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  • September 1, 2010 |

    Five firms win panel roles as Dubai hotels group cuts back legal roster

    Jumeirah Group has announced its new global legal panel, with five firms appointed to the Dubai hotel chain's streamlined roster. Herbert Smith and Weil Gotshal & Manges have won places on the panel following a pitch process, with Clyde & Co, Mayer Brown JSM and Pinsent Masons all reappointed. Jumeirah has chosen to cut back on the number of firms it uses after setting up its first-ever global panel in 2008, which saw six firms appointed to its main roster of advisers, alongside a further six advising on specialist areas or in specific jurisdictions.

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  • August 11, 2010 |

    Quartet of national firms in play for GAME group's legal roster

    A band of national firms have been appointed to computer game retailer GAME group's new legal panel. Pinsent Masons, Hammonds, Bond Pearce and Shoosmiths have all been appointed to the gaming company's legal panel. The competitive tender process, which involved a number of firms, kicked off in March. GAME is a new client for Pinsents; however, it is understood that both Hammonds and Bond Pearce have advised the company previous on employment and commercial matters respectively.

    1 minute read

  • August 11, 2010 |

    Linklaters set to retain 87% of September qualifying intake

    Linklaters has become the latest magic circle firm to post trainee retention rates with the City giant keeping on 87% of September qualifiers.

    1 minute read

  • August 10, 2010 |

    Pinsents Leeds chief set to step down as firm names new office head

    Pinsent Masons' Leeds chief Nigel McClea has announced that he is to step down as head of the office, with property partner Mark Owen set to take the helm in the city. McClea will step down in October after six years in the role of Leeds office head, but will remain at the firm in a consultant capacity.

    1 minute read

  • August 4, 2010 |

    Top 30 trainee retention returns to more than 80% as economy turns

    Trainee retention rates at the UK's leading law firms are recovering strongly this year as activity levels begin to pick up in the wake of the downturn. The average retention rate for September intakes across the UK top 30 firms currently stands at 81%, an improvement of seven percentage points on September 2009, based on the number of qualifying trainees due to remain at their firm.

    1 minute read

  • August 4, 2010 |

    Bird & Bird cuts associate pay bands as UK top 20 firms announce rates

    A number of UK top 20 law firms have announced their associate salary levels for the year ahead, with several opting not to increase their rates. Bird & Bird has reduced its pay bands for associates with between one and three years' post-qualification experience (PQE), while trainee and newly-qualified (NQ) salaries remain unchanged. The City firm has taken £2,000 off each pay band between one and three years' PQE with levels now standing at £58,000, £63,000 and £69,000

    1 minute read

  • July 21, 2010 |

    Camerons makes widest use of 'flex' schemes at City firms

    CMS Cameron McKenna and Norton Rose are the UK law firms which made the greatest use of flexible working as a cost-saving measure during the recession, according to Legal Week research. Camerons put around 700 members - including 364 lawyers - of its UK staff of slightly more than 1,000 on its year-long scheme that finished in May.

    1 minute read

  • July 21, 2010 |

    Firms divide up Halliwells assets and 38 staff are laid off as sell-off closes

    Halliwells has completed the break-up and sale of its remaining business, after deals with a number of firms were yesterday (20 July) approved by the court. Hill Dickinson has bought the firm's 19-partner Liverpool office and the remains of its Sheffield practice, while the firm's London office has been split between a number of firms, with HBJ Gateley Wareing and Barlow Lyde & Gilbert both taking on sizable teams. HBJ Gateley has recruited City employment partner Guy Guinan, corporate partner Dan Kelmanson and insolvency partner Sadaf Buchanan, while insurance partners Helen Bourne and Damian McPhun have joined Barlows. Remaining partners Catherine Moss and Richard Slaven are joining Fasken Martineau and Pinsent Masons respectively. In total nine fee earners are joining HBJ Gateley in London.

    1 minute read

  • July 20, 2010 |

    Pinsents wins extension to Man Utd deal as club reviews advisers

    Pinsent Masons has won a second term on Manchester United's legal panel. Pinsents has held a panel role to advise the football club on data protection and employment law since 2008, with the appointment now extended for a further two years. Brabners Chaffe Street is also understood to have been retained on the panel after first being appointed in 2008 to advise on dispute resolution, real estate and some aspects of commercial law. The other firms to take panel roles in 2008 were Beachcroft, Halliwells and Wiggin.

    1 minute read

  • July 14, 2010 |

    UK law leaders see profits revival as revenues slide across the top 50

    The UK's top law firms have managed a major rebound in profitability this year despite the aftermath of the global recession handing the group its first collective fall in revenues in recent memory. Legal Week's 2009-10 results, the first comprehensive picture of the performance of the UK's top 50 law firms, shows revenues across the group fell by £461m, from £12.33bn in 2009 to £11.87bn.

    1 minute read