Top ranked stories in September and October

• Linklaters mourns death of M&A partner Iain Wagstaff (6 September)
  Linklaters partner Iain Wagstaff died at the age of 44 following a cycling accident.

• A&O loses M&A heavyweights to Skadden following failed US merger talks (12 September)
  Allen & Overy lost two well-respected City corporate partners just days after its merger talks with O’Melveny & Myers failed.

• Tribunal finds against Freshfields partner in high-profile misconduct case (10 October)
  Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Ryan Beckwith was fined £35,000 after being found to have engaged in sexual activity with an inebriated female colleague.

• Clyde & Co shipping team breaks away to set up boutique firm (9 September)
  Clyde & Co lost partners from its global marine group after the shipping team set up their own boutique.

• Kirkland smashes promotion record for an elite firm in 141-strong global round (3 October)
  Kirkland & Ellis continued its unrivalled ascent by promoting 141 lawyers globally to partner, including 16 in the City.

• Pay to play – Bluechip clients force law firms to pay to pitch (23 September)
  Major companies were revealed to be pressing external counsel to pay to compete for panel spots.

• A&O to fast-track US investment following failed merger talks with O’Melveny (9 September)
  Allen & Overy managing partner Andrew Ballheimer signalled his intent to invest heavily across the Atlantic.

• Mishcon and Blackstone prove victorious as Supreme Court rules Parliamentary suspension unlawful (24 September)
  Mishcon de Reya and Blackstone Chambers were on the winning side in overruling the suspension of Parliament by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

• Weil makes London play with hire of Linklaters star Avery-Gee (7 October)
  Weil, Gotshal & Manges made a rare hire, recruiting Linklaters M&A star David Avery-Gee.

The top stories ranked on Legal Business’ website up until 15 October