Filter This View

  • July 11, 2013 |

    Pinsents sets sights on key countries for Africa growth in strategy review

    Pinsent Masons has identified six key African countries that present the greatest potential for growth for the firm, following an 18-month strategy review of opportunities in the continent. The review, which has been led by construction advisory and disputes head Richard Foley, has seen the firm earmark South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya and Sudan as key priorities. The move to draw up a new Africa strategy was prompted by an increase in Africa-related instructions with the firm carrying out around 70 mandates during the last financial year amounting to £7m-£10m in revenues – a 60% year-on-year increase.

    1 minute read

  • July 10, 2013 |

    Former Pinsents litigation head joins LPO provider Exigent

    Pinsent Masons former head of litigation Nigel Kissack has left the firm to join global legal process outsourcer (LPO) Exigent as a global strategy consultant. Kissack, who joined Pinsents as a partner from DLA Piper in 1997, is familiar to Exigent after leading on Pinsents' ground-breaking decision in 2009 to outsource process driven litigation work to the LPO's Cape Town base in South Africa. His new role sees him advise clients on LPO strategy and the outsourcing of legal activities across all major practice groups, as well as helping clients make savings through process re-engineering and implementing leaner delivery models.

    1 minute read

  • July 8, 2013 |

    University of Law to launch in Leeds with York base relocation

    The University of Law is to relocate its York branch to Leeds in September 2014, in order to be based in "the UK's newest legal hub". The University hopes to increase enrolment to around 600 students in Leeds in the next three years, according to president and provost Nigel Savage. There are currently 368 full and part-time students based in York.

    1 minute read

  • July 4, 2013 |

    Branching out - how top law firms are going beyond the City to cut costs

    Deutsche Bank's global head of compliance, Simon Dodds, is one of many senior in-house lawyers to have called on City-based law firms to farm out straightforward legal work to low-cost centres. "Magic circle law firms in particular have a problem with their model. [They have] commoditised to some extent but lawyers are sitting in London – the most expensive place in the world," he told a Legal Week conference.

    1 minute read

  • July 3, 2013 |

    DAC Beachcroft rolls out freelance employment and HR service

    DAC Beachcroft has become the latest firm to offer freelance staff on a temporary basis to clients with a new initiative focused on employment and HR work. The scheme, called The People Pool, currently comprises more than 25 employment lawyers and HR consultants - including non-lawyers - who will work on a flexible basis for clients during busy periods.

    1 minute read

  • June 26, 2013 |

    Freshfields leads on liquidation of London 2012 organising committee

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised on the liquidation of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). The role marks what is likely to be one of the final London 2012 matters for the magic circle firm, having been the official provider of legal services to the games since 2003, when it played a part establishing the joint venture behind the organising committee.

    1 minute read

  • June 25, 2013 |

    Pinsents signs up top-ranked banking partner in Birmingham

    Pinsent Masons has strengthened its financial services team with the hire of top-rated SGH Martineau partner David Doogan as head of the firm's Birmingham banking team. Doogan, who is top ranked by Chambers and Partners for banking and finance work in Birmingham, headed up the banking team at SGH Martineau, which was formed by the merger of Birmingham firm and London's Sprecher Grier Halberstam in 2011.

    1 minute read

  • June 20, 2013 |

    Diageo advisers on alert as new general counsel takes reins

    Diageo has appointed Siobhan Moriarty as its new general counsel, replacing current global legal chief Tim Proctor, who is retiring after 13 years in the role. Moriarty (pictured), who was previously European GC at the drinks giant, will formally step into the top legal role on 1 July, following a transition period that began in January. One of the largest corporates in the FTSE 100, Diageo counts Smirnoff, Jose Cuervo and Guinness among its brands.

    1 minute read

  • June 20, 2013 |

    TLT recruits top-rated DLA Piper IP partner for Manchester launch

    TLT has taken on a second DLA Piper partner as the expansive Bristol-based firm continues to recruit for its upcoming Manchester launch. The firm has sealed the hire of Manchester intellectual property (IP) partner Graeme Orchison, who has been a partner at DLA for more than 17 years and led the firm's northwest technology, media and communications group. He is top ranked by Chambers and Partners for Manchester IP work.

    1 minute read

  • June 19, 2013 |

    BLP offers 'pay-as-you-go' lawyers to expand Lawyers on Demand service

    Berwin Leighton Paisner has beefed up its pioneering Lawyers on Demand business by adding a "pay-as-you-go" service, which will give clients access to legal help remotely to manage surges in workload.

    1 minute read