Filter This View

  • February 11, 2009 |

    SH brings in Pinsents hire for projects debut

    Stephenson Harwood has set up a dedicated projects practice after hiring a partner from Pinsent Masons to lead the group.The City firm has brought in Clare McConnell to lead a new standalone projects practice that will bring together 25 partners from the firm's London, Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore offices.McConnell spent four years as a partner at Pinsents. Prior to that she served as an associate at Berwin Leighton Paisner and Simmons & Simmons. She has a wide range of experience advising both private and public sector clients on PPP/PFI projects within the health and transportation sectors.

    1 minute read

  • February 11, 2009 |

    David Shields: Law firms on course for a gay-friendly future

    Law firms have an improved showing this year in Stonewall's top 100 employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, with four firms making the top 100, up from one last year. Simmons & Simmons took the most improved prize, coming into the index at number 31. Pinsent Masons improved its position on last year and Herbert Smith and Eversheds moved into the top 100. But the high performance of these firms disguises the position for the legal sector overall, which has the second-lowest sector average of the 14 sectors entering Stonewall's workplace equality index, from which we publish the top 100. This is in contrast to professional services and investment banking, which are two of our top sectors.

    1 minute read

  • February 11, 2009 |

    Clydes and Pinsents win Dubai Holding panel roles

    A raft of City firms have scored seats on Dubai Holding's new panel of preferred firms. Clyde & Co, Pinsent Masons, Eversheds and DLA Piper have all won spots on the panel. Clydes won its role on the back of its relationship with the investor and will advise on real estate, intellectual property, construction and corporate matters.All firms have a strong presence in the Middle East, with Clydes having opened in the region twenty years ago and Pinsents holding offices in Dubai. DLA Piper recently launched an office in Oman and Eversheds has offices in Abu Dhabi and Doha.

    1 minute read

  • February 5, 2009 |

    Pinsent Masons keeps strong grip on AIM top spot despite overall drop in AIM-listed clients

    Pinsent Masons has held onto its position as the legal adviser with the largest number of clients listed on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM). The latest quarterly rankings from data provider Hemscott show that the firm held onto its position in the tables despite its total number of AIM-listed clients dropping from 61 to 57. The Q4 rankings, which come after a disappointing year for the junior market, show that LG, Norton Rose, DLA Piper and Eversheds also retained their positions in the top five by number. Meanwhile, DLA Piper boosted its position in the rankings of advisers to the largest AIM-listed clients, jumping to the top of both the AIM 100 and AIM 50 rankings.

    1 minute read

  • February 3, 2009 |

    Freshfields named official firm for London 2012

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has landed a trophy role as the official law firm for the 2012 London Olympics. The firm won the role after a tender process carried out towards the end of last year by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).London management group chair Tim Jones will oversee the project, that will see five lawyers initially sent on secondment to LOCOG to carry out a range of work from procurement and property to employment and competition. The firm will provide these services for free as part of the sponsorship agreement.

    1 minute read

  • January 28, 2009 |

    Strength in numbers

    There are some people in this world who live life to the full and others who do not know when to say 'no'. I am trying to decide if I fall into the former or the latter. As a US securities partner at Simmons & Simmons, one would think that my day job keeps me occupied enough. In truth, it does, and then some. However, I think when you have a passion for something, that energy can be channelled to accomplish even more. Over the past few years I have been involved in two exciting projects, one rooted in the familiarity of US securities law and the other involving a journey into the realm of equality and diversity which has been unexpected, demanding and very rewarding.

    1 minute read

  • January 21, 2009 |

    Clydes makes Abu Dhabi construction head hire

    Clyde and Co has hired a new partner, David McElveney, to lead its construction team in Abu Dhabi. McElveney was previously with Australian firm Deacons, where he headed the construction and engineering practice. The hire comes after Clydes hired construction expert Mark Blanksby and a team from Pinsent Masons last year for its Dubai office.

    1 minute read

  • January 21, 2009 |

    Pinsents signs up to College of Law LPC deal

    Pinsent Masons has become the latest firm to sign an exclusive agreement to send all of its trainees to the College of Law. The five-year agreement, which starts in September this year, will see the firm send 60 of its trainees to take the LPC each year at the College's four campuses in London, Manchester, York and Manchester.Pinsent Masons training principal Catherine Workman commented: "One of the key benefits of the firm moving to a single LPC provider is that, in addition to a greater level of consistency, there will be a bespoke element to the course."

    1 minute read

  • January 12, 2009 |

    Clydes LLP accounts reveal £4m office improvement expenses

    Clyde & Co spent nearly £4m on office improvements last year as part of the expansion of its international network, according to the firm's latest limited liability partnership (LLP) filings. Clydes' LLP accounts for 2008 reveal that the firm spent £2.6m on fixtures and fittings and roughly £1.2m on new leasehold improvements.A spokesperson for the firm said that the expenditure was linked to the firm's recent international growth after office launches in the US and the Middle East. Meanwhile, Clydes' LLP accounts also highlight a £13.6m increase in staff costs after the firm increased its headcount by 128 this year, including the hire of 88 new lawyers.

    1 minute read

  • January 7, 2009 |

    Simmons rated as most gay-friendly UK law firm

    Simmons & Simmons has been awarded 'Most Improved Employer' status in the latest Workplace Equality Index ranked by gay rights organisation Stonewall. The index, which ranks the top 100 gay-friendly employers in the UK, placed Simmons & Simmons at 31 - the highest-ranked law firm in new list. Three other UK law firms made it into the top 100, with Pinsent Masons ranked at 50 and Herbert Smith and Eversheds placing 77th and 100th respectively. Banking giant Lloyds TSB topped the rankings.

    1 minute read