Six months on from being elected co-heads of Allen & Overy’s (A&O) capital markets global team, David Benton and Simon Hill (pictured) talk about market confidence, current focuses and how Peerpoint is a big part of their future with Legal Business.
The Last Word – Reflections and looking ahead
Senior figures provide personal perspectives on a changing industry for our 250th edition
Working with Salz
‘I worked for Anthony as an associate. In order of descending seniority, Phil Richards, me and Will Lawes were his “bag carriers”. It was an exciting time. During the 1980s our M&A team were the new kids on the block and the firm was undergoing a reputational transition from a traditional Bank of England adviser to a push-the-envelope transactional adviser. By the 1990s, Freshfields was the go-to firm.
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Nearshoring: Hogan Lovells hires ten-strong associate team and acquires new office space for Birmingham venture
Having confirmed in early spring the launch of a new cost-efficient legal services centre in Birmingham, Hogan Lovells has hired a ten-strong associate team across multiple practice areas and from national firms, including Pinsent Masons, Clarke Willmott and Shoosmiths, to spearhead the venture as well as acquiring new office space within Birmingham’s central business district.
Hogan Lovells hires ten-strong associate team and acquires new office space for Birmingham nearshoring venture
Having confirmed in early spring the launch of a new cost-efficient legal services centre in Birmingham, Hogan Lovells has hired a ten-strong associate team across multiple practice areas and from national firms, including Pinsent Masons, Clarke Willmott and Shoosmiths, to spearhead the venture as well as acquiring new office space within Birmingham’s central business district.
The nearshoring venture, dubbed the Legal Service Centre and led by London partner Alan Greenough, who will relocate to Birmingham to manage the office, will now house teams comprising three associates within the practice areas of corporate, disputes and real estate, and a tenth specialist in real estate finance. Hires include the real estate lawyers, Shoosmiths’ senior associate Mark Saunders, Clarke Willmott associate Balraj Kaur and Pinsent Masons associate Abigail Gisbourne, who are all set to join in early November. The trio will initially start working out of the London office before relocating in order to integrate with the real estate team. All associates are expected to join by January at the latest.
Comment: Leadership in law – improving, crucial and maybe in the nick of time
Strong leadership is fundamental to driving innovation in law firms. This is not a discussion point. There is no discussion. This issue, Legal Business teamed up with Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) for an extended look at the role of leadership in a period of uncertainty and the strength of that core conclusion surprised even me.
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Leadership in law: improving, crucial and maybe in the nick of time
Strong leadership is fundamental to driving innovation in law firms. This is not a discussion point. There is no discussion. This issue, Legal Business teamed up with Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) for an extended look at the role of leadership in a period of uncertainty and the strength of that core conclusion surprised even me.
While it’s not surprising that law firm leaders hold that view – it would be odd if they didn’t – it was more telling that clients did as well. But the real acid test is the overwhelming endorsement of the need for robust leadership from partners and associates in our research. As this involves partners downplaying their own contribution – which they are neither culturally inclined nor structurally incentivised to do – that’s saying something.
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Leadership and innovation – Visionaries, politicians and survivors
In today’s ultra-competitive legal market, the thin line between success and failure hinges on the quality of a firm’s leadership. LB teamed up with Berwin Leighton Paisner to investigate what separates the truly visionary from the merely ordinary.
There was a time, not that long ago, when running a law firm didn’t require a huge amount of thought. The money came through the front door and the increasing profits went out the back. Clients rarely moved. Partners stayed in one place and, barring a few dishonourable exceptions, law firms rarely failed. Compared to the pressures that their counterparts in other industries faced, law firm leaders had it easy.
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Leadership and innovation – The partnership dilemma
Demanding clients, advancing tech and a tough economy have ushered in intense pressure for law firms to change. Can law firm leaders press their institutions to adapt or does the partnership model fundamentally block innovation?
Steve Jobs, the late co-founder, chairman and chief executive of Apple, once remarked that ‘innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower’. This is a sentiment that could easily be applied to the modern legal market, where clients have been increasingly vocal in demanding a more imaginative approach to legal services and the most progressive law firms are trying to find new ways to stay ahead of the competition. Although we are unlikely ever to see the equivalent of the iPhone, there is plenty of room for a visionary law firm leader.
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‘This is the future’ – A&O sees further growth of contract lawyer arm as it hires new head from Deloitte
Following the launch of its innovative contract lawyer business ‘Peerpoint’ last November, Allen & Overy has made a move to develop the high-end service further, today (5 September) announcing the hire of Richard Punt, the managing partner for clients and markets at accountancy giant Deloitte, as Peerpoint’s chief executive officer.
Quindell hires new legal chief as legal services division posts huge growth
Alternative business structure (ABS) Quindell has posted a huge revenue increase in the first half of 2014 with its Legal Services Division bringing in £179.6m, 139% up on H1 2013.
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