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  • February 19, 2009 |

    New QC appointments round sees 104 take silk

    The latest round of QC appointments has been announced today (19 February), with more than a hundred barristers claiming the elite kitemark. One hundred and four out of a total of 247 applicants have been awarded QC status, a success rate of 42% - a significant increase on the 2007-08 figure of 29%.However, the total of 247 applications received by the QC selection panel was a sharp drop from last year's total of 333 and a further drop from the 443 applicants in 2006-07.

    1 minute read

  • February 11, 2009 | International Edition

    Commentary: Commitment and a bit of cash bring Freshfields Olympic glory

    In a year dominated by gloomy news, at least Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has something to celebrate, after last week being named the sole official law firm for the 2012 London Olympics. But while Freshfields is justifiably making the most of its sponsorship coup, some firms - perhaps Clifford Chance (CC) more than most - could be forgiven for feeling less upbeat. With around 20 law firms initially invited to tender for the role by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), most of the UK's leading firms were given a chance to win the mandate. Though the process is shrouded in secrecy, it is believed that around five firms put in detailed bids.

    1 minute read

  • February 11, 2009 |

    Commentary: Commitment and a bit of cash bring Freshfields Olympic glory

    In a year dominated by gloomy news, at least Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has something to celebrate, after last week being named the sole official law firm for the 2012 London Olympics. But while Freshfields is justifiably making the most of its sponsorship coup, some firms - perhaps Clifford Chance (CC) more than most - could be forgiven for feeling less upbeat. With around 20 law firms initially invited to tender for the role by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), most of the UK's leading firms were given a chance to win the mandate. Though the process is shrouded in secrecy, it is believed that around five firms put in detailed bids.

    1 minute read

  • January 21, 2009 |

    Bird & Bird boosts Frankfurt arm with Lovells and Willkie Farr hires

    Bird & Bird has added two partners to its Frankfurt office, taking on one lateral each from Lovells and Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Lovells has lost corporate partner Wolfgang Hess, with Willkie losing telecommunications partner Sven-Erik Heun to the UK firm. Heun was one of the founding partners of Willkie's Frankfurt office in 2000.

    1 minute read

  • January 9, 2009 |

    Blake Lapthorn wins British Red Cross role after adviser review

    Charity organisation British Red Cross has completed a review of its property advisers, with regional firms Blake Lapthorn and Harrison Clark landing key roles. The regional duo have been added to the organisation's preferred firms list alongside longstanding advisers DLA Piper, following a review by British Red Cross property head John Walford.The firms will work closely with the charity on a number of matters including property, property litigation and construction.

    1 minute read

  • December 11, 2008 |

    In-house team of the year

    This award sets out to recognise the achievements of an in-house team working in a specific field. Tesco and BT Global Services made the shortlist for their contribution to corporate social responsibility. Tesco's team is working hard on a number of fronts to help fulfil chief executive Sir Terry Leahy's vision to share the company's success with the communities its stores are based in. The in-house team's work has ranged from participation in the College of Law's mentoring scheme to spending a rain-swept winter's day digging and clearing a feeding area for birds at Lee Valley Regional Park.

    1 minute read

  • December 11, 2008 |

    Orrick's German arm taps Bird & Bird for M&A partner hire

    Orrick Hoelters & Elsing has made its first lateral partner hire since its merger went live in September. The German arm of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe is set to add Bird & Bird corporate and M&A partner Erich Michel in Frankfurt (1 January, 2009). Michel will bring one associate as well as senior European consultant, Stefan Kleinbreuer, with him in the switch, with Kleinbreuer joining as of counsel.Michel was the founding partner of Bird & Bird's Frankfurt office, launching the City firm's base there at the end of 2005. His move comes after spending three years with Bird & Bird.

    1 minute read

  • December 10, 2008 |

    Poland: Pole position

    With several international firms bolstering their presence in the central and eastern Europe (CEE) region of late, Poland's independent law firms have had reason to watch nervously over their shoulders.Over the last few months, international firm DLA Piper has been hiring aggressively in Poland: in November it recruited Agnieszka Lechman-Filipiak from Linklaters to head its Polish employment practice, while the previous month it poached a team of seven tax law advisers from Deloitte's Warsaw office. "The team's hire is part of a strategic effort to expand our tax practice across Europe," says DLA's Europe Middle East

    1 minute read

  • December 10, 2008 |

    Finland: Finn-tastic

    If you want to bet on which European legal professions will best weather the financial storm, then you could do worse than put a few euros on Finland.Although the Finnish economy is hurting, its problems are less acute than those of many other states. The Finnish legal profession is stable and not overly risk-prone. The leading law firms seem aware of the threats facing them and are responding accordingly.Hannes Snellman is the most adventurous - and the firm to watch. One of the three big Helskinki firms, it has just opened up over the Swedish border in Stockholm, as well as starting a second China office in Shanghai, having set up in Beijing in 2006. It has also -strengthened its Russia and Ukraine branches.

    1 minute read

  • December 8, 2008 |

    MoFo names James as new London managing partner

    Morrison & Foerster has appointed a new London chief, with Trevor James becoming the first black managing partner of a US firm in the City. James replaces technology transactions partner Julian Thurston, who has headed up the office for three and a half years. Thurston will stay on at the firm as co-head of the life sciences group.The managing partner role is board-appointed with no set term enforced. In addition to his management responsibilities, James will continue as a full-time fee earner.

    1 minute read