WHITTAKER STEPS DOWN AS LLOYDS GC
Group general counsel (GC) Andrew Whittaker is stepping down from his role at Lloyds Banking Group with deputy GC Kate Cheetham set to replace him. Whittaker joined the bank in May 2013 after having served as the legal head of the Financial Services Authority. The bank also saw the departure of disputes chief Philippa Simmons last month and began a redundancy consultation looking at cutting up to 25 mid-level positions.
KING & WOOD MALLESONS HIRES NINE-LAWYER TEAM FROM EVERSHEDS
Having brought in real estate heavyweights William Naunton, Clive Jones and Cornelius Medvei at the start of the year, King & Wood Mallesons hired a further team of partners and associates from Eversheds last month. Real estate partners Simon Burson and Jeremy Brooks, as well as principal associate George Burrha, who joins as a partner, joined the firm alongside commercial partner James Walsh and five associates.
HOGAN LOVELLS LAUNCHES AUSTRALIA PRESENCE
Allens partners Nicky and Tim Lester were hired by Hogan Lovells to launch a presence in Sydney and Perth as the firm looks to build an Australian practice. The Anglo-American firm is targeting a nine to 11 partner presence with a focus on projects, natural resources and infrastructure. It is also looking at outbound work into Africa and South-East Asia.
DWF MERGES WITH INSURANCE BOUTIQUE WATMORES
DWF continued its acquisition spree last month, merging with five-partner firm Watmores Solicitors. With turnover of £2.5m, the firm specialises in dispute resolution and litigation insurance for major insurers, and will relocate to DWF’s offices in the Walkie Talkie.
A&O MAKES 22 UP TO PARTNER IN 40% FEMALE ROUND
Allen & Overy made up 22 lawyers across the UK, Europe, Asia and the US with nine of those women. In London the firm’s corporate practice benefited the most with three new partners, while two banking lawyers were made up and the litigation and international capital markets teams were both boosted by one.
CO-OP LEGAL SERVICES SEES 30% REVENUE DROP
The Co-operative Legal Services reported that its 2014 revenues dropped by £10m to £23m and gave an underlying operating loss of £5m for that year. However, the division was optimistic as it managed to turn a small profit in the second half of the year.
JUDICIARY LAUNCHES PILOT PROGRAMME TO BOOST DIVERSITY
The judiciary launched a pilot programme involving mentoring and shadow working to boost diversity within its ranks. The move targets ‘high-quality lawyers and legal academics’ as the Judicial Appointments Commission looks at appointing deputy High Court judges, who have not held previous judicial roles, for the first time this summer.
CHADBOURNE HIRES GOLTSBLAT BLP PARTNER TO MANAGE MOSCOW OFFICE
Chadbourne & Parke hired energy partner Andrei Baev from Goltsblat BLP to manage its Moscow office. Baev was a partner at Allen & Overy before he joined Goltsblat as a senior equity partner in 2012. The move follows Chadbourne’s closure of its Kiev office.