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  • May 16, 2013 |

    Post-merger Dentons plans first steps into Latin America

    Dentons is planning its first moves into Latin America, with the newly merged firm considering a series of launches in countries including Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil. Speaking to Legal Week, global chief executive Elliott Portnoy (pictured) said that the region was of "strategic and economic importance" to Dentons' clients, confirming the firm was actively looking at opportunities there. Following the merger of SNR Denton, Salans and Canadian firm Fraser Milner Casgrain in March, Latin America is the only continent in which Dentons does not have an office or alliance.

    1 minute read

  • May 16, 2013 |

    Cautious optimism reigns across industry as partners hope for economic bounceback

    As the number of firms announcing redundancy consultations this week continued to rise – with news of widespread cuts at Berwin Leighton Paisner – new research from Legal Week has found a surprising degree of business confidence among partners in UK law firms. Results of the latest Big Question survey how that more than 90% of partners expect to see revenues climb at their own firm over the next 12 months, with more than 80% expecting the same to be true across the UK's 50 largest law firms by revenue as a whole. The research found more than half of respondents (53%) expect to see revenue at their own firm climb by more than 5% over the coming year, with a further 41% predicting more modest increases of between 0% and 5%. Meanwhile, only 6% of partners expect to see their firm's revenues fall.

    1 minute read

  • May 15, 2013 |

    Raft of US firms score roles on AsiaInfo-Linkage take private

    A raft of US law firms have acted on the take private of AsiaInfo-Linkage, the latest Chinese company to de-list from a US bourse through a management buyout. The Chinese telecom software provider this week said it had accepted an offer to be acquired by a private investor consortium led by CITIC Capital Partners and AsiaInfo-Linkage co-founder Edward Tian, which values the company at $890m and would see it removed from Nasdaq.

    1 minute read

  • May 8, 2013 |

    Stephenson Harwood continues Asia push with Myanmar association deal

    Stephenson Harwood has continued its push into Asia with an association with Myanmar law firm U Tin Yu & Associates, with the news coming as Simmons & Simmons receives the go-ahead to launch in Singapore. U Tin Yu, which has three lawyers led by managing partner U Tin Yu, specialises in corporate and commercial work as well as litigation, real estate, intellectual property and employment.

    1 minute read

  • May 7, 2013 |

    Baker & McKenzie boosts Sydney team with DLA hire

    Baker & McKenzie has added to its Sydney team with the appointment of DLA Piper life sciences partner, Amanda Turnill. Turnill, who was also based in Sydney with DLA, co-chairing the firm's global life sciences group and heading the practice in Asia Pacific, joins the US firm this week.

    1 minute read

  • May 2, 2013 |

    Bakers, BLP, CMS among contenders as RBS reviews EMEA panel

    The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has kicked off a review of its EMEA legal panel, with the tender process for places on the new roster opening last month. Allen & Overy (A&O), Ashurst, Eversheds, Baker & McKenzie, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Clifford Chance (CC), CMS Cameron McKenna, Linklaters, SJ Berwin, Travers Smith and White & Case are all understood to be among the firms pitching for a place on the panel, which covers 24 countries.

    1 minute read

  • May 2, 2013 |

    Linklaters and Bakers receive approval to launch in Seoul

    Linklaters and Baker & McKenzie have received approval from South Korea's Ministry of Justice to launch offices in Seoul. The international duo, both of which applied for licences last year, bring the total number of foreign law firms legally permitted to work in the North Asian country to 18, with more firms expected to be granted approval in due course.

    1 minute read

  • April 25, 2013 |

    Beating heart - British Heart Foundation GC on asking lawyers to work for free

    Deborah Prince worked in private practice, at Tesco and Which? before heading the legal team at the British Heart Foundation. She talks to Grant Murgatroyd about her colourful career and why she isn't shy when it comes to asking lawyers to work for free...

    1 minute read

  • April 25, 2013 |

    Bakers aims to double female representation among equity

    Baker & McKenzie is overhauling its approach to the promotion of female lawyers in a bid to double the proportion of women in its equity partner ranks. The firm, which has a 15% female equity partnership, is aiming to increase this figure to 30% with a shift away from billable hour targets – a factor that has long hampered the career progression of working mothers. More importance will now be placed on individuals' overall non-billable contributions, including their involvement in client and practice development, team building, promotion of firm culture and values, profile-raising and leadership.

    1 minute read

  • April 25, 2013 |

    MoFo boosts Hong Kong PE team with Ropes & Gray partner hire

    Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) has added to its Hong Kong private equity team with the hire of Ropes & Gray partner Marcia Ellis. Ellis, who was a partner at MoFo between 2007 and 2008, has rejoined her old firm this week to work alongside corporate partner Thomas Chou and M&A partner Jeremy Hunt, who joined the firm last year from magic circle firm Allen & Overy.

    1 minute read