on law firm buyouts and supercharging lateral recruitment”

Partner promotions: Kirkland unveils largest ever class as US firms reveal 2022 cohorts

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Partner promotions: Kirkland unveils largest ever class as US firms reveal 2022 cohorts

The first wave of US firms has announced their latest round of partner promotions, as Kirkland & Ellis, White & Case, Goodwin, Morgan Lewis and Covington & Burling revealed their classes of 2022.

Kirkland & Ellis has minted 193 lawyers in a new record for the expansive juggernaut, following the 151-strong round announced last year and the 145 promotions unveiled in 2020. Continue reading “Partner promotions: Kirkland unveils largest ever class as US firms reveal 2022 cohorts”