• November 13, 2009 |

    Jones Day demotes five London partners to of counsel rank

    Jones Day has demoted a number of London partners over the last year, with five former partners now serving as of counsel at the firm. The demotions, first reported on legal blog RollOnFriday, equate to nearly 10% of the US firm's London partnership, which currently lists 48 partners on its website. The office also lists 16 of counsel and one counsel, in addition to assistants.

    1 minute read

  • November 11, 2009 |

    Commentary: Will Mayer Brown's tie-up in Hong Kong deliver the goods?

    When it comes to international expansion, Mayer Brown doesn't go for half measures. The firm's 2002 merger with London's Rowe & Maw remains one of the largest transatlantic mergers to date. Five years on, Mayer Brown made a similarly big move in Asia, combining with Hong Kong's largest law firm, the 260-lawyer Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM).

    1 minute read

  • November 11, 2009 |

    US Briefing: Mayer without Maher

    In the seven years after Paul Maher helped wed his firm, London's Rowe & Maw, to Chicago-based Mayer Brown & Platt, he established a reputation as the firm's best strategist. He pushed his partners to open a Hong Kong office, which was later used to open the door to a merger with Johnson Stokes & Master, a Hong Kong firm with 300 lawyers in Asia. As vice-chairman, he argued for strengthening Mayer Brown's wilting New York office - a perpetual work-in-progress - and for boosting profitability, which has sagged in recent years.

    1 minute read

  • November 11, 2009 |

    On the bright side

    It seems lawyers are a lot less angry than expected about the personal consequences of the economic downturn, based on responses in this year's Employee Satisfaction Report. The findings of the report, published by Legal Week Intelligence earlier this year, were discussed at a roundtable held, in association with Hays Legal, on 13 October.

    1 minute read

  • November 9, 2009 |

    Former A&O finance partner joins Fried Frank's London office

    Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson has made a rare lateral hire in London, bringing in former Allen & Overy (A&O) leveraged finance partner Mark Wesseldine. Wesseldine will join the US firm's City arm towards the end of the year after serving as a partner with A&O since 2007.

    1 minute read

  • November 2, 2009 |

    Greenberg continues City growth with Eversheds real estate hire

    Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) is set to launch a City property practice with the hire of a real estate partner from Eversheds. Tim Webb joined GTM today (2 November) as City real estate head after 22 years at Eversheds. The firm plans to bring in associates to staff the new practice over the coming weeks.

    1 minute read

  • October 28, 2009 |

    Mayer Brown adds partner to City base with CC finance hire

    Mayer Brown has bolstered its UK finance offering with the hire of a leveraged finance partner from Clifford Chance (CC). John Clark joins the international firm after eight years as a senior associate at CC.

    1 minute read

  • October 21, 2009 |

    JPMorgan finalises panel review with rates frozen at 2008 levels

    JPMorgan has completed a review of its preferred legal advisers as Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) nears the end of its review process. The US investment bank, which launched a review of its preferred law firms earlier this summer, contacted its closest advisers over the last few weeks to confirm that they will secure work for the next year, as long as they agree to various conditions. The conditions are believed to include a freeze on rates at 2008 levels - already reduced by 5% on the previous year.

    1 minute read

  • October 13, 2009 |

    Dundas partner duo quit for new roles at Greenberg and Kennedys

    Dundas & Wilson has seen the departure of two partners from its London office. Corporate partner Ewan Robertson has been recruited by US firm Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) after spending seven years as a partner with the Scottish firm. His practice focuses on M&A, joint ventures and project-related matters in the energy, real estate and utilities sector.

    1 minute read

  • October 9, 2009 |

    Leading firms nominated for 2009 British Legal Awards

    Allen & Overy (A&O), Bird & Bird and Norton Rose are among the nominees for a series of accolades at the 2009 British Legal Awards. The trio have been shortlisted for the prestigious Law Firm of the Year award alongside Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Clyde & Co, Kennedys and Stephenson Harwood. Norton Rose has also been nominated for a further two awards, including M&A Team of the Year, while Bird & Bird has secured nominations in three other categories, including Commercial Team of the Year.

    1 minute read