• February 7, 2013 |

    US law firms grow City presence by 8% in face of tough market

    US law firms grew their London offices by an average of 8% last year, despite continued depression in the UK and European legal markets. Research by Legal Week into the activities of 47 US firms in London found that partner headcount increased from 1,205 at the start of 2012 to 1,300 by the first day of 2013, with non-lawyer headcount also rising by a similar proportion. The increase in partner numbers comprises internal promotions, relocations and external hires.

    1 minute read

  • February 7, 2013 |

    London partner recruitment by US law firms hits record levels

    The collapse of Dewey & LeBoeuf helped drive partner hiring by US law firms in London to record levels in 2012, with senior lateral recruitment in the City climbing by almost 40% during the last calendar year. Legal Week's annual survey of London partner recruitment trends at some of the leading US law firms found there were 141 lateral partner hires made by the City arms of 47 US law firms last year, compared with 103 across the same firms in 2011.

    1 minute read

  • February 7, 2013 |

    Clydes set for Indonesia association as global players eye emerging market

    Clyde & Co is looking to launch an association with an Indonesian law firm, as opportunities in the Southeast Asian country continue to attract the attention of international players. The UK outfit is currently in the process of finalising an agreement with a local firm it has worked with for some time in Indonesia, and is hoping to announce a partnership in March. The firm's Indonesia practice head Michael Horn would be expected to oversee the venture, and would take space in the local firm's Indonesian offices along with two other colleagues.

    1 minute read

  • February 6, 2013 |

    Herbert Smith adds Allens Singapore partner as exits from Links' Aussie ally continue

    Herbert Smith Freehills has hired Allens partner Rod Howell in Singapore, in one of two recent partner departures from Linklaters' Australia alliance firm. Howell, who joins Herbert Smith along with senior associate Jeremy Chase, has 20 years of experience advising on financings in Asia, Australia, the UK and the US.

    1 minute read

  • February 1, 2013 |

    High-profile Field Fisher IP and tech chief Abell set to join Bird & Bird

    High-profile Field Fisher Waterhouse intellectual property and technology head Mark Abell is leaving the firm to join Bird & Bird. Abell was suspended from Field Fisher's partnership earlier today (1 February) following his announcement that he was resigning from Field Fisher to join another firm. It is not yet known when Abell will join Bird & Bird.

    1 minute read

  • January 31, 2013 |

    Burges Salmon, FFW and magic circle trio named on 48-strong Govt panel

    Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May are among a raft of firms to have secured roles on the finalised 48-firm Government Procurement Service panel. The magic circle firms have all been named on the long-awaited roster after firms received final confirmation of their appointments following a ten-day stand still period.

    1 minute read

  • January 27, 2013 |

    The Transfer Window: recent moves including Addleshaws, Links and DLA

    Addleshaw Goddard has turned to Linklaters for the hire of a new private equity partner in London. The firm is taking on Ben Rodham, who is a managing associate at the magic circle firm, where he has worked with clients including Bridgepoint, Carlyle, Hg Capital, Montagu and Terra Firma. He has also spent time Linklaters' Dubai and Hong Kong offices.

    1 minute read

  • January 24, 2013 |

    Jones Day and Withers act as PPR partners up with British designer Christopher Kane

    Jones Day and Withers have won leading roles on the 51% acquisition of British designer label Christopher Kane by French luxury goods group PPR. The transaction, for an undisclosed sum, sees PPR – the parent company of Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent – enter into a partnership with Kane (pictured) to grow the brand.

    1 minute read

  • January 10, 2013 |

    Shell advisers in focus as global panel review gets underway

    Royal Dutch Shell has kicked off a review of its global legal panel, in a move that will lead to the company's first overhaul of its primary legal advisers since 2010. General counsel Peter Rees QC confirmed that the energy and petrochemical giant had begun the process of reviewing its preferred advisers, with the new panel expected to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2013.

    1 minute read

  • January 3, 2013 |

    Cadwalader adds capital markets partner in China with K&L Gates hire

    Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has boosted its China capital markets team with the hire of K&L Gates corporate partner Rose Zhu. Zhu, who specialises in capital markets, M&A and bank financing transactions, has joined the US firm's Beijing branch from K&L Gates' local office, where she has spent around 18 months after moving from Allen & Overy in August 2010.

    1 minute read