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  • March 27, 2013 |

    Top firms relocate more senior lawyers to Asia as East's rise continues

    UK and global law firms are increasingly relocating senior partners and practice group heads to the Asia-Pacific region as they continue to pin their hopes on the market, despite the recent downturn in activity in areas such as capital markets. A survey of 30 UK and US law firms by Legal Week found that 57% of those firms now have at least one global practice head, department co-chair or deputy chair based in Asia, with the majority of these appointed since the start of 2010. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Clifford Chance (CC) and Herbert Smith Freehills each now have at least two international practice heads based permanently in the Asia-Pacific, compared with one or fewer in 2010.

    1 minute read

  • March 26, 2013 |

    New study shows rising prominence of lawyers in corporate CEO roles

    Top UK and US corporates are increasingly turning to the legal profession to fill senior leadership roles, according to a new research project carried out by Reed Smith and KPMG. The report, which looked at CEO appointments at FTSE 100 and Fortune 100 companies over the last decade, highlights a steady rise in the numbers of CEOs who have either studied law or gone on to qualify as a practitioner...

    1 minute read

  • March 25, 2013 |

    The Transfer Window: recent moves including SNR, Gateley, K&L Gates

    Harbottle & Lewis has recruited top-rated defamation and reputation management partner John Kelly from Schillings, in an eye-catching hire for the City firm. Kelly has acted for a raft of high-profile clients including disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong and former England manager Steve McClaren, as well as other celebrities including Steve Coogan, Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie and Matt Lucas.

    1 minute read

  • March 24, 2013 |

    Reed Smith, Ashurst and Olswang advise on BBC's Lonely Planet sale

    Reed Smith, Ashurst and Olswang are among a number of firms to have taken roles on BBC Worldwide's £51.5m sale of travel publisher Lonely Planet. US media company NC2 Media will acquire the Melbourne-headquartered company at the end of the financial year (31 March), paying £41.2m on completion and £10.3m in one year's time.

    1 minute read

  • March 17, 2013 |

    BT finalises adviser review with more than 140 appointed around the world

    BT has finalised a review of its network of external legal advisers in the UK and Ireland, alongside the appointment of more than 140 law firms to advise it around the world. The review, which was led by general counsel Dan Fitz alongside litigation and employment head Miles Jobling, has seen the telecoms giant divide its global adviser network between four regions: UK and Ireland; Asia-Pacific; North & Latin America; and Rest of Europe, Middle East and Africa.

    1 minute read

  • March 14, 2013 |

    Bingham, Skadden and MoFo enjoy strong year in London as revenues rise

    Bingham McCutchen, Morrison & Foerster and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom all saw London revenues climb in 2012 as the rank of US firms unveiling last year's financial results continues to grow. Bingham saw City revenues rise by 11% during the last calendar year to $54.7m (£36.6m) compared with $49.1m (£32.9m) in 2011, with around 50 lawyers clocking up average revenue per lawyer of $1.158m (£776,000), compared to firmwide revenue per lawyer of $969,000 (£649,800).

    1 minute read

  • March 4, 2013 |

    Mishcons leads legal rivals in Sunday Times top employer list

    Only two of the UK's 50 largest law firms by revenue have made the grade to appear on The Sunday Times' annual Best Companies to Work For rankings, with Mishcon de Reya the highest ranked legal practice. The London firm has climbed to twelfth place in the rankings, up from number 23 last year, scoring particularly highly in categories including how staff feel about the company, the leadership and their immediate colleagues. The only other UK top 50 firm to feature is Mills & Reeve, which at number 57 has climbed more than 30 places on last year.

    1 minute read

  • February 28, 2013 |

    Middle East three-year M&A overview

    A comprehensive look at the top M&A deals in the Middle East from the past three years, featuring mandates for Reed Smith, Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance.

    1 minute read

  • February 28, 2013 |

    Defying the odds – how Ladbrokes' legal overhaul helped it stay ahead of the pack

    While other retailers have suffered in the recession, the gambling sector is thriving. Alex Newman looks at how Ladbrokes' overhaul of its in-house department has helped it stay ahead of the pack...

    1 minute read

  • February 28, 2013 |

    Reed Smith, Sidley Austin and Gibson Dunn post healthy results amid challenging deal market

    A host of elite US law firms have posted their 2012 financials this week, with the vast majority posting broadly positive results despite a choppy global deal market. Reed Smith, Sidley Austin, Paul Hastings, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Proskauer Rose and Shearman & Sterling all saw earnings grow last year, with Mayer Brown one of the few firms to post a drop in both revenue and profits per equity partner (PEP).

    1 minute read