Outside the Box: Can Reed Smith’s new Euro heads take the firm’s London practice to the next level?

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Georgiana Tudor and Victoria Young talk to Tamara Box and Andrew Jenkinson about competing in the London market

Three years ago, Legal Business noted that an upwardly-mobile Reed Smith was, in its own understated fashion, making notable strides in the City under EMEA head Roger Parker. The London office had been performing well on the back of investment in lateral hires to develop its key sector groups. In 2012, London revenues jumped 21% to £114.7m from £94.5m, with Parker predicting UK revenues of $200m for 2013.

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What goes up: Linklaters to vote next month on new partner pay model

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Moore pulls together proposals for flexible model as lockstep set to evolve

With Magic Circle rivals Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer having recently remodelled their remuneration structures following pay pressure from more profitable US firms, Linklaters has plans of its own.

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QBE reviews UK panel following appointment of global GC

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Australia’s largest global insurer QBE is to launch a review of its UK claims panel, following the appointment of a new group general counsel (GC) earlier this year.

One partner, whose firm is tendering for the panel, told Legal Business that while the terms of engagement were not yet clear, the review was ‘imminent’. QBE refused to comment on the process.

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Ashurst braces for £55m fit-out hit as City office move looms

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Firm prepares to sub-let up to 40% of new London headquarters

As Ashurst partners digest a year of tumbling profits and turnover, delayed profit distributions and a rising number of senior exits, the firm faces an estimated £55m cost to fit out its new Spitalfields office.

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Olswang exits continue as merger claims swirl around TMT player

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More than 30 partners have left the firm in the last 18 months

Having emerged as one of the worst performers in the Legal Business 100 last month and strongly touted to be in the market for a merger, September saw further departures from Olswang, adding to a steady stream of exits in recent months.

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‘Good financial prudence’: Dentons’ European arm makes cash call

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Partners asked for between €6m and €7m to cut debt.

The European arm of Dentons has made a capital call on partners to raise an additional €6m to €7m in a move to cut bank debt, described by European chief executive Tomasz Dabrowski as ‘good financial prudence’.

European partners – excluding the UK which operates as a separate legal entity – have each been asked to contribute up to €100,000 extra over a two-year period.

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De Bie restructures Royal Mail legal team as she settles into group GC post

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Royal Mail’s group general counsel (GC) Maaike de Bie has led an overhaul of the postal service’s legal team after taking the top job in April.

De Bie, who previously served as deputy GC and acting group GC, has restructured the team of 30 lawyers into bigger groups, moving away from siloed specialisms such as property or pensions.

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Contenders step forward as race for Squires European head begins

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Longstanding leader Crossley set to retire at year end

Frontrunners have emerged in the contest to become the new Europe and Middle East managing partner at Squire Patton Boggs, after longstanding leader Peter Crossley confirmed his retirement in September.

Two senior partners have been touted internally and externally as favourites for the role: London managing partner Robert Weekes and EMEA global corporate chair Jane Haxby.

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