I grew up outside London and left school at 16 to start a mechanical engineering apprenticeship.
I didn’t have A-levels so the options were limited. I went to the Polytechnic of Central London. There was a mixed group from different backgrounds. We were all there because we wanted to be.
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Gowling WLG and Fieldfisher are to begin training solicitor apprentices with the University of Law (ULaw) as part of a training course designed to create new pathways to becoming a qualified lawyer.
The new course from ULaw, which officially launched on 25 September, will see 28 apprentices this autumn begin the six-year process in a programme aimed at encouraging a wider pool of candidates to enter the profession.
The course includes a combination of work-based and online supervised study, together with practical and academic activities that will give students a LLB in legal practice skills and ultimately allow them to qualify as solicitors. The programme is also designed to comply with the Government-backed trailblazer standard for legal apprenticeships.
Once apprentices complete the assessments and parts one and two of the incoming solicitors qualifying exam (SQE), which is due to come into force in 2020, they will be able to apply to become fully recognised as lawyers.
The SQE – often dubbed the ‘super exam’ – is part of an ‘outcomes-focused’ overhaul aimed at improving work-based training options and to open the profession up entrants without degrees.
Locations for the apprenticeships include London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds, which ULaw claims will help to widen ‘opportunities for participation and is designed so that it can be tailored to the role undertaken by the apprentice and develop the practical skills employers require’. ULaw is, alongside BPP, one of the two dominant providers of vocational training to major UK law firms.
Gowling is sponsoring three apprentices at ULaw’s Birmingham branch, while Fieldfisher has apprentices in London and Manchester. The programme is also being supported by personal injury specialist Plexus Law, which has apprentices going through the programme in London, Leeds and Manchester.
Emma Cox, head of HR at Fieldfisher, added: ‘Ensuring that we have diversity of talent is increasingly important. Our clients are from a wide range of sectors, many of which do not always recruit from traditional backgrounds. We need to have teams advising them which are more representative of the communities in which they operate.’
Lucy Dolan, early talent resourcing manager at Gowling WLG, said: ‘The three apprentices from our firm have already proven themselves as valuable employees during previous paralegal apprenticeships and we look forward to supporting them on this new venture.’
The SRA announced in April 2017 that the new single, centrally-set SQE will come into use from September 2020, replacing the current requirements for trainee solicitors to take the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) before undertaking two-year training contracts.
So far apprenticeships have been painfully slow to take off in the profession and moves to usher in the ‘super exam’ have been controversial with supporters of the status quo. However, a number of major law firms, including Burges Salmon, Reed Smith and Mayer Brown, have so far announced plans to train apprentices. With the profession’s dire record on social mobility generating more negative headlines, the pressure for more such initiatives is set to grow.
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk
For more on the controversial super-exam see: ‘A bit like Brexit’: SRA super-exam draws strong reaction but is it knee-jerk resistance to change? (£)
LB100 firms Gowling WLG and Farrer & Co have carried out their latest promotion rounds, with 80% of both Farrer and Gowlings’ promotions being women.
Effective from 1 May 2017, senior associates Marie Bates, Laura Conduit, Charlotte Fraser, Elizabeth Jones and Oliver Piper will become partners at Farrers.
Each new partner has a different expertise, with Bates specialising in M&A, joint ventures and reorganisations. Conduit is a London residential property expert and Fraser is focused on disputes. Jones has a background in advising on charity governance while Piper is a private wealth lawyer.
With this latest round, Farrer boosts the total percentage of women partners to 37%, with 73 partners in total. Promotions are slightly down on last year when six senior associates were made up. However, the percentage of female appointments has grown from last year’s figure of 50%.
The number of promotions at Gowlings has significantly increased from last year, jumping from two to five. In last year’s round, the firm appointed two directors to its partnership, namely Chris Towle and Michael Twining.
This year’s process sees Sarah Galvin, Elizabeth Gane, Samantha Holland, Felicity Lindsay and Mark Stephenson elevated to partnership, with four of the five new partners women. Galvin and Lindsay are appointed from the firm’s 300-strong real estate practice while Holland and Stephenson come from the dispute resolution group. Gane will become a partner in the firm’s pensions team, bringing with her an extensive background advising trustees and employers on pensions issues. All the new partners will also assume their roles on 1 May 2017.
Gowling chief executive David Fennell (pictured) said: ‘Our new partners advise clients in some of our most successful practices and sectors. They have all demonstrated energy, innovation and commitment in helping these clients achieve their business objectives over a number of years.’
tom.baker@legalease.co.uk
Partner promotions in full:
Farrer & Co:
Marie Bates – corporate
Laura Conduit – real estate
Charlotte Fraser – dispute resolution
Elizabeth Jones – charity law
Oliver Piper – private wealth
Gowling WLG:
Sarah Galvin – real estate
Felicity Lindsay – real estate
Samantha Holland – dispute resolution
Mark Stephenson – dispute resolution
Elizabeth Gane – pensions
In its first European office opening since its 2016 merger, Gowling WLG has launched a second German outpost in Stuttgart.
The firm said it will relocate corporate partner Andreas Woelfle, along with counsel Petra Beyer to the new office, adding it that it plans to add a principal associate in the next few months.
While Gowlings’ existing office in Munich focuses on IP and IT, the new office will focus on corporate law including capital markets.
Woelfe said: ‘Stuttgart and the Baden-Wurttemberg region are home to some of our most outstanding clients in our key sectors such as automotive, technology and advanced manufacturing.’
The firm has recently added to its Paris tax team with the appointment of partner Julien Monsenego from Olswang, as well as Céline Bey, who was of counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills but joined as partner.
Other recent international expansion for the firm includes its Singapore tie-up with JurisAsia, an IP and corporate law specialist. JurisAsia is led by Sheena Jacob, a former head of IP at Bird & Bird.
In the City, Gowling lost its legacy Lawrence Graham private client team earlier this month to Mayfair firm Forsters. The four partner team including private client head Anthony Thompson, as well as Catharine Bell, Nicholas Jacob and Daniel Ugur.
Legacy firm Lawrence Graham was well known for its private client expertise, with the contentious trusts and probate team, led by Bell, ranked in tier two of The Legal 500. Andrew Witts, now chairman of the combined firm, is also recommended ‘for his experience of running large, complex multijurisdictional fraud and trust disputes in offshore jurisdictions.’ Clients of the team include New World Trust Company and Jersey Trust Company.
In a statement, chief executive David Fennell said: ‘The move by our London private client practice to Forsters is the right one for both the team and Gowling WLG. We had been in discussions with the team for some time, but have agreed that there is no longer a strong strategic fit with the firm’s ambitions.
victoria.young@legalease.co.uk
Read more: ‘The road to Ottawa – why WLG believes Gowlings can put it on the global map’
Gowling WLG has lost its legacy Lawrence Graham private client team, including four partners, to Mayfair firm Forsters.
Private client head Anthony Thompson is to depart, along with partners Catharine Bell, Nicholas Jacob and Daniel Ugur. The partners will be joined by 10 lawyers and five staff members.
Legacy firm Lawrence Graham was well known for its private client expertise, with the contentious trusts and probate team, led by Bell, ranked in tier two of The Legal 500. Andrew Witts, now chairman of the combined firm, is also recommended ‘for his experience of running large, complex multijurisdictional fraud and trust disputes in offshore jurisdictions.’ Clients of the team include New World Trust Company and Jersey Trust Company.
In a statement, chief executive David Fennell said: ‘The move by our London private client practice to Forsters is the right one for both the team and Gowling WLG. We had been in discussions with the team for some time, but have agreed that there is no longer a strong strategic fit with the firm’s ambitions.
‘We are focused on our priority practice areas and sectors across our international platform, building on the momentum from the Gowling WLG combination earlier this year. This move will enable Private Client to build its platform within a business which specialises in the private client market and we wish them well.’
Following the move, the Forsters private client team will compromise 48 lawyers and Forsters’ wider private wealth offering, including family and contentious trust and probate, will contribute more than one third of the firm’s revenue. The move will also broaden Forsters’ geographic reach in the Middle East and Asia.
Commenting on the acquisition, Patrick Harney, partner and head of the private client team at Forsters said the team acquisition is highly significant for the firm, increasing the scope and reach of its private wealth services and adding to the expertise for UK domiciled and internationally based clients.
Paul Roberts, managing partner at Forsters added: ‘The Gowling WLG team will be an excellent addition to our private wealth offering and to the wider firm. Our strategy of focusing on what we are good at – real estate and private client – has been successful and we have no intention of changing it. This acquisition will be another significant step in Forsters becoming recognised as a market leader in our chosen areas of excellence.’
The move will benefit the private client team from Gowlings personally, as it is joining a firm that has considerable financial muscle and has been one of the strongest performers in the LB100 in recent years. Fee income grew by 11% in 2015/16 to £46.2m, constituting its sixth consecutive year of double-digit growth since 2011, while PEP stands at £550,000 compared to £382,000 at Gowlings.
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk
I thought I’d be suited to law because I’ve always been interested in people. And discussion and debate and argument.
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Gowling WLG has a brand new general counsel while 3 Verulam Buildings (3VB), Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, K&L Gates and DLA Piper have all boosted their numbers with new additions this week.
Mary Mackintosh has been appointed as Gowling WLG’s new general counsel for the UK, replacing Eddie Breen who announced his retirement at the end of 2015. Mackintosh joins from Travis Perkins where she served as head of corporate legal services and data protection officer.
3VB has brought in commercial barrister Jane Davies Evans to its chambers this week. Specialising in energy disputes and construction, Davies joins from Crown Office Chambers where she has been since she returned to the Bar in 2014 after leaving Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer where she was counsel. She has an extensive international practice with a particular focus on the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, the Russian Federation and the Asia Pacific region.
Following a number of recent hires across its international offices, Quinn Emanuel has hired Ropes & Gray partner Brian Biddinger. The experienced trial lawyer who specialises in patent litigation matters in district court, the International Trade Commission and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, will join the firm’s New York office.
K&L Gates has boosted its Chicago office with the appointment of partner Joseph Condo to its energy, infrastructure projects and transactions practice. Condo makes the move from renewable energy company Invenergy where he was senior vice president and general counsel. He will bring his experience in complex foreign and domestic commercial transactions, including debt and equity financing, M&A transactions, joint ventures and complex commercial litigation management.
In Australasia, DLA Piper has brought in restructuring partner Macaire Bromley to its Sydney office from Australian law firm DibbsBarker. Bromley was previously a senior associate in Allen & Overy’s London practice as well as Ashurst. She was involved in several high-profile insolvencies in the financial sector in Australia including Lehman Brothers Australia, Allco Finance Group and Enron Finance Australia. She also advised HM Treasury on the bail-in of the Bank of Cyprus and acted on the Co-operative Bank’s recapitalisation plan and liability management exercise.
madeleine.farman@legalease.co.uk
Gowling WLG informed staff yesterday (20 September) it will restart the delayed salary review that was put in place as a result of Britain’s vote to leave the EU. Speaking to Legal Business, Gowling WLG’s chief executive David Fennel confirmed that conversations regarding salary with staff will occur over the next couple of weeks.
The salary review, which was backdated to July 2016 was applicable to all staff excluding fixed share and equity partners. However bonus payments, for 2015/16 for those eligible were paid as usual in the July payroll and summer promotions had gone ahead as planned.
In August, Fennel said: ‘Like a lot of firms our annual pay review is effective the 1 of July, and it still will be. But given the significance of Brexit and the uncertainty and pandemonium in stock markets and the fall of the value of the pound immediately after that result it was prudent to pause and take stock and see how the markets and the economy reacted to Brexit. So that’s what we’ve done.’
The news came amidst a subdued year for the recently-merged Gowling WLG, which posted essentially flat revenue and profits for its UK arm for financial year 2015/16.
Revenue was up 2% from £180.4m to £184.7m, while profits per equity partner (PEP) remained static at £383,000. Although the Canadian arm of the firm does not report financials, according to Gowling WLG, the total revenue for both LLPs was £410m.
Construction and engineering which recorded a 23% increase, and IP which posted a 17% increase, were the highest preforming practice areas for the firm, alongside pensions, corporate and real estate.
According to Gowling WLG, the overseas offices also performed well, with the Munich office increasing by 38% while Guangzhou in China delivered a 16% increase. Paris, the firm’s largest overseas office, saw an increase of 3%.
Last month it was reported that Addleshaw Goddard had also frozen its August salary review as a result of Brexit.
The move followed Berwin Leighton Paisner’s decision to freeze pay and bonuses until November. In June managing partner Lisa Mayhew told staff in an email the reason was ‘political and financial uncertainty in the UK following the recent vote to leave the EU.’
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk
It has been a subdued year for the UK arm of recently-merged Gowling WLG, which has posted essentially flat revenue and profits for the financial year 2015/16.
Revenue is up 2% from £180.4m to £184.7m, while profits per equity partner (PEP) remains static at £383,000. Although the Canadian arm of the firm does not report financials, according to Gowling WLG, the total revenue for both LLPs was £410m.
Construction and engineering which recorded a 23% increase, and IP which posted a 17% increase, were the highest preforming practice areas for the firm, alongside pensions, corporate and real estate.
According to Gowling WLG, the overseas offices also performed well, with the Munich office increasing by 38% while Guangzhou in China delivered a 16% increase. Paris, the firm’s largest overseas office, saw an increase of 3%.
Speaking to Legal Business Gowling WLG’s chief executive David Fennell said that there have been opportunities across a broad range of practice areas as a result of the firm’s combination in February this year.
‘The new mandates and files we’ve opened have actually been across a broad range of practice areas from corporate to private capital to real estate, which we didn’t necessarily expect. IP remains one of those areas which we think is very well placed to benefit from the combination and has won its fair share of what we call ‘combination files’ – files that we wouldn’t have won but for the combination with Gowlings or we won because we’ve jointly pitched. But other areas – we have been surprised by the breadth of work that’s been generated actually.
Fennell (pictured) added: ‘The start of the 2015/16 year was reasonably slow. It was the run up and the period immediately after the general election were quieter, people put transactions on hold in that period. So our first half last year was slower than we hoped and the second half was much stronger and that carried into the first quarter. We are pleased with that.’
Last week Gowling WLG confirmed it would delay its 2016 review for all staff excluding fixed share and equity partners until the autumn as a direct result of the Brexit vote. However the firm added that bonus payments, for 2015/16 for those eligible were paid as usual in the July payroll and summer promotions had gone ahead as planned.
Fennell added: ‘Like a lot of firms our annual pay review is effective the 1 of July, and it still will be. But given the significance of Brexit and the uncertainty and pandemonium in stock markets and the fall of the value of the pound immediately after that result it was prudent to pause and take stock and see how the markets and the economy reacted to Brexit. So that’s what we’ve done.’
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk
Both Addleshaw Goddard and Gowling WLG have frozen their August salary reviews until the autumn as a result of Britain’s vote to leave the EU.
As first revealed by RollOnFriday, Addleshaws will freeze salary reviews for staff but will also delay its annual review of fixed profit share for salaried partners, as well as postponing the next profit distribution for equity partners. However, staff bonuses for last year’s performance, which saw the firm hit the £200m revenue mark for the first time, as well as a 38% jump in profits per equity partner (PEP) from £491,000 to £679,000, will still be paid out in September.
A spokesperson said: ‘Like many other businesses in the UK, we have seen Brexit have an impact on activity levels in the short period since the referendum. As a consequence we have decided to defer decisions on staff salary reviews and partner remuneration – usually scheduled for August – until early autumn, when we will have clarity on anticipated improvements in activity.’
Similarly Gowling WLG has also confirmed it will delay its 2016 salary review until the autumn, but added that bonus payments, for 2015/16 for those eligible were paid as usual in the July payroll and summer promotions had gone ahead as planned.
The move follows Berwin Leighton Paisner’s decision to freeze pay and bonuses until November. In June managing partner Lisa Mayhew told staff in an email the reason was ‘political and financial uncertainty in the UK following the recent vote to leave the EU.’
Earlier today it was revealed Simmons & Simmons has made lawyer cutbacks in its London office, with the firms real estate practice the worst hit. A spokesperson for Simmons refused to say how many redundancies had taken place.
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk
