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  • February 27, 2014 |

    Links, CC and Norton Rose named on nine-strong Green Investment Bank panel

    Clifford Chance (CC), Linklaters and Norton Rose Fulbright are among nine firms to have won spots on the UK Government-backed Green Investment Bank's (GIB) first formal panel. Legal Week understands that Slaughter and May, Allen & Overy (A&O), Pinsent Masons, Burges Salmon and KWM SJ Berwin were all also successful in their pitches for the roster.

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  • February 27, 2014 |

    In with the old – the importance of keeping grey hairs in the partnership

    If law firms' current focus seems to be on reshaping the junior end of their fee earner base to include a more socially and ethnically diverse group of lawyers, let's not forget that the senior end of the profession also has problems. For some time law firms have been slammed for being ill-prepared to meet demand from older partners keen to continue working but perhaps with fewer hours and less responsibility than their younger, progression-hungry colleagues. But with a couple of new initiatives announced in recent months, is the tide gradually turning in favour of older lawyers keen to remain at their firms in some capacity? All of the UK top 10 firms offer the role of consultant as an alternative to partnership for lawyers beyond retirement age in certain circumstances. Take up at firms to date has been limited, however, with only small numbers at each. And, on the whole, the top 10 do not offer formalised mechanisms as partners wind down from the partnership. Part of the problem for firms is that lawyers have typically been very bad about planning roles beyond partnership. Of those who are interested in remaining in private practice, some might mull over the prospect of helping out with discreet projects, or get involved with education and training. Others may turn to thought leadership, or might want to retain a degree of chargeable client work. But it is not obvious whether this lack of planning reflects a lack of fore-thought on the part of the individual or whether it is because firms themselves are unclear on what roles are available beyond the lockstep.

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  • February 26, 2014 |

    The Transfer Window: recent moves including Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy and Norton Rose Fulbright

    The Transfer Window is a regular round-up of recent legal moves in the UK and abroad.

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  • February 20, 2014 |

    Dealmaker: Farmida Bi

    Norton Rose Fulbright's European head of Islamic finance on politics, procrastination and forced fun

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  • February 20, 2014 |

    Turning up the heat – South Africa's role as a hub for the wider continent

    According to many lawyers in South Africa the vibe at the African Mining Indaba – a practically mandatory event in every major local law firm's calendar – was somewhat reserved this year. It is not hard to see why, when taking into account reduced output volumes from the economy's cornerstone mining sector. Onlookers observe that South Africa is facing an onslaught of negative sentiment given the volume of industrial disputes and unrest in the mining sector as well as the imminent presidential election, causing many investors to hold off until a clearer picture emerges. Added to this, the rand has tumbled against the world's major currencies, resulting in a hike in benchmark interest rates. Some lawyers in the jurisdiction have been surprised, then, at the influx of international newcomers in the past year. Linklaters became the first of the magic circle to establish a significant presence on the ground when it sealed an alliance with Webber Wentzel at the end of 2012, while Hogan Lovells forged a tie-up with former Eversheds alliance firm Routledge Modise in December last year, with the latter now trading under the Hogan Lovells brand. Eversheds itself re-entered the South African market at the same time, after signing an agreement with Mahons Attorneys a year after its split with Routledge.

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  • February 19, 2014 |

    Singapore expected to announce successful licence renewals this month

    The first international law firms to receive local licences to practice in Singapore are expecting to hear later this month whether they have will be renewed

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  • February 19, 2014 |

    Norton Rose Fulbright secures Rio launch with former BP lawyer

    Norton Rose Fulbright has launched in Rio de Janeiro with the hire of BP's former assistant general counsel Andrew Haynes to co-head the new venture. Haynes, who joined the firm earlier this month, will lead the new Brazilian office alongside the firm's current Colombia head Glenn Faass.

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  • February 18, 2014 |

    Latham hires third Clifford Chance private equity partner in a year

    Latham & Watkins has hired its third private equity partner from Clifford Chance (CC) in a year, with the appointment of the magic circle's Africa co-head Kem Ihenacho. Ihenacho, who joins Latham's corporate department, advises private equity houses and their portfolio companies on a range of UK and international transactions, with a particular focus on Africa.

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  • February 16, 2014 |

    Wragges, LG confirm management board for merged firm

    Wragge & Co and Lawrence Graham have set up a new management board for the combined firm, which will be structured around five practice groups when the merger goes live on 1 May.

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  • February 13, 2014 |

    Why the future of Russia's most progressive court system is hanging in the balance

    In December 2013 the Russian Constitution celebrated its 20th anniversary. However, for lawyers, this anniversary was overshadowed by another event. On 7 October 2013 the President of the Russian Federation submitted to the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) a bill proposing amendments to the Constitution. Under this bill, it was proposed that Russia's two highest courts, which sit above two separate systems, be merged. A de facto result of this is the dissolution of the most progressive court in Russia: the Supreme Arbitrazh Court (SAC). The bill provides that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation will become the single highest judicial body for considering civil, criminal, administrative and other cases, as well as economic disputes (the latter were previously within the remit of the SAC). The Supreme Court will be relocated from Moscow to St Petersburg, with a new separate department for economic disputes.

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