Legal education reform. First principles. Root and branch. It was ever thus. Attending the Westminster Legal Policy Forum (WLPF) seminar this week, the legal education community was much exercised about the latest attempts to reform the framework for training lawyers.
Comment: The moment of truth arises – will the profession stand up to Gove?
In business as in life, if you want respect you have to start by expecting it and not putting up with its absence. Perhaps the ludicrous attempt to bully the commercial legal profession into taking on more pro bono with the threat of a levy on the UK’s largest law firms will make that point sink in.
Continue reading “Comment: The moment of truth arises – will the profession stand up to Gove?”
Market reaction: jury still out on Irwin Mitchell’s £40m takeover of Thomas Eggar
In a move that demonstrates consolidation is still very much on trend for national law firms, Irwin Mitchell’s continuation of its aggressive expansion policy by merging with the south-east based Thomas Eggar this month has garnered a mixed reaction from the market.
Continue reading “Market reaction: jury still out on Irwin Mitchell’s £40m takeover of Thomas Eggar”
Dewey trial: prosecutor offers guilty deals to three defendants as Davis’ lawyers continue to negotiate
US prosecutors have told a New York judge of new guilty plea deals offered to three senior Dewey & LeBoeuf executives after the criminal case over the biggest law firm bankruptcy in history collapsed recently.
Macfarlanes’ top-earning partner pay leaps by a third, annual LLP accounts show
The latest LLP filings at Companies House by Macfarlanes have shown the highest-paid member at the firm pocketed £2.04m in 2014/15, 33% more than in the previous financial year.
Continue reading “Macfarlanes’ top-earning partner pay leaps by a third, annual LLP accounts show”
Top RBS lawyer resigns as John Collins makes surprise defection to Santander
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) general counsel John Collins has resigned just 11 months after becoming the top lawyer at the leading High Street bank.
Continue reading “Top RBS lawyer resigns as John Collins makes surprise defection to Santander”
Cravath kicks off bonus season with associates in line for up to $100,000
Cravath Swaine & Moore has set the benchmark for US associate bonuses becoming the first major law firm to announce its end-of-year awards.
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Revolving doors: Addleshaws strengthens in corporate finance as key players hire in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America
Addleshaw Goddard has added Squire Patton Boggs partner Giles Distin to its corporate finance practice as it aims to ramp up its City offering.
Opening up the profession: ITV offers first in-house apprenticeship through employer-led Trailblazer scheme
ITV has become the first company to offer a solicitor apprenticeship under the new Trailblazers Apprenticeship in Law initiative.
Asia-Pacific: Olswang unveils non-exclusive tie-ups in Singapore and Hong Kong
Olswang has set its sights on expansion in Asia, today (7 December) announcing non-exclusive associations with local firms in Hong Kong and Singapore.
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Dentons hires former BLP corporate chief Collins as it targets cross-border deal work
In tandem with its significant global expansion this year, Dentons is targeting greater volumes of cross-border deal work and has hired Berwin Leighton Paisner’s former corporate chief David Collins to head its global M&A push.
Slaughter and May wins main corporate adviser role as John Lewis Partnership cuts legal panel to four
High Street retailer John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has cut its external legal panel to just four firms comprising Slaughter and May, Burges Salmon, Dentons and Eversheds, naming Slaughter and May as its main corporate adviser, following a review of its existing arrangements.
Rising star Rodham returns to Linklaters to boost private equity team
Linklaters has made a rare lateral hire to bring Shearman & Sterling private equity partner Ben Rodham back to the firm just three years after leaving the Magic Circle firm.
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Eighteen law firms join latest attempt to improve the profession’s dire social inclusion record
Eighteen major law firms, including Linklaters, Macfarlanes, White & Case and Sullivan & Cromwell, have joined a new initiative to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds join the legal profession.
Siri meets GC? Riverview bets big with the launch of a ‘virtual assistant’ for clients
After spending the last 18 months investing in automated services for in-house teams, Riverview Law has created a virtual assistant to help legal teams make ‘quicker and better decisions’.
Shearman invests in London as City promotions overtake New York
London provided the bulk of this year’s partner promotions at US law firm Shearman & Sterling, with more lawyers joining its partnership in the City than in the US.
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SRA proposes standardised final examination for all prospective solicitors
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced plans to introduce a new unified exam for assessing trainee solicitors.
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Taking Manhattan: Freshfields hires Skadden Arps specialist in US leveraged finance boost
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has continued its recent push in the US with the hire of experienced Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom counsel David Almroth as a partner to boost its US finance practice.
Glass houses – everything wrong with in-house counsel
General counsel have been vocal in recent years about persistent problems in law firms but what about in-house teams? Legal Business talks to clients and counsel about where GCs go wrong.
It’s not hard these days to find outlets and forums for general counsel (GCs) to highlight the excesses and poor behaviour that still persist among law firms. High rates, padded bills, unresponsive service and an inability to put themselves in the position of clients are all cited repeatedly in events, surveys and coverage of the views of in-house counsel.
Continue reading “Glass houses – everything wrong with in-house counsel”
The moment of truth arises – will the profession stand up to Gove?
In business as in life, if you want respect you have to start by expecting it and not putting up with its absence. Perhaps the ludicrous attempt to bully the commercial legal profession into taking on more pro bono with the threat of a levy on the UK’s largest law firms will make that point sink in.
For years the government has treated the commercial legal profession with neglect and disinterest unless it needed something, despite its status as a world-leader, major tax contributor and role in helping carry English law around the globe. Far too often the profession rolled over then queued up like a grateful child when the government wanted the great and good to pitch in for something. The policy wheeze by incoming justice secretary Michael Gove has only made explicit what has been obvious for years.
Continue reading “The moment of truth arises – will the profession stand up to Gove?”