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  • January 12, 2012 |

    Law firm confidence proves resilient for year ahead despite global economy fears

    Firms expect to avoid job cuts as four out of five partners predict growth in 2012. Rose Orlik reports...

    1 minute read

  • January 6, 2012 |

    Kirkland boosts pay for new London qualifiers by 8% to £97,000

    Kirkland & Ellis has increased newly-qualified lawyer (NQ) salaries to £97,000 in a move which will bring it in line with rival US firms including Weil Gotshal & Manges. The salary increase, which represents an 8% increase on last year's rate of £90,000, places the firm at the top end of the US firm salary spectrum.

    1 minute read

  • January 5, 2012 |

    Skadden recruits restructuring partner in London with Weil hire

    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has strengthened its corporate restructuring practice in London with the hire of partner Dominic McCahill from rival US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges. McCahill, who will become the sixth partner in Skadden's London restructuring practice, will report to London corporate restructuring chief Chris Mallon. The firm's restructuring practice sits alongside the corporate group, which currently comprises 16 partners in the City.

    1 minute read

  • December 23, 2011 |

    Legal Week news round-up: the best of 2011

    After another year of twists and turns in the legal market, including a spate of mergers and international office openings, as well as a number of high profile hires and internal changes, here are the highlights of another 12 months from the legal industry with Legal Week's 2011 news round-up...

    1 minute read

  • December 22, 2011 |

    Weil promotes one partner in London as 11 make the grade

    Weil Gotshal & Manges has become the latest US firm to announce its partners promotions with only one lawyer making the cut in the City. Jamie Maples, a member of the London arbitration team for more than eight years, has acted in a wide range of major international commercial disputes including telecoms infrastructure work and - most recently - hedge fund investments.

    1 minute read

  • December 16, 2011 |

    Davis Polk, Clifford Chance latest to announce US bonus rates

    Davis Polk & Wardwell has become the latest firm to announce US associate bonuses, with the firm opting to match rates first set by Wall Street rival Cravath Swaine & Moore last month, writes The Am Law Daily. Like Cravath, Davis Polk's bonus scale starts at $7,500 (£4,800) for those in the class of 2010 and increases incrementally to $37,500 (£24,200) for the class of 2004, according to an announcement sent out to the firm's associates on Monday (12 December).

    1 minute read

  • December 7, 2011 |

    London Office of the Year: Weil Gotshal & Manges

    Weil Gotshal & Manges has dubbed 2011 "the most strategically significant year for its London office since it was launched 15 years ago". The judges were suitably impressed with the evidence to support this statement, including a hugely impressive roster of senior partner hires from leading UK rivals. In recent months the office, which is led by Mike Francies, has hired partners from Jones Day, Ashurst, Shearman & Sterling and Debevoise & Plimpton.

    1 minute read

  • December 7, 2011 |

    British Legal Awards 2011: who won what - and why...

    A full run-down of all the winners at the British Legal Awards 2011, as well as detailed reports of the thinking behind the award in each category...

    1 minute read

  • December 2, 2011 |

    A&O, Clydes and Centrica among winners at British Legal Awards 2011

    Allen & Overy (A&O), Clyde & Co and Centrica were among the winners at last night's (1 December) British Legal Awards, in London's Old Billingsgate Market. A&O scooped up the coveted law firm of the year award, seeing off competition from Clydes, Hogan Lovells, Kirkland & Ellis, Mishcon de Reya and Stephenson Harwood to win the prize.

    1 minute read

  • November 23, 2011 |

    City elite give a little ground on fees but some firms still hiking rates

    Charge-out rates at the City's top firms have remained broadly static throughout 2011, with leading firms coming under pressure to reduce rates. New research carried out by costs lawyer Jim Diamond shows magic circle firms have reduced partner charge-out rates marginally, with average rates falling by 8% at the lower end of the range and 3% at the top in 2011. The reductions equate to an average partner hourly rate in the magic circle of between £600 and £700, down from a range of £650 to £725 in 2010.

    1 minute read