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  • December 4, 2008 |

    Reed Smith to lay off UK staff after 115 US cuts

    Reed Smith has kicked off a redundancy consultation that could see 11 associates and seven staff members cut from the firm's UK offices, after the firm laid off 115 members of staff in the US. The firm is performing the statutorily required redundancy consultations in London, a move it said was prompted because of "overcapacity." The US layoffs will affect staff in all support areas, including IT, marketing, finance, practice administration, knowledge management, human resources and office services. Reed Smith global managing partner Gregory Jordan said: "The decision to take these actions was difficult, but we believe it is the prudent thing to do for our business over the longer term. Our recent experience and our projections dictate that we must plan for reduced demand for our services in 2009 and align our capacity accordingly."

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  • December 3, 2008 |

    IP, IT and life sciences: Sending out an OSS

    Conditions on the use of open source software will be easier to enforce following a recent US court ruling. In the first decision by a US federal appeals court in the burgeoning area of open source licensing, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has confirmed in Jacobsen v Katzer that violations of open source software licences constitute copyright infringement. This means that powerful remedies are available under US copyright law for these breaches, including injunctions and statutory damages. Authors of open source code are consequently not limited to pursuing less effective breach of contract claims when licences are violated.

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  • December 3, 2008 |

    Reed Smith managing partner on layoffs: capacity didn't meet demand

    In a firmwide memo to employees on Wednesday (3 December), Reed Smith announced that it will lay off 115 staff from its US offices and cut up…

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  • December 3, 2008 |

    ...Legal Week Lunchbox: 4/12/08...

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

    1 minute read

  • November 19, 2008 |

    Spirit of pun(k)

    As you may have heard, a little-reported phenomenon known as a credit crunch has led to a rash of belt-tightening measures being implemented across the City. And news reached the Diary this week of the blitz spirit on display at plucky legal stalwart Reed Smith. The firm is currently preparing for a bash at notoriously grotty Cavendish Square indie club The Phoenix. In an effort to keep the party budget down, the firm has decided to bring in its own 'in-house' entertainment.

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  • November 6, 2008 |

    Perks of legal life

    The rewards offered to lawyers extend beyond the financial into all sorts of gratis goodies. Legal Week Student takes a look at some of the more bizarre perks on offer

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  • November 5, 2008 |

    Reed Smith hires partner from Herbert Smith

    Reed Smith has made a second hire into its newly-created investment funds practice with the addition of Jacqui Hatfield. She joins the firm as a partner from Herbert Smith, where she was a senior associate. Hatfield advises on regulatory matters, including setting up institutions in the financial services sector and energy trade and commodities.

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  • October 30, 2008 |

    Top firms line up for 2008 British Legal Awards

    Ashurst, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have been named among the nominees for a number of top accolades at the 2008 British Legal Awards. The trio have been shortlisted for the coveted law firm of the year award alongside Baker & McKenzie, Eversheds and Latham & Watkins.Linklaters has been shortlisted for three further awards, including cross-border M&A team of the year, while Freshfields is among the nominees for M&A team of the year. Allen & Overy also secured nominations in both of these categories.

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  • October 16, 2008 |

    Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank unveils first-ever external panel of legal advisers

    Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) has completed a review of its external advisers and created its first-ever legal panel. The changes follow January's appointment of Simon Copleston as the bank's first general counsel. Copleston has selected a 10-firm panel including long-standing adviser Reed Smith as well as Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Allen & Overy, Linklaters, Norton Rose, Clyde & Co and Middle East practice Al Tamimi & Company.

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  • October 9, 2008 |

    McGrigors revamps leadership and recruits brace of partners

    Big four Scots firm McGrigors has bolstered its ranks with two lateral partner hires and a new chief operating officer (COO).The firm is strengthening its restructuring expertise with the hire of Reed Smith's European head of corporate restructuring and bankruptcy, Mark Parkhouse. Parkhouse, who focuses on Serious Fraud Office and offshore fraud cases as well as cross-border and domestic turnaround and recoveries work, is set to join the London office this week as a partner in the corporate team. The firm is also adding to its Scottish non-contentious corporate recovery capability with the hire of Pamela Muir from HBJ Gately Wareing as a director in the Glasgow office. Separately, DLA Piper's UK real estate finance head, John Maciver, is set to join McGrigors as a partner in the Edinburgh office later this year. Maciver, who is also DLA Piper's finance and projects head for Scotland, advises on all aspects of banking and finance and will focus on Scottish real estate and leveraged finance work as well as project finance and securitisation matters. Meanwhile, McGrigors has appointed a new COO to oversee its finance, facilities, human resources and IT departments. Tim Salmon joins from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert where he was head of performance management. He has previously served as finance director at Richards Butler and chief financial officer at Arthur Andersen, during which time he oversaw Andersen Legal firms Dundas & Wilson and Garretts. Salmon replaces interim COO Chris West who stepped into the role following the departure of Tim Wilcock last year to US company AAI Pharma.McGrigors managing partner Richard Master said: "The timings of the hires have been particularly good for the firm - especially on the corporate recovery side where we will now have a national presence. We will look to make further hires, especially in the markets where we expect to see high levels of activity."

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