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  • December 7, 2011 |

    The institution - can Herbert Smith reinvent itself for a fast-changing global market?

    With cracks appearing in Herbert Smith's venerable exterior, Suzanna Ring and Georgina Stanley ask if this proud City firm can renew itself for a rapidly changing global market

    1 minute read

  • December 7, 2011 |

    Deloitte research shows leading firms posted robust growth in second quarter

    The UK's top 100 law firms saw a year-on-year increase in fee income of nearly 10% during the second quarter of the 2011-12 financial year, with new research showing a continued improvement in trading despite the economic uncertainty in the eurozone. Figures compiled by professional services firm Deloitte show fee income across the 100 largest UK law firms by revenue increased by 9.8% during the three months ending 31 October compared with the same period last year. The increase is more than double that seen in Q1 2011-12, when revenues grew by 4% compared with the same 
period last year.

    1 minute read

  • December 7, 2011 |

    Eurozone crisis sees UK partners predict a tough 2012 despite positive H1 results

    As managing partners forecast a tough start to 2012, firms focus on growth outside Europe. Simon Petersen reports

    1 minute read

  • December 2, 2011 |

    CMS sees single digit increase in revenues to hit £106m

    CMS Cameron McKenna has posted a 5% increase in half year revenues, with turnover standing at £106m for the first six months of 2011-12. The UK firm also posted a 5% increase for the same period last year, taking unaudited revenues to around £100m. The firm had seen a 13% dip at the same point in 2009-10.

    1 minute read

  • December 2, 2011 |

    A&O, Clydes and Centrica among winners at British Legal Awards 2011

    Allen & Overy (A&O), Clyde & Co and Centrica were among the winners at last night's (1 December) British Legal Awards, in London's Old Billingsgate Market. A&O scooped up the coveted law firm of the year award, seeing off competition from Clydes, Hogan Lovells, Kirkland & Ellis, Mishcon de Reya and Stephenson Harwood to win the prize.

    1 minute read

  • November 30, 2011 |

    Ashurst and Blake Dawson unveil the teams charged with driving pre-merger integration

    Ashurst and Australia's Blake Dawson have each named seven partners to take the lead overseeing growth across Asia and integration in the run-up to their planned merger in 2014.

    1 minute read

  • November 30, 2011 |

    Clinging to the ivy - law firms and retirement

    When it comes to retirement, law firms – and their partners – don't make life easy, say Mairi Eastwood and Bill Knight

    1 minute read

  • November 25, 2011 |

    Simmons revenues up 6% at the halfway stage

    Simmons & Simmons has become the latest firm to post its half-year results, with the top 20 practice seeing a 6% increase in revenues for the first half of the current financial year. The 200-partner firm generated fee income of £124.8m for the first six months of the 2011-12 year - up from £117.7m at the same point last year. The top-line rise translated into a 24% increase in profits.

    1 minute read

  • November 25, 2011 |

    Who rules? The simple question that still defines the global legal industry

    This blog isn't really my opinion on Herbert Smith - I'm keeping my powder dry for a little longer on that one - but this week's effective break-up of the City firm's merger hopes and European alliance does illustrate a factor that has been hugely on display throughout this year. Amid a hectic 10 months in which we have seen a stream of international tie-ups across the globe, many of the far-reaching decisions taken by law firms have been substantively shaped by a single consideration: who gets to be the boss afterwards.

    1 minute read

  • November 24, 2011 |

    Employment partners welcome plans to overhaul UK regulations but warn conciliation service may struggle with demand

    City employment partners have come out in broad support of fundamental changes to the UK's employment laws proposed by Business Secretary Vince Cable and intended to significantly reduce the number of cases reaching tribunal each year. In a speech yesterday (24 November) Cable announced a consultation on the most significant shakeup of the UK's employment regulations in decades.

    1 minute read