Firm focus: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
London headcount: 121 lawyers, 19 partners Lawyer headcount change since 2014: 1% (-17% partners) London head: Litigation partner Sunil Gadhia…
Focus
Firm focus: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
London headcount: 144 lawyers, 28 partners Lawyer headcount change since 2014: 15% (-7% partners) London head: Pranav Trivedi Office specialities:…
City leaders take drastic action as coronavirus spreads turmoil across European states and economies
Nathalie Tidman and Thomas Alan assess the impact of the pandemic on the profession as the world battens down for…
Legal tech focus: Joined-up thinking
With cash flowing freely into legal tech and start-ups scaling, the market is looking increasingly mature. But while bold claims…
Freshfields under financial and reputational fire in Germany as cum-ex tax scandal rolls on
Marco Cillario and Nathalie Tidman report on Freshfields’ role in the tax scandal rocking Germany It is not often that…
Leadership pivots and partner exits highlight a period of flux for Clydes – what next for the insurance giant?
Muna Abdi assesses a period of upheaval for one of the UK’s most upwardly-mobile law firms Sudden moves in the…
RPC’s surprise partnership shake-up signals focus on next generation but is the firm still playing too safe?
Marco Cillario assesses the background to RPC’s decision to abandon all-equity structure At a November press event held by a…
Case study: Foot Anstey
With just over 200 lawyers and only 48 partners, Foot Anstey has been among the ten fastest-growing firms in the…
Dealing with no deal – Can top law firms cope with a chaotic Brexit?
Simon Davis has had quite a start to his one-year term as the 175th president of the Law Society of…
Nice problems to have – Where now for Stephenson Harwood as veteran chief hands over?
With longstanding chief executive Sharon White bowing out, Stephenson Harwood can look back on a strong ten years. Thomas Alan…
Moment of truth: New Law champion Axiom unveils float plans but break up of its business raises doubts
Axiom making good on long-trailed plans to float will be a milestone for New Law. Thomas Alan assesses if the…
Global London Focus: Morrison & Foerster
London headcount: 73 lawyers, 20 partners Lawyer headcount change since 2013: +52% London heads: Alistair Maughan and Jonathan Wheeler, office…
Global London Focus: Dechert
London headcount: 169 lawyers: 44 partners (26 equity, 18 non-equity) Lawyer headcount change since 2013: +29% London office management committee:…
Global London Focus: M&A – Hunting for whales
‘Initially the client was concerned, but the investment banks said: “A big tick for Gibson Dunn in public M&A…
New Law meets Big Four – Has Deloitte got the conviction to match its free-thinking legal pitch?
Thomas Alan asks if Deloitte can find a new angle on legal services The often cited but seldom-seen legal arrival…
M&A focus: A sign of things to come? Europe’s deal market ends 2018 with a whimper after a forceful start
The ghost of political turmoil did little to hinder deal-doing in Europe in the first half of 2018 but its…
Post-merger chemistry and an absence of crisis mark BCLP launch but firm is yet to settle into its stride
Thomas Alan finds mixed omens in the wake of BCLP’s high-stakes union. A solid start cannot obscure that 2019 will be…
Under the influence – how pressure to climb the ladder can corrupt in-house counsel
Being risk savvy and commercially aware is the equivalent of ‘leaning in’ for today’s in-house lawyer. Can one do this…
Legal tech focus: Is Kira the real deal?
AI contract analysis system Kira has been on a trying journey. Having landed $50m in funding, Hamish McNicol and Thomas…
Legal tech focus: Slaughters’ tech ally Luminance makes impact but battle for City elite wages
Luminance has shot to prominence unlike any other UK legal tech start-up. But Hamish McNicol finds there is still plenty…