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  • February 18, 2009 | International Edition

    That's entertainment

    The halcyon days of unlimited cash to splash on boozy client lunches and blagging the day off to cut up turf at the golf course may have passed for the immediate future, but that doesn't mean clients don't still expect a little love now and again. But in leaner times, how should lawyers strike the balance between rewarding good business and cutting into profits?With every firm out to maximise the work available from existing clients, as well securing work from other people's clients, any cutbacks to marketing and entertainment budgets at this point have to be measured. And while showing clients you appreciate their business is one thing, decorum is required if you don't want them to start questioning whose bill their ostentatious gift was funded by.

    1 minute read

  • February 18, 2009 |

    That's entertainment

    The halcyon days of unlimited cash to splash on boozy client lunches and blagging the day off to cut up turf at the golf course may have passed for the immediate future, but that doesn't mean clients don't still expect a little love now and again. But in leaner times, how should lawyers strike the balance between rewarding good business and cutting into profits?With every firm out to maximise the work available from existing clients, as well securing work from other people's clients, any cutbacks to marketing and entertainment budgets at this point have to be measured. And while showing clients you appreciate their business is one thing, decorum is required if you don't want them to start questioning whose bill their ostentatious gift was funded by.

    1 minute read

  • February 13, 2009 |

    US firms cut 800 jobs in one day; DLA lays off 80

    Almost 800 associates and legal staff were laid off across the US on Thursday (12 February) after eight firms carried out mass job cuts, citing an unprecedented downturn in demand. DLA Piper cut 80 associates, equating to 5% of its US-based lawyers. Aside from 28 associates in New York and Chicago, the reductions are primarily on the West Coast, chairman Francis Burch told Legal Week sister title The National Law Journal. A DLA Piper spokesman declined to say how many lawyers were laid off in California. DLA also let go of 100 staff members across the firm's 26 US offices. Before the cuts, DLA Piper had about 1,500 lawyers in the US and 3,800 lawyers worldwide.

    1 minute read

  • February 5, 2009 |

    Dechert picks London partner for global policy committee

    Dechert has appointed London corporate partner Douglas Getter to sit on the firm's global policy committee. Getter replaces former London finance and real estate chief Ciaran Carvalho, who left the firm last month to join Nabarro.Getter heads Dechert's US corporate practice in Europe. He joined the firm in 2005 from legacy firm Dewey Ballantine where he had led the firm's European M&A group.

    1 minute read

  • February 2, 2009 |

    Firms hit by snowstorm with staff left stranded

    Many City law firms are experiencing near-gridlock today (2 February) as a result of the snowstorm that has hit the UK, with a large number of lawyers and support staff unable to travel in to work. Clifford Chance (CC) has mobilised its emergency taskforce - a group that comprises the firm's chief operating officer, the head of IT and the head of facilities. The taskforce comes together during times of crisis to co-ordinate home working, ensure all staff members are well informed on travel news, and arrange hotel accommodation for any staff who are unable to travel home from the office.

    1 minute read

  • January 28, 2009 |

    Nabarro signs up new partner for IT/comms team

    Nabarro has bolstered its IT and communications practice with the lateral hire of Boyes Turner partner Geoff Mendelsohn. Mendelsohn joins the firm this month after five years with Boyes Turner, where he headed the IT litigation team. He joins Nabarro's London IT and communications group, taking headcount in the team - which includes technology head Tony Bailes - to four partners and nine associates.Mendelsohn specialises in dispute resolution and has experience working in commercial, industrial and professional sectors including engineering and construction, gas, product liability and information technology. He was involved in leading the team for EDS against National Air Traffic Control.

    1 minute read

  • January 23, 2009 |

    Bakers lays off 20 legal staff from London office

    Baker & McKenzie has cut 20 legal positions in London with the firm also set to review its support function. The firm confirmed today (23 January) that 20 London-based legal staff have lost their jobs, with the redundancies affecting a number of associates and paralegals. It is understood that the cuts affect a number of practice areas, including corporate.In addition, the firm has launched a separate review of its secretarial and support services which could result in job losses. No formal redundancy consultation has been launched and the review is set to last several months.

    1 minute read

  • January 22, 2009 |

    Asian newcomers size up an uncertain market

    The jet lag flying from New York to Hong Kong is bad enough for a solo traveller. For a family with two young children in tow, it is an absolute killer."We slept through the night last night," says Yash Rana, sitting in his office in the IM Pei-designed Bank of China Tower less than a week after the fateful flight. "That was a treat."Rana has moved his family halfway around the world so he can take charge of Goodwin Procter's new Hong Kong office, which opened in November to become the Boston-based law firm's first overseas location.

    1 minute read

  • January 19, 2009 |

    Will crime pay for US firms in Europe?

    Readers of this site have become accustomed to stories of major US law firms striving to get their bankruptcy practices in order. One recent example: last…

    1 minute read

  • January 14, 2009 |

    Macfarlanes set to make cuts with 14 under threat

    Macfarlanes has kicked off a redundancy consultation which could see up to 14 members of staff laid off from the firm. The firm is reviewing the positions of seven fee earners in its property team and a further seven secretaries in its corporate and property divisions. The firm could not confirm when the consultation would close.

    1 minute read