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  • July 29, 2012 |

    Leading firms sign up to encourage solicitors to apply for judiciary

    Some of the UK's leading law firms have pledged to encourage their lawyers to apply for judicial appointments, as part of a campaign by the Law Society to increase the number of solicitors appointed as judges. Twenty firms have committed to the campaign, including 11 of the UK's 20 largest firms by revenue, including Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters and Addleshaw Goddard.

    1 minute read

  • July 26, 2012 |

    2011-12 case studies: Ashurst

    There is little doubt that Ashurst has been one of the worst-affected City players since the 2008-09 recession. The firm has been further weighed down in recent years by a protracted round of partner exits and a continued struggle to build upon the sizeable US structured finance practice it acquired in 2009.

    1 minute read

  • July 26, 2012 |

    Bold merger moves propel Norton Rose and Ashurst up global rankings

    Norton Rose and Ashurst have emerged as the fastest-growing firms over 2011-12 in Legal Week's global rankings, which take into account revenues generated across both UK and international profit centres tied with the firms.

    1 minute read

  • July 26, 2012 |

    DWF, Kennedys and Mishcons trump top 50 rivals with fastest five-year growth

    DWF, Kennedys and Mishcon de Reya have emerged as the fastest-growing firms in the UK top 50 over the past five years, according to research compiled by Legal Week.

    1 minute read

  • July 26, 2012 |

    The old normal - Results 2012: turbulent, expansive, eventful

    There's a curiously distorted feel to our annual results for 2011-12, underlining the oxymoronic state of the legal industry, a profession often discussed these days as if it is in one of only two states: coining it in or on the verge of crisis. This year, 16 of the top 50 saw falls in profit per equity partner (PEP), six of them by more than 10%. At the other end of the scale, six firms saw PEP rocket more than 20%.

    1 minute read

  • July 26, 2012 |

    2011-12 case studies: Clifford Chance

    Clifford Chance's (CC) recovery picked up pace in 2011-12, holding its position as the UK's largest law firm in revenue terms. It reached turnover of £1.303bn for 2011-12, and saw profit per equity partner (PEP) rise 7% to £1.078m.

    1 minute read

  • July 26, 2012 |

    Partners remain bullish on prospects for year ahead as almost 80% predict growth

    Asia and litigation tipped as growth targets in Legal Week business confidence survey. Friederike Heine reports

    1 minute read

  • July 26, 2012 |

    2011-12 case studies: Clyde & Co

    Clyde & Co's merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has propelled the firm to the largest hike in revenue among the UK top 50 this year, with turnover jumping 35.4%. After joining forces with Barlows in November 2011, the firm saw fee income hit £287m for 2011-12, up from £212m last year. Turnover on a like-for-like basis at Clydes without any contribution from Barlows grew 17% to £248m.

    1 minute read

  • July 26, 2012 |

    2011-12 case studies: Mishcon de Reya

    Mishcon de Reya makes its debut into the top 50 this year after an impressive period of growth that has put it on track to beat its three-year revenue target by some margin. The firm's 19% turnover hike to £73.1m during 2011-12 puts it nearly £2m ahead of its original target of £71.5m for this point in time – two years into a three-year strategy setting out an £80m turnover target by 2013.

    1 minute read

  • July 26, 2012 |

    Line-up of top UK firms on board £4.5bn UK rail development deal

    A raft of UK law firms including DLA Piper, Ashurst, Shoosmiths and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have advised on a £4.5bn UK rail deal which will see a fleet of new intercity trains built and as many as 900 new jobs created. DLA Piper took the lead role for Agility Trains - a consortium comprising Hitachi Rail Europe and John Laing Investments - on the contract for the Intercity Express Programme, which was approved this week by the Department for Transport (DfT).

    1 minute read