Gateley makes approaches to secure new Scottish tie-up

Gateley makes approaches to secure new Scottish tie-up

With the merger between its former Scottish arm and Addleshaw Goddard due to go live on 1 June, Gateley is looking at options for a new Scottish tie-up and has approached a number of firms in the market.

According to one Scottish partner, Anderson Strathern, which has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and East Lothian, would be the most likely option for a tie-up.

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‘This latest round has been disappointing’: A&O vows to address lack of diversity as Magic Circle announces new partners

‘This latest round has been disappointing’: A&O vows to address lack of diversity as Magic Circle announces new partners

Allen & Overy (A&O) promoted just two women to partnership last month, 8% of its total round, with the firm stating it is working towards three clear 2020 targets to address the diversity concerns.

The targets include having 20% female partners; at least 30% women in each promotion round; and 30% of women in its partnership in non-elected leadership roles.

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‘It’s not surprising’: Six finance partners leave Freshfields in practice shake-up

‘It’s not surprising’: Six finance partners leave Freshfields in practice shake-up

Changes follow on from 2016 strategic review

Six finance partners left Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer at the end of April, with two more losing equity status as the Magic Circle law firm implemented a restructure of its finance practice.

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‘Glaring defaults’: SDT hits Clyde & Co with record fine under anti-money laundering rules

‘Glaring defaults’: SDT hits Clyde & Co with record fine under anti-money laundering rules

In the joint-largest fine ever handed down to a law firm, in March Clyde & Co was hit with a £50,000 penalty for breaching accounting and money laundering rules. In a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) decision, Clydes corporate partners Christopher Duffy and Simon Gamblin, alongside projects partner Nick Purnell, all received individual fines of £10,000.

The charges related to the use of a client bank account as a banking facility, in direct breach of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)’s money laundering regulations. Duffy and Purnell admitted they failed to take on guidance of the Law Society’s rules on fraudulent financial arrangements in acting as an escrow agent on behalf of the client.

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‘Just get on with it’: City partners fear yet more uncertainty ahead of general election

‘Just get on with it’: City partners fear yet more uncertainty ahead of general election

As Theresa May’s call for a general election on 8 June came as a surprise to many in the City, law firm partners say their UK clients will be dogged by yet more uncertainty.

The announcement last month came as the polls suggest a clear lead for the Conservative Party, while May said she is seeking a direct mandate for her plan to deliver a smooth British exit from the EU.

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‘The real work starts now’: profession reacts as regulator makes radical changes to legal training

‘The real work starts now’: profession reacts as regulator makes radical changes to legal training

Super-exam to be used from September 2020

Despite some considerable hostility, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced last month that its planned Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), dubbed ‘the super exam’, will be used from September 2020.

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City partners eye white-collar crime mandates as Tesco plea bargain gets green light

City partners eye white-collar crime mandates as Tesco plea bargain gets green light

Tom Baker speaks to corporate crime specialists as Freshfields advises supermarket on UK’s fourth-ever DPA and hires top SFO lawyer

Last month the fourth deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in UK history was approved by judge Sir Brian Leveson, enabling Tesco to pay a £129m fine and escape criminal charges relating to the false accounting scandal of 2014.

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DLA Piper resolute as it shuts down three minor offices in a month

DLA Piper resolute as it shuts down three minor offices in a month

Senior management discuss closures in non-essential markets

Simon Levine, DLA Piper’s global co-chief executive, has said that the firm’s recent office closures in Berlin, Tbilisi and Canberra are a result of ‘nothing more than a mature business reviewing strategically where it needs to be from time to time’.

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CC takes first major transaction for Prudential Capital as government sells off loans

CC takes first major transaction for Prudential Capital as government sells off loans

Clifford Chance (CC) has picked up its first significant deal for Prudential Capital Group in the UK government’s £11.8bn sale of buy-to-let mortgages from failed lender Bradford & Bingley.

Slaughter and May, Allen & Overy (A&O) and CC all picked up advisory roles on the disposal of loans purchased at the height of the financial crisis.

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Linklaters wins Bovis mandate over Freshfields as Slaughters and Camerons advise bidders

Linklaters wins Bovis mandate over Freshfields as Slaughters and Camerons advise bidders

In response to a pair of competing takeover bids, Linklaters won the mandate to advise the target Bovis Homes, taking the role from regular adviser Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

CMS Cameron McKenna advised prospective buyer Galliford Try, while Slaughter and May won a place acting for rival bidder Redrow.

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