Client Intelligence Report: Data View – Euro Elite Focus

Posted on |
Client Intelligence Report: Data View – Euro Elite Focus

The European region of the Client Intelligence Report received feedback from just over 2,500 in-house lawyers and legal spend decision makers.

The following section offers a short overview of how clients ranked law firms in their region. Respondents were asked to score a list of key performance indicators (KPIs) on a scale of one to ten according to their perception of the law firm’s service in the last 12 months. Each client scored their chosen firms on 13 core KPIs covering client relationship skills, technical legal ability and efficiency in project management. The ranking of firms was vetted for seniority of respondent so that we are able to provide true representation of the firm’s performance in the region. Continue reading “Client Intelligence Report: Data View – Euro Elite Focus”

SFO makes interim director appointment as Linklaters hires DPP Alison Saunders

Posted on |
SFO makes interim director appointment as Linklaters hires DPP Alison Saunders

The white-collar crime arena has seen significant upheaval in recent weeks, with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) making an uninspiring interim appointment to replace director David Green QC, while Linklaters has hired the divisive Alison Saunders, the current director of public prosecutions (DPP).

Mark Thompson, formerly the SFO’s chief operating officer (COO), took over from the previous incumbent on a temporary basis on 21 April. In an SFO press release, Thompson had said: ‘The search for a new director has been successful, although the individual cannot take up the post immediately.’ Continue reading “SFO makes interim director appointment as Linklaters hires DPP Alison Saunders”

McDermott’s mass lawyer swoop casts shadow over DLA financial renaissance

Posted on |
McDermott’s mass lawyer swoop casts shadow over DLA financial renaissance

It has been a bumpy few months for DLA Piper. Just as the dust was settling following McDermott Will & Emery (MWE)’s 20-partner blitz on its US offices, the Chicago-based firm hired another three partners from DLA in London.

What a way to take some of the gloss off a turnaround in global turnover to back above $2.5bn, coupled with double-digit percentage growth in net profit, also announced in April. Continue reading “McDermott’s mass lawyer swoop casts shadow over DLA financial renaissance”

Reports of the death of CC’s sponsor practice prove exaggerated but surviving isn’t thriving

Posted on |
Reports of the death of CC’s sponsor practice prove exaggerated but surviving isn’t thriving

Marco Cillario finds much more substance to CC’s PE business than the usual critique but stopping managed relative decline will only get harder

‘Look at the team they had in the mid-2000s: strong personalities, industry leaders, primary advisers to any significant private equity house. There has never been a team that strong in Europe. They failed to bring through any meaningful succession.’ Continue reading “Reports of the death of CC’s sponsor practice prove exaggerated but surviving isn’t thriving”

KPMG: Still not a law firm, still not being taken lightly

Posted on |
KPMG: Still not a law firm, still not being taken lightly

KPMG’s global head of legal Jürg Birri (pictured) does not know how much it will cost to reach its target of doubling its legal services arm to 3,000 lawyers in the next three years.

He floats $50m and $100m, but for him it is beside the point. It is the appetite he is seeing from KPMG’s member firms – spread across 154 countries and territories – wanting to invest in setting up a legal services arm. Continue reading “KPMG: Still not a law firm, still not being taken lightly”

Covington continues European expansion with Frankfurt private equity launch

Posted on |
Covington continues European expansion with Frankfurt private equity launch

Global 100 player Covington & Burling is taking a shot at the German private equity market, launching an office in Frankfurt after taking a six-partner team from Heymann & Partner, which has shut down after 12 years.

Focusing on private equity, tech and healthcare, the firm’s third European base opened on 3 April and counts eight partners and ten other lawyers, led by former Heymann corporate partner Henning Bloss, among its ranks. Continue reading “Covington continues European expansion with Frankfurt private equity launch”

Addleshaw Goddard recruits legacy BLP Asia head

Posted on |
Addleshaw Goddard recruits legacy BLP Asia head

As the inevitable fallout from the $900m Bryan Cave/Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) tie-up continues, Addleshaw Goddard is following up on its Asia ambitions by announcing the hire of legacy BLP regional head Bob Charlton.

Based in Hong Kong, Charlton will lead Addleshaws’ Asia-Pacific operations, with firm-wide managing partner John Joyce telling Legal Business the firm is looking to triple the size of its regional capability. He added the firm would look to grow from four to at least 12 partners, spread across its Hong Kong and Singapore branches, and did not rule out adding further bases in the region. Continue reading “Addleshaw Goddard recruits legacy BLP Asia head”

Dentons gets even more polycentric with seven-way tie-up and Australia hires

Posted on |
Dentons gets even more polycentric with seven-way tie-up and Australia hires

Dentons, the world’s largest globetrotting firm, has added 17 partners from an ailing Australian shop and announced a combination with seven firms across three continents over the past few weeks.

As 25-partner Australian firm DibbsBarker shut down, Dentons in May acquired ten of its partners in Sydney and two in Melbourne, while another five launched Dentons’ new office in Brisbane. They strengthened the firm’s financial services, real estate and corporate practices. Continue reading “Dentons gets even more polycentric with seven-way tie-up and Australia hires”