Sponsored briefing: Legal SEO explained – SEO and digital marketing for solicitors

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Sponsored briefing: Legal SEO explained – SEO and digital marketing for solicitors

A lot of solicitors assume that their reputation is enough to continue generating a stream of clients. The fact is, the industry has become more competitive than ever before and the best way to compete is by actively engaging in various forms of marketing, including online marketing. Online marketing specifically can be very beneficial to lawyers who are looking to attract new clients. Below, we will be going over some of the top online marketing ideas for lawyers.

Top online marketing ideas

1. Search engine optimisation (SEO) Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Legal SEO explained – SEO and digital marketing for solicitors”

Associate pay war, anyone? Freshfields sets new Magic Circle standard by raising NQ pay to £100k

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Associate pay war, anyone? Freshfields sets new Magic Circle standard by raising NQ pay to £100k

Marco Cillario assesses the City-wide implications of Freshfields’ decision to dramatically hike associate salaries

A decade after leading the way in resetting downwards the going rate for City associates, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in May set a new standard for Magic Circle firms, raising its newly-qualified (NQ) salaries from £85,000 including bonuses to a symbolic £100,000, with bonuses on top. Continue reading “Associate pay war, anyone? Freshfields sets new Magic Circle standard by raising NQ pay to £100k”

‘Necessary bandwidth’: Addleshaws lures deal finance veteran from McDermott

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‘Necessary bandwidth’: Addleshaws lures deal finance veteran from McDermott

Amid a quiet month for the lateral recruitment market in London, Addleshaw Goddard made the most significant play, bolstering its City banking practice with the hire of leveraged finance partner Peter Crichton from US firm McDermott Will & Emery. Well known in the deal community, Crichton joins Addleshaws’ active mid-market practice led by Alex Dumphy.

Crichton’s career as an acquisition finance lawyer saw him act for AIB, HSBC, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Santander on Caledonia’s acquisition of the drinks business Liberation Group in 2016 and AIB, HSBC and Santander on the refinancing of the Jockey Club. He has spent around 16 years advising on the debtor side of the loan markets and specialising in leveraged finance, becoming partner at DLA Piper and CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang before joining McDermott before the three-way merger took effect in 2017. Continue reading “‘Necessary bandwidth’: Addleshaws lures deal finance veteran from McDermott”

Significant hires

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Significant hires
    • US giant Kirkland & Ellis has lost private equity duo David Arnold and Gavin Gordon (pictured) to Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Long-rumoured to be on their way out of the City office, the pair joined Kirkland from Ashurst in 2010 in one of the firm’s first major private equity lateral hires in London. Clients Gordon has worked with include Cinven, ABRY Partners, KKR and Vista, while Arnold’s list include CapVest Partners and Montagu Private Equity (see Deal View).

 

    • Watson Farley & Williams head of litigation and arbitration Andrew Savage has joined McDermott Will & Emery as a partner in the dispute resolution team in London as the firm looks to bolster its international arbitration practice. Savage spent 15 years at Watson Farley, becoming head of litigation in 2007.
      Continue reading “Significant hires”

Despite the doubts listed law pioneers continue to report robust growth

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Despite the doubts listed law pioneers continue to report robust growth

Hamish McNicol tracks the progress of public life for four UK-listed law firms

Acquisitions, increased publicity and hires have led to strong performances across the board for many of the UK’s listed law firms, with most reporting their first financials since going public. Continue reading “Despite the doubts listed law pioneers continue to report robust growth”

Ashurst, Slaughters and White & Case re-elect leaders as rivals ring in the change

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Ashurst, Slaughters and White & Case re-elect leaders as rivals ring in the change

The recent spate of leadership elections has seen Ashurst, Slaughter and May and White & Case all sticking with tradition while Stephenson Harwood and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan bet on new leaders.

May saw Hugh Verrier’s term as White & Case chair extended to 16 years after he was re-elected for another four years at the helm of the New York-bred giant. First elected to the role in 2007, Verrier’s tenure has seen sustained growth for the firm, most strikingly in London, where the 2020 strategy led by partner Oliver Brettle, and its core ambition of taking on the Magic Circle in its own backyard, have paid dividends. Continue reading “Ashurst, Slaughters and White & Case re-elect leaders as rivals ring in the change”

‘Independent thinker’ Greenberg Traurig picks Milan as latest step of unusual European footprint

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‘Independent thinker’ Greenberg Traurig picks Milan as latest step of unusual European footprint

Greenberg Traurig’s executive chair Richard Rosenbaum has pointed to his firm’s track record for independent thinking as it enters Italy through a merger in Milan.

In July, the northern Italian city will become the location of the Miami-bred firm’s 40th office, after Greenberg absorbs its local ally of 14 years, Santa Maria Studio Legale. Two Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer veterans will also join the firm’s first Italian base: local real estate head Marzio Longo and finance partner Corrado Angelelli, giving it a starting team of around 50 lawyers. Continue reading “‘Independent thinker’ Greenberg Traurig picks Milan as latest step of unusual European footprint”

Addleshaws enters continental Europe through BCLP Hamburg hires

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Addleshaws enters continental Europe through BCLP Hamburg hires

Despite having launched five international offices in Asia and the Middle East since 2012, top-20 UK law firm Addleshaw Goddard had no presence in continental Europe until last month. That was when it announced the hire of five partners from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) to spearhead a launch in Hamburg.

The hires include the two founders of legacy Bryan Cave’s German offices in 2007, Eckart Budelmann and Michael Leue. Partners Martin Lüderitz, Maximilian Karacz and Hubertus Schröder joined the duo in the move from BCLP, alongside five other lawyers. Continue reading “Addleshaws enters continental Europe through BCLP Hamburg hires”

Global Elite line up on Nestlé’s $10bn skincare business sale to EQT

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Global Elite line up on Nestlé’s $10bn skincare business sale to EQT

Latham & Watkins is acting alongside US counterpart Kirkland & Ellis in advising EQT as the private equity house looks to acquire Nestlé’s skincare business, in what could be one of the largest transactions in Europe this year.

Nestlé, which is being advised by Linklaters corporate partners David Martin and Michael Honan, confirmed talks with EQT in May following a competitive auction process with rival buyout funds and industry players all eager to make the acquisition. The group of investors includes Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Continue reading “Global Elite line up on Nestlé’s $10bn skincare business sale to EQT”

Dealwatch: Insolvencies provide work for CC and Gateley

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Dealwatch: Insolvencies provide work for CC and Gateley
  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom advised food chain Pret A Manger as it agreed to acquire all of Eat’s 94 shops for an undisclosed sum. The London team was led by corporate partners Richard Youle, Katja Butler and Linda Davies. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer also advised Pret on antitrust while Travers Smith acted for the selling shareholders.

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  • Gateley fielded insolvency partner Daniel French to act alongside administrator KPMG after Jamie Oliver’s restaurant business collapsed. The insolvency will see 22 of the 25 eateries close, resulting in 1,000 job losses. Continue reading “Dealwatch: Insolvencies provide work for CC and Gateley”