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  • September 5, 2013 |

    An equitable life? Slightly larger pie, fewer slices

    Whether you buy into Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Herzberg's two-factor theory or another of the many motivational schools of thought pushed out by numerous management improvement books, there is a clear consensus that recognition and promotion are two key factors to getting the best out of your workforce. In a law firm environment, of course, the clearest example of recognition comes in the form of making partner, with the zenith being the equity ranks. So Legal Week research this week, which shows that the number of partners climbing to the equity at the top 20 UK firms has fallen year-on-year since the onset of the recession, will not make happy reading.

    1 minute read

  • September 5, 2013 |

    UK top 20 squeeze equity ranks as PEP pressure drives prudence

    The proportion of equity partners across the UK top 20 is continuing to shrink as law firms tighten their grip on the equity amid ongoing pressure on profits. The UK's 20 largest law firms by revenue have seen the overall proportion of equity partners fall by 12% over the last seven years, with equity partners accounting for 59% of the total partner count in 2012-13, according to Legal Week research. While the number of partners across the top 20 has risen by 31% since 2005-06, the number of equity partners has grown by just 15% over the same period.

    1 minute read

  • September 5, 2013 |

    Desert dreams – why law firms are reassessing their Middle East strategies

    In Abu Dhabi Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has been looking in recent months to sub-let half its office space on the 23rd floor of the prestigious Al Sila Tower. The firm stresses it remains committed to the city, but its move nonetheless reflects a broader readjustment of international law firm ambitions in the UAE capital. "It's no secret that we are looking to sub-let half of the floor we originally let," says Zubair Mir, head of HSF's Middle East operations, before adding that "we are not looking to return the lease in any way". He explains: "What happened was we bought an entire floor in Dubai which became more full than we expected, so when we negotiated in Abu Dhabi we took out more space than we needed to try to avoid the situation of not having enough room." HSF is not alone in rethinking its needs in Abu Dhabi. Hogan Lovells closed its outpost there last year and transferred its work to the firm's Dubai office, having decided that it made for a stronger regional hub.

    1 minute read

  • September 3, 2013 |

    Linklaters hires former A&O partner to lead Asian restructuring practice

    Linklaters has appointed former Allen & Overy (A&O) partner David Kidd to lead its restructuring and insolvency (R&I) practice in Asia, as the firm looks to strengthen its finance and litigation teams in the region. The magic circle firm, which is best known in Asia for its corporate, capital markets and projects work, has hired Kidd to join its Hong Kong base just weeks after recruiting Herbert Smith Freehills' former Asia disputes head, Gavin Lewis.

    1 minute read

  • September 2, 2013 |

    Clyde & Co expands further in Asia with Indonesian tie-up

    Clyde & Co has further increased its footprint in Asia through an association with Indonesian law firm Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS). The UK outfit, which currently has eight offices in the region, has appointed Singapore-based projects and resources partner Michael Horn to lead the venture, and plans to focus on Indonesian clients growing domestically and abroad.

    1 minute read

  • August 30, 2013 |

    Aviva appoints eight firms to core panel as CC misses out in review

    Aviva has appointed eight principal firms to its UK and group legal panel, with Clifford Chance (CC) missing out on a place after a review of the insurance giant's core legal panel. Slaughter and May, Allen & Overy (A&O), Latham & Watkins, Ashurst, DLA Piper, Linklaters, Pinsent Masons and Addleshaw Goddard have won spots on the new line-up, following a competitive tender process which began in April.

    1 minute read

  • August 27, 2013 |

    Transfer Window Asia: recent moves including Ashurst and Simmons

    Ropes & Gray has added to its corporate practice in Seoul with the hire of counsel Jaewoo Lee from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. Lee, who joins the US firm as a partner, will initially be based out of New York and Hong Kong but will relocate to Ropes and Gray's Seoul office when his license to practice in the North Asian state is approved.

    1 minute read

  • August 19, 2013 |

    Ashurst takes A&O energy and infra partner for New York office

    Ashurst has hired Allen & Overy (A&O) energy partner Charles Williams to its New York office. Williams, who was promoted to partner in 2007, focuses his practice on the US public-private partnership (P3) market, which he has been involved in since its inception. He joins Ashurst's energy, resources and infrastructure practice.

    1 minute read

  • August 12, 2013 |

    Macfarlanes boosts construction with ex-Linklaters partner from Ashurst

    Macfarlanes has strengthened its commercial real estate practice with the hire of former Linklaters construction partner Ann Minogue from Ashurst. Top-rated Minogue joins Macfarlanes after four years at Ashurst, where she headed up the firm's City construction practice.

    1 minute read

  • August 7, 2013 |

    K&L Gates adds Singapore partner duo with White & Case and Watson Farley hires

    K&L Gates has become the latest firm to bolster its M&A and energy teams in Singapore, with the addition of two new partners. The US firm has recruited White & Case energy specialist Lian Yok Tan to advise on project finance, corporate and commercial matters related to large oil and gas deals, whilst corporate practitioner Nicholas Hanna from Watson Farley & Williams has been appointed to work on private equity transactions and capital raising.

    1 minute read