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  • April 18, 2013 |

    The way to Westminster – making the transition from law to politics

    Law and politics may be a potent mix, but it is surprising just how many lawyers have successfully made the transition to elected representative. According to research by strategic communications consultancy the Madano Partnership, 12% of the elected new MPs at the 2010 general election have a legal background. Jonathan Reynolds, Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, was formerly a corporate lawyer at Addleshaw Goddard in Manchester. He believes there are a lot of "natural synergies" between the two professions. "Lawyers are skilled at absorbing large quantities of data and they can get to the crux of the argument very quickly," he says. "They also know how to critically analyse complex data and documents. All these skills are required of MPs."

    1 minute read

  • April 18, 2013 |

    Network Rail slashes core panel from 12 firms to five as Dentons wins role

    Dentons has won an appointment to Network Rail's legal panel following an adviser review that has seen the rail operator's core external roster cut from 12 law firms to five. Three firms in addition to Dentons have been appointed to cover England and Wales: longstanding advisers Bond Pearce, Eversheds and Addleshaw Goddard. All four will handle a full range of work including corporate, property, pensions and employment. Maclay Murray & Spens has been appointed to advise on Scots law matters.

    1 minute read

  • April 18, 2013 |

    Outsourcing out of favour as majority of partners back more near-shoring schemes

    The majority of partners at UK law firms believe firms should set up their own near-shoring ventures to cut costs ahead of sending work to outsourcing companies, according to new research published in the wake of several firms scaling back contracts with Integreon. Legal Week's latest Big Question survey found nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents believe own-firm near-shoring ventures in cheaper locations such as Belfast or other regional UK locations provide a better alternative to outsourcing companies for both legal process and back office support. A further 18% said firms should look to set up their own offshore ventures in regions such as the Philippines and India, with only the same percentage coming out in favour of outsourcing companies.

    1 minute read

  • April 17, 2013 |

    The value challenge

    In this article, Addleshaw Goddard considers in depth the first of four sections of the ValueDynamics study: the Value Challenge. The section outlines the fundamental first steps that GCs believe they should take when bringing change and improvements to their role within organisations.

    1 minute read

  • April 16, 2013 |

    Bond Dickinson turns to Addleshaws for first post-merger hire

    Addleshaw Goddard real estate partner Paula Dillon is to join the newly created Bond Dickinson once the merger between Bond Pearce and Dickinson Dees goes live on 1 May. Dillon will join the newly-merged firm's Leeds office next month. Top rated by Chambers, she is a well-known figure in the Yorkshire real estate market and spent 14 years as partner at Addleshaws after joining in 1999 from Garretts.

    1 minute read

  • April 11, 2013 |

    Sexism and the City - why female lawyers are afraid to speak out against discrimination

    In her new book of feminist advice for women in the workplace, Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook and the first woman on the social networking giant's board, acknowledges what many are afraid to admit publicly: "Women face real obstacles in the professional world, including blatant and subtle sexism, discrimination and sexual harassment." Readers of Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead will know that Sandberg, a 43-year-old American mother of two, has fought for and won priority parking for pregnant women and picked lice out of her children's hair on a company jet.

    1 minute read

  • April 11, 2013 |

    Pinsents to cut 13 employment jobs in third round of post-McGrigors layoffs

    Pinsent Masons is set to lay off as many as 13 fee earners in its UK employment practice, in the firm's third round of redundancies since its merger with McGrigors went live last year.

    1 minute read

  • April 5, 2013 |

    Simmons strengthens City fraud team with Kingsley Napley hire

    Simmons & Simmons is boosting its crime, fraud and investigations team with the hire of Kingsley Napley criminal litigation partner Stephen Gentle. Gentle, who is top-ranked in Chambers and Partners for both UK cartel defence and corporate crime, joined Kingsley Napley in 1993, becoming a partner in 2001. He will join Simmons' nine-partner crime, fraud and investigations team, which is headed by Nick Benwell, in June.

    1 minute read

  • April 4, 2013 |

    Nabarro targets global growth with new role of international head

    Nabarro has appointed restructuring head Patricia Godfrey to the newly created role of head of international, alongside the appointment of the firm's first fixed-share partner to its board. Restructuring and insolvency chief Godfrey has taken up the head of international role for an initial three-year term, and will take responsibility for overseeing and implementing the firm's international strategy.

    1 minute read

  • April 4, 2013 |

    Addleshaw Goddard - ValueDynamics

    ValueDynamics, published by Addleshaw Goddard, is the first ever 'best practice' toolkit for General Counsel and Heads of Legal. Drawing on the experiences of 25 well-respected General Counsel, we have sought to describe the many and varied challenges facing GCs, and provide an evolving, practical toolkit of how best to structure, align and lead in-house legal functions.

    1 minute read