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  • November 23, 2011 |

    City elite give a little ground on fees but some firms still hiking rates

    Charge-out rates at the City's top firms have remained broadly static throughout 2011, with leading firms coming under pressure to reduce rates. New research carried out by costs lawyer Jim Diamond shows magic circle firms have reduced partner charge-out rates marginally, with average rates falling by 8% at the lower end of the range and 3% at the top in 2011. The reductions equate to an average partner hourly rate in the magic circle of between £600 and £700, down from a range of £650 to £725 in 2010.

    1 minute read

  • November 23, 2011 |

    Great contacts, grind and patience – what it takes to open doors to key Chinese clients

    There's no magic formula for winning China clients, writes Sofia Lind, but pragmatism and a full Rolodex don't hurt

    1 minute read

  • November 22, 2011 |

    Former Charles Russell managing partner takes up role as chairman of LPO company

    Charles Russell's former managing partner James Holder (pictured) has taken up a new role as chairman of UK business and legal process outsourcing company Global BPO. Holder, who stepped down as managing partner at Charles Russell in May this year, joined the outsourcer last month with a remit to help expand its client base and improve market perception of outsourcing.

    1 minute read

  • November 16, 2011 |

    Slaughters and Linklaters lauded as City's best-run firms as partners chase leadership dividend

    Nine out of 10 senior lawyers view leadership as key to success while DLA Piper's recruitment of former Linklaters head Tony Angel wins widespread backing. Simon Petersen reports

    1 minute read

  • November 16, 2011 |

    US firms win spots as Hewlett Packard draws up global panel

    Hewlett Packard (HP) has put together a new global legal panel, with US law firms featuring heavily among those selected to advise the company over the next three years. Baker & McKenzie, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Cravath Swaine & Moore are among the firms to have been appointed to the roster alongside magic circle representative Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The firms will provide international advice to the technology giant, which has operations in 170 jurisdictions.

    1 minute read

  • November 16, 2011 |

    Bright lights, big city - meet the young barristers making their mark

    Ben Rigby profiles 10 promising junior barristers singled 
out as some of the best in the profession

    1 minute read

  • November 16, 2011 |

    US pair excel as 1,000 clients give verdict on major firms

    A select band of US-based law firms – including Weil Gotshal & Manges and Reed Smith – have outperformed key UK rivals according to a major research project based on responses from more than 1,000 clients. Legal Week Intelligence's eighth annual Client Satisfaction Report found the duo topping a ranking of major law firms operating in the UK based on feedback from 1,069 companies, including 78% of the FTSE 100.

    1 minute read

  • November 15, 2011 |

    Shoosmiths tops diversity rankings as Black Solicitors Network reveals league table

    Shoosmiths has been named as the UK's most diverse law firm according to this year's Black Solicitors Network (BSN) Diversity League Table. The ranking combines law firm demographics across four different strands of diversity - disability, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation - with policy and practice information at the firms also being taken into consideration. In total, 44 law firms in the UK took part in the report.

    1 minute read

  • November 14, 2011 |

    Leeds Building Society turns to Bradford & Bingley for new head of legal

    Leeds Building Society has appointed a new head of legal services, bringing in Bradford & Bingley's former group head of legal for the post. Paul Jordan joined the building society earlier this month after 20 years with Bradford & Bingley, including more than 10 years as group head of legal.

    1 minute read

  • November 14, 2011 |

    Taylor Wessing boosts London tax with ex-Slaughters hire

    Taylor Wessing has boosted its City tax practice with the hire of former Slaughter and May partner Richard Carson. Carson retired from the magic circle firm in April after 30 years, including 20 years as a partner. He is set to join Taylor Wessing in the New Year.

    1 minute read