Anna Reynolds

May 09, 2013 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells has advised Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) on the acquisition of a stake in its Middle East business through a joint venture with Middle East holding company Al Tayer Group. The luxury fashion brand bought a 51% stake in the company, understood to be worth $15m (£10m), with Al Tayer holding the remaining 49%. The deal means YSL will get a share of overall profit and Al Tayer will no longer have exclusive rights to distribute the brand in the UAE.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

May 09, 2013 | International Edition

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has called on more of the UK's largest law firms to get involved in its efforts to collate comprehensive diversity statistics following the publication of a major report on the make-up of the legal profession. The regulator last month published its first report, 'Diversity in the legal profession: workforce data for solicitors firms 2012', on the back of the Legal Services Board's (LSB's) controversial plans to force law firms and barristers' chambers to publish internal diversity and social mobility statistics on their websites. The initiative is part of the LSB's push to open up the profession to prospective lawyers from non-traditional backgrounds. The body hopes that by making the information – which is collated by approved regulators such as the SRA – available to clients, pressure will be placed on firms to further improve access to the profession.

By Anna Reynolds

3 minute read

May 09, 2013 | International Edition

Law firms need to invest in their IT systems in order to expand their business, according to the chair of Legal Week's forthcoming Strategic Technology Forum. Abby Ewen, IT director at Berrymans Lace Mawer, highlights the need for continued investment in IT in a video interview with Legal Week publishing director John Malpas, ahead of the conference next month.

By Anna Reynolds

3 minute read

May 09, 2013 | International Edition

Lead counsel to the Leveson Inquiry Robert Jay QC has been appointed a High Court Judge. Jay joins the Queen's Bench Division alongside two other new appointees Sue Carr QC and Judge Andrew Gilbart. Jay is replacing the retiring Mr Justice Roderick Evans and will take up the role from 4 June. In July 2011 he was appointed to join Lord Justice Leveson on the public inquiry into cases of phone-hacking and other wrongdoing at now-defunct Sunday tabloid, the News of the World.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

May 08, 2013 | International Edition

Linklaters has strengthened its US tax practice with the hire of a partner duo from Bingham McCutchen. David Brockway and Jasper Howard join the magic circle firm's Washington DC office with immediate effect. Brockway previously served as chief of staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation of the US Congress and specialises in international tax planning. He focuses on corporate acquisitions and disposals, cross border structured finance and asset-based finance transactions.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

May 08, 2013 | International Edition

Mishcon de Reya saw revenues rise by 14% to £83.5m in 2012-13, the firm has confirmed, alongside the promotion of one associate, down from the total of four made up last year. Turnover has risen by approximately £10m from last year's figure of £73.1m in 2011-12, and means the firm has seen overall growth of almost 200% since 2006-07, when revenues stood at £29m. While all practice areas grew last year, managing partner Kevin Gold said that litigation had been "a real driver."

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

May 08, 2013 | International Edition

The Judicial Appointments Committee (JAC) has kicked off the selection process to appoint a new Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) following the retirement of Lord Judge this September. The JAC has set up a selection panel to oversee the interviews for the role, which will take place in early July. The panel will make its decision and report to the Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling, who can accept the selection, reject it or require the panel to reconsider.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

May 07, 2013 | International Edition

Linklaters has announced across-the-board increases in its junior salary bands, with newly-qualified (NQ) associates seeing the biggest pay rise with an extra £2,500 on last year. The firm confirmed its new pay bands today (7 May), becoming the second magic circle firm to unveil 2013-14 associate salaries after Slaughter and May last week.

By Anna Reynolds

3 minute read

May 07, 2013 | International Edition

Ashurst has moved six partners down from the top of its lockstep for the first time since the firm's modified system was introduced six years ago. The move comes after the firm brought in the 'super-plateau' 65-point level in 2007, in an overhaul of its remuneration system which saw it rebase its lockstep from a 20-50 point ladder to a wider 25-65 point scale, allowing to better reward star performers.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

May 03, 2013 | International Edition

Osborne Clarke (OC) has promoted three lawyers to partner in the UK as part of an eight-strong global haul. The three UK promotions, which take immediate effect, see London real estate lawyer William Gay and Bristol-based technology and IP lawyer Emily Jones and commercial disputes lawyer Charlie Wedin joining the partnership.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read