Anna Reynolds

December 02, 2013 | International Edition

The average number of members in Linklaters' LLP dropped 6% in 2012-13, while the number of practising lawyers fell 2% and business services staff and secretary headcount dipped 3%. Accounts filed at Companies House show that the average number of members at the magic circle firm fell by 19 over the year to 291, while lawyer headcount was cut from 2,341 to 2,290 over the year. Business support staff and secretaries now total 4,280, 113 down from the 2011-12 figure of 2,052.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

December 02, 2013 | International Edition

DAC Beachcroft has merged with two-partner Colombian insurance firm De La Torre & Monroy Abogados Asociados. The new office which began trading yesterday (1 December) under the name DAC Beachcroft Colombia, will work with international insurers and reinsurers, advising on claims as well as arbitration, corporate, commercial and regulatory issues. DAC will also provide full service legal support for international investors in Colombia and local clients.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 28, 2013 | International Edition

Longstanding Watson Farley & Williams managing partner Michael Greville has resigned from the firm. Greville has led Watson Farley since July 2001 after taking over from former managing partner, David Warde, before which he led the UK top 40 firm's litigation group for five years.

By Anna Reynolds

3 minute read

November 27, 2013 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer private equity partner Chris Bown has left to join private equity house CVC, a major client of the magic circle firm's corporate group. Bown will retire from the firm in April 2014 and join CVC Capital Partners as a senior adviser. His role will include advising deal teams, working alongside CVC's external counsel and in-house legal team.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 26, 2013 | International Edition

Mishcon de Reya has restructured its tax practice to bring together exeprtise from across the firm. Mishcon's new tax practice will bring together its previously separate real estate tax and corporate tax groups, alongside its well-established private tax & wealth planning practice.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 24, 2013 | International Edition

Speechly Bircham has launched in Paris after hiring a four-partner team. The Paris base is the firm's fourth new overseas office to open in just over two years.

By Anna Reynolds

1 minute read

November 22, 2013 | International Edition

Weil Gotshal & Manges has made up nine new partners, including four women, in its latest global promotions round. The promotions - which will take effect from January 2014 - see two lawyers made up in London including litigator Hannah Field-Lowes and Mark Lawford who is part of Weil's business finance & restructuring department.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 22, 2013 | International Edition

A former Chadbourne & Parke partner has brought a claim against the firm for delaying repayment of her capital contribution worth almost £80,000. Melanie Willems (pictured), who is now head of international arbitration at Andrews Kurth, claims that the firm has not yet repaid her contributions, leaving her to pay interest on a bank loan she took out to cover the payments.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 21, 2013 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells will merge with South African firm Routledge Modise, with the combination set to go live on 1 December. Routledge will take on Hogan Lovells' name following the combination, rebranding from early 2014. With no presence on the ground, Hogan Lovells' Africa practice is largely run out of its Paris office. It also works with local law firms in the region. The firm has about 40 lawyers around the world focusing on Africa; however, management believes a presence on the continent has now become necessary given that the majority of the firm's top 200 clients have African operations.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 21, 2013 | International Edition

Linklaters has renewed its courtship of Nigerian firm Aluko & Oyebode as it steps up its efforts to build its African footprint. The firm said it is keen on developing its relationship with Aluko, independently of its alliance with South African firm Webber Wentzel, which went live in February this year. Discussions have been held recently over how Linklaters can help the Nigerian firm with its technology and working practices as well as developing its lawyers through increasing the number of mutual secondment placements.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read