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  • June 22, 2009 |

    Pinsents to outsource litigation work to South Africa

    Pinsent Masons has signed an outsourcing deal which will see the top 20 UK firm send litigation work to South Africa. The major regional player has launched a litigation support service in co-operation with global legal processing outsourcing provider Exigent, with the work to be undertaken by qualified lawyers in Exigent's outsourcing centre in Cape Town. Pinsents has outsourced document processing to Exigent for a number of years, but will now also see the company provide a data review and e-disclosure capability for its 360-lawyer litigation practice.

    1 minute read

  • June 18, 2009 |

    Banking regulation: Involuntary regulation

    Despite much industry support for the current voluntary regime of regulation of retail banking business, the days of self-regulation under the Banking Codes are numbered. On 1 November, 2009, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) will implement the new Banking and Payment Services Conduct Regime including a new Banking Conduct of Business Sourcebook (BCOBS). So what, in practise, does BCOBS mean for the future of UK retail banking?

    1 minute read

  • June 18, 2009 |

    Pinsents rolls out cost-cutting plans; Wragges to make up to 85 layoffs

    Pinsent Masons has announced a package of cost-cutting measures in an effort to avoid widespread job cuts, while national rival Wragge & Co has launched a redundancy consultation that could claim up to 85 positions on the back of a poor financial year. Pinsents, which has yet to make any redundancies, confirmed last week (11 June) that a number of jobs are under threat despite a cost-cutting scheme that includes sabbaticals and part-time working.

    1 minute read

  • June 18, 2009 |

    Pinsents/Salans alliance yields results with role on Hiscox TMT pilot scheme

    Pinsent Masons has won its first major mandate since launching a strategic alliance with Salans, with the law firm securing a role as sole adviser in a value billing pilot scheme for insurance giant Hiscox. The firm has been selected to take part in a 12-month pilot scheme that will see it take on all technology disputes work for Hiscox using alternative billing structures.

    1 minute read

  • June 16, 2009 |

    Cobbetts records 16% decrease in fee income for financial year

    National firm Cobbetts has posted a 16% drop in fee income for the last financial year. The firm saw fee income fall to £48.5m for 2008-09 from £58m the previous year, a dip of 16.3%.

    1 minute read

  • June 16, 2009 |

    Pinsents transfers partner to Dubai to head up local corporate team

    Pinsent Masons has added a Dubai corporate head as the firm bids to boost its Gulf presence. Birmingham-based partner Alan Wood has transferred to the emirate to head up the local corporate team, with a brief to expand the firm's capabilities in the region. The firm has not previously had a local leader of the group, which was launched in June 2008 and until now consisted of just two associates.

    1 minute read

  • June 11, 2009 |

    Pinsents rolls out cost-cutting plan as firm aims to stave off job cuts

    Pinsent Masons has announced a package of cost-cutting measures in an effort to avert widespread job cuts at the firm. Pinsents is rolling out a number of measures, including sabbaticals and part-time working, which will be encouraged across the firm following a successful pilot project. The UK top 20 firm confirmed that a number of jobs - including fee earners and support staff - will come under threat, but stressed these would be kept at a minimum.

    1 minute read

  • June 11, 2009 |

    Eversheds secures Tyco-style mandate from Smiths Group

    Eversheds has been appointed as the preferred legal adviser for technology company Smiths Group in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The law firm will provide commercial, litigation, employment, real estate and company secretarial advice across the region, with London-based head of international litigation and dispute management John Heaps acting as the relationship partner to Smiths. Eversheds will use its global account management system - first developed for its relationship with Tyco - with the London Stock Exchange-listed Smiths.

    1 minute read

  • June 10, 2009 | International Edition

    Commentary: Pinsents/Salans find the way but do they have the will to succeed?

    In a claim that could also be made of many of its national rivals, there has been a sense in recent years that Pinsent Masons has been struggling to strike the right tone in its international strategy as the firm shifts its practice towards a more cosmopolitan outlook. After all, its recently-announced tie-up with Salans is not the UK firm's first attempt to link with an international player. The question is whether this will deliver the solution the firm is looking for.

    1 minute read

  • June 10, 2009 |

    Commentary: Pinsents/Salans find the way but do they have the will to succeed?

    In a claim that could also be made of many of its national rivals, there has been a sense in recent years that Pinsent Masons has been struggling to strike the right tone in its international strategy as the firm shifts its practice towards a more cosmopolitan outlook. After all, its recently-announced tie-up with Salans is not the UK firm's first attempt to link with an international player. The question is whether this will deliver the solution the firm is looking for.

    1 minute read