Summer news in context

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Summer news in context

New Law buyout sees EY acquire Riverview Law

A sign of things to come?

After Lawyers On Demand (LOD) earlier this year secured private equity backers, fellow New Law pioneer Riverview Law in August announced a sale to Big Four group EY. The deal, which saw original backer DLA Piper offload its remaining 14% stake, has been cited as evidence of the Big Four’s renewed push into legal services. EY’s global head of alliances for tax, Chris Price, has become the chief executive of the rebranded EY Riverview Law. Continue reading “Summer news in context”

Life during law: Simon Konsta

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Life during law: Simon Konsta

My father is Greek, my mother was English. There’s been no law in the family, much more of a trading background on my father’s side. But there is a wonderful circularity between his old Greek shipping mates that would be in my environment as a child, and the fact that Clyde & Co is the world’s number one marine firm.

I had an open mind going into articles. I was lucky to have a seat in Paris, which is disputes and arbitration. A combination of that plus the domestic disputes work I did, I just preferred it to corporate or real estate. Continue reading “Life during law: Simon Konsta”

Who Represents Who: The data behind the story

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Who Represents Who: The data behind the story

LB100: The rise of Freeths

Freeths has seen revenue almost double over the past five years (see Legal Business 100 table), and are often mentioned to our researchers by partners and general counsel alike as a firm that has significantly impressed. We take a look at the firm’s The Legal 500 rankings and some of the FTSE clients that it represents. Continue reading “Who Represents Who: The data behind the story”

The City’s big four report steady growth in a boom deal year as CC leads Magic Circle

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The City’s big four report steady growth in a boom deal year as CC leads Magic Circle

After last year’s double-digit revenue growth for three of the big four Magic Circle firms, 2017/18 financials for the same group have failed to make as much of a splash this time around.

But while failing to match last year’s 11% uptick in revenue and profit per equity partner, Clifford Chance (CC) nevertheless leads the pack this year, in more ways than one. Continue reading “The City’s big four report steady growth in a boom deal year as CC leads Magic Circle”

Debevoise next up as Tchenguiz drops Stephenson Harwood after €2bn claim fails

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Debevoise next up as Tchenguiz drops Stephenson Harwood after €2bn claim fails

Property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz has replaced longstanding legal adviser Stephenson Harwood with Debevoise & Plimpton after his €2bn claim against an Abu Dhabi investment company was thrown out.

A Debevoise team, led by disputes partner Kevin Lloyd, took over future Tchenguiz mandates, including a key Commercial Court case later this year. Tchenguiz had only drafted in Stephenson Harwood in 2014 to replace Shearman & Sterling in his later-settled case against the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Continue reading “Debevoise next up as Tchenguiz drops Stephenson Harwood after €2bn claim fails”

Shearman wins McKimm from Freshfields as Penn returns to A&O from Cleary

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Shearman wins McKimm from Freshfields as Penn returns to A&O from Cleary

Two standout moves in June and July saw the Magic Circle and the Wall Street elite each lose and gain one in partner reversions in London.

Ward McKimm, one of thestra most upwardly mobile partners the City has seen, made good on a long-rumoured defection to Shearman & Sterling’s capital markets practice, having previously worked there for some 14 years, becoming partner in 2005 and co-head of its corporate group in 2010. Continue reading “Shearman wins McKimm from Freshfields as Penn returns to A&O from Cleary”

To list, or not to list? More, and much bigger, firms are asking that question

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To list, or not to list? More, and much bigger, firms are asking that question

As DWF positions to float, Hamish McNicol asks if the legal IPO is going mainstream

Eversheds Sutherland co-chief executives Lee Ranson and Mark Wasserman recently hosted more than 700 partners at the firm’s partner conference in New York. Continue reading “To list, or not to list? More, and much bigger, firms are asking that question”

City’s mid-weight elite set blistering pace as Travers and Macfarlanes surge in 2017/18

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City’s mid-weight elite set blistering pace as Travers and Macfarlanes surge in 2017/18

Marco Cillario assesses the results amid another strong year for the City’s mid-tier

The latest financial results by UK law firms show leading mid-market players once again harnessing robust commercial activity to post a series of startling results well ahead of larger rivals. Continue reading “City’s mid-weight elite set blistering pace as Travers and Macfarlanes surge in 2017/18”