• December 2, 2008 |

    Brown Rudnick cuts see City associates laid off

    Brown Rudnick has become the latest firm to make job cuts in the wake of the credit crisis, with the announcement that it is to lay off almost 10% of its global workforce. The job losses affect 20 lawyers, three paralegals, and 20 members of support staff across the firm's Boston, Hartford, New York and Providence offices, with three associates and one member of the firm's support staff laid off in London.Brown Rudnick CEO Joseph Ryan, said: "The global credit crisis and related economic downturn have adversely affected almost all businesses, including law firms and their clients. While we carefully considered all other options, we reluctantly concluded that the painful steps taken are a necessary response to these adverse economic conditions."

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  • December 2, 2008 |

    Simpson Thacher makes up City duo to partnership

    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has announced its 2008 promotions, with the US firm making up five new partners. The firm's City arm will gain two new corporate partners, Ian Barratt and Sinead O'Shea, while New York-based Joshua Levine and Nancy Mehlman have been made up in litigation and tax respectively. Beijing was gifted one new partner - Shaolin Luo - in corporate.The promotions will become effective as of January 2009.

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  • November 30, 2008 |

    Linklaters slows as cold wind buffets the City

    Last week (24 November), Linklaters became the latest firm to announce its revenues for the first half of the current financial year, reporting a slight…

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  • November 28, 2008 |

    Dechert set for redundancy consultation

    Dechert has become the latest firm to cut jobs, with the US firm reviewing the positions of a number of administrative staff in its London office. The firm declined to comment on the number of jobs under threat but up to 20% of administrative staff are understood to be involved in the redundancy consultation.When questioned about the jobs at risk Dechert's London managing partner, Steven Fogel, told Legal Week: "It in the nature of a jobs consultation that there should not be a preconceived idea about numbers. I do not know where the percentage you have mentioned comes from. It is not authoritative."

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  • November 27, 2008 |

    Weil makes up seven with one in the City

    Weil Gotshal & Manges is the latest firm to announce its new partner promotions with the US firm making up only a fraction of the number promoted last year. The firm is making up seven new partners worldwide, down from 21 last year. Three of the new partners are in offices across the US with Prague gaining the same number. London gains one partner, down from two last year, with Joanne Etherton, of counsel in the pensions practice, joining the partnership in January.

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  • November 26, 2008 |

    Mayer Brown makes up 27 with two in London

    Mayer Brown has made up 27 associates to the firm's partnership, with two new partners made up in London. Construction associate James Fielden and insurance & reinsurance associate Andrew McGahey have both been promoted to partner at the firm's City arm.Mayer Brown's Washington DC office took the lion's share of promotions, with five associates made up.

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  • November 24, 2008 |

    ...Legal Week Lunchbox: 24/11/08...

    The five most popular articles on legalweek.com today; the pick of the day's posts; and more

    1 minute read

  • November 21, 2008 |

    11 City jobs under threat in Mayer Brown cuts

    Mayer Brown and Squire Sanders & Dempsey have become the latest firms to make redundancies as the poor economic climate climate continues to force firms into cost-cutting measures. On Thursday (20 November) Mayer Brown laid off 33 lawyers and support staff. In a statement, the firm said: "We have asked 33 lawyers and some support and administrative staff in our US offices to leave the firm. This reduction does not include lawyers who were asked to leave this year through our performance review process. "Those affected by this decision are good lawyers who have made valuable contributions to the firm. We intend to give them access to outplacement services and other benefits and a substantial period of time to find another job."

    1 minute read

  • November 21, 2008 |

    ...Legal Week Lunchbox: 21/11/08...

    The five most popular articles on legalweek.com today; the pick of the day's posts; and more

    1 minute read

  • November 20, 2008 |

    Latham makes triple partner hire from Mayer Brown

    Latham & Watkins has scored a major coup with a triple partner hire from Mayer Brown to boost the firm's investment fund practice. Kathleen Walsh and Andrea Schwartzman will join the firm's New York office as partners in the corporate department and Alan Van Dyke will join the firm's Chicago office as a partner in the tax department. The trio specialises in private investment fund formation for a variety of US and global clients. The investment fund practice is a global cross-practice group that consists of around 60 lawyers from different departments.

    1 minute read