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  • March 30, 2011 |

    Standard Chartered reappoints six firms to roster after adviser review

    Standard Chartered Bank has concluded a review of its international legal panel, with the bank reappointing all six of its current advisers for another two-year term. Magic circle firms Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Linklaters and Slaughter and May are among the firms to have been reappointed. The other firms on the roster are Hogan Lovells and Baker & McKenzie.

    1 minute read

  • March 22, 2011 |

    Cultivating counsel - the new mentoring scheme offering valuable experience for would-be lawyers

    It is unsurprising at a time when most organisations are tightening their belts that many law firms and in-house legal teams are taking a close look at their training commitments and conducting a cost-benefit analysis to decide whether such initiatives are sustainable. According to Legal Week research in October last year, the overall availability of training contracts in the market has shrunk by 11% over the last three years, with the top 30 firms receiving an average of 35 applications for every place. At Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), our cautious approach during the downturn has enabled us to continue focusing on important strategic social and community goals, including our legal team's support for would-be lawyers, particularly at a time when they most need it. We continue to commit to initiatives including BPP Law School's Access to Practice Scheme (APS) and offer two training contracts every two years, most recently in September 2010.

    1 minute read

  • March 15, 2011 |

    MoJ unveils proposals for libel reforms: comment and reaction

    Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has unveiled a raft of new proposals to reform libel law in England and Wales and bolster freedom of speech. The draft Defamation Bill sets out a number of changes to current defamation laws, including a requirement for claimaints to demonstrate 'substantial harm' before a claim can be pursued.

    1 minute read

  • March 14, 2011 |

    Addleshaws adds six managing associates to firm's partnership

    Addleshaw Goddard has become the latest firm to announce its 2011 partner promotions, with the firm making up six managing associates to partner in this year's round. The promotions, which are split between the firm's three offices in London, Leeds and Manchester, will take effect from 1 May, when they will take the total partner count at the firm to 166.

    1 minute read

  • February 21, 2011 |

    Linklaters and Addleshaws announce retention rates for March NQ intakes

    Linklaters has become the latest City firm to post its March retention rates, with 50 out of 60 (83%) qualifying trainees offered a permanent position with the firm. Of the 50 trainees offered a newly-qualified (NQ) role, 49 accepted the offer, resulting in an overall retention rate of 82%.

    1 minute read

  • February 8, 2011 |

    Rising 25: tales of success and woe from the law firms outside the UK top 50

    Sitting just off junction nine of the M27 between Southampton and Portsmouth is the unglamorous Segensworth business park, where for the last two years Blake Lapthorn - the 60th largest law firm in the UK - has paid £450,000 to rent vacant office space. When the firm moved into New Kings Court on the outskirts of Southampton as part of a consolidation following a series of mergers, managing partner Walter Cha thought he would be able to sublet the space. But unsurprisingly, he hadn't counted on a global banking crisis and the subsequent recession. It was costs such as these that saw Blake Lapthorn's profit per equity partner (PEP) fall to just £65,000 in its 2008-09 year. Although this figure has since risen to £116,000, it is still well short of the UK top 51-75 law firm peer group average of £276,000.

    1 minute read

  • February 4, 2011 |

    Sainsbury's names firms on new panel after competitive tender

    Linklaters, SNR Denton and CMS Cameron McKenna are among 13 law firms to have been appointed to supermarket giant Sainsbury's new legal panel following a competitive tender process. Magic circle firm Linklaters has been reappointed as the company's main legal adviser and will advise Sainsbury's on a range of work.

    1 minute read

  • February 2, 2011 |

    Addleshaws and Herbert Smith win roles on JD Sports' JJB takeover bid

    Addleshaw Goddard and Herbert Smith have picked up lead roles as UK retail giant JD Sports considers a takeover of troubled rival JJB Sports. Herbert Smith is advising JJB in relation to both the preliminary discussions with JD Sports, as well as a £31.5m capital raising confirmed earlier today (2 February). The top 10 City firm's team is being led by corporate partner Will Pearce and also includes corporate partner Gareth Roberts and finance partners Kevin Pullen and Ewen Ferguson.

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  • January 28, 2011 |

    Judge ordered to stand down from Mills & Reeve professional negligence case

    Mr Justice Peter Smith has been ordered to stand down from presiding over a professional negligence case involving Mills & Reeve. Smith has been recused from the case by the Court of Appeal for expressing strong views unfavourable to Mills & Reeve.

    1 minute read

  • January 27, 2011 |

    Government unveils controversial employment tribunal reforms

    The Government has unveiled proposals designed to cut the number of claims being pursued through employment tribunals, it was announced today (27 January). The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announced the shake-up of the tribunal system, which is billed as reducing the burden on companies of employment laws and speeding up the resolution of disputes.

    1 minute read