Charlotte Edmond

January 23, 2014 | Legal Week

From advising on a tranche of Thatcher-era privatisations to helping the Government steer through the banking crisis, recently retired Slaughter and May partner Charles Randell has had an eventful 33 years at the magic circle firm. Charlotte Edmond finds out about his highs and lows

By Charlotte Edmond

20 minute read

January 23, 2014 | International Edition

From advising on a tranche of Thatcher-era privatisations to helping the Government steer through the banking crisis, recently retired Slaughter and May partner Charles Randell has had an eventful 33 years at the magic circle firm. Charlotte Edmond finds out about his highs and lows

By Charlotte Edmond

10 minute read

January 16, 2014 | Legal Week

Any law firm manager elected or re-elected in the middle of the last decade probably faced a similar dilemma to Clifford Chance's David Childs: voted in during a boom, these leaders found their roles re-cast as the economy took a dramatic turn for the worse. As many managing partners over recent years will attest, leading a firm through a downturn is certainly a test of mettle, forcing them to take hard decisions about resources and costs that were more easily swept under the carpet during the more forgiving reigns of their predecessors. For Childs, this meant a partnership restructuring and staff cuts among several other unpopular measures, as he attempted to keep CC's turnover and profits on the right trajectory. But as Childs prepares to hand over to managing partner-elect Matthew Layton in the coming months, it is clear that the incomer also has some hard decisions to make, despite taking over in a more positive market.

By Charlotte Edmond

7 minute read

January 16, 2014 | International Edition

Any law firm manager elected or re-elected in the middle of the last decade probably faced a similar dilemma to Clifford Chance's David Childs: voted in during a boom, these leaders found their roles re-cast as the economy took a dramatic turn for the worse. As many managing partners over recent years will attest, leading a firm through a downturn is certainly a test of mettle, forcing them to take hard decisions about resources and costs that were more easily swept under the carpet during the more forgiving reigns of their predecessors. For Childs, this meant a partnership restructuring and staff cuts among several other unpopular measures, as he attempted to keep CC's turnover and profits on the right trajectory. But as Childs prepares to hand over to managing partner-elect Matthew Layton in the coming months, it is clear that the incomer also has some hard decisions to make, despite taking over in a more positive market.

By Charlotte Edmond

3 minute read

December 12, 2013 | International Edition

Bringing up the subject of conflicts of interest is guaranteed to get law firms hot under the collar. It's just not a topic they are comfortable discussing because, while the Solicitors Regulation Authority has clarified and re-clarified its rules several times in recent years, a law firm's decision to act or remove itself often comes down to its own judgement.

By Charlotte Edmond

3 minute read

December 12, 2013 | Legal Week

Bringing up the subject of conflicts of interest is guaranteed to get law firms hot under the collar. It's just not a topic they are comfortable discussing because, while the Solicitors Regulation Authority has clarified and re-clarified its rules several times in recent years, a law firm's decision to act or remove itself often comes down to its own judgement.

By Charlotte Edmond

7 minute read

December 05, 2013 | International Edition

Back in May, Legal Week tallied up the number of law firm jobs placed at risk of redundancy over the previous 12 months. The figure reached was a rather shocking 1,300, including some 750 jobs that had actually been cut at that point. Since then, the number of firms announcing redundancy programmes has slowed dramatically, although not completely. Several firms including DWF, Taylor Wessing and Bond Dickinson have made cuts – particularly following mergers and back office outsourcing deals.

By Charlotte Edmond

3 minute read

December 05, 2013 | Legal Week

Back in May, Legal Week tallied up the number of law firm jobs placed at risk of redundancy over the previous 12 months. The figure reached was a rather shocking 1,300, including some 750 jobs that had actually been cut at that point. Since then, the number of firms announcing redundancy programmes has slowed dramatically, although not completely. Several firms including DWF, Taylor Wessing and Bond Dickinson have made cuts – particularly following mergers and back office outsourcing deals.

By Charlotte Edmond

7 minute read

November 21, 2013 | Legal Week

Positive half-year financials and increased deal flow may be pointing to a brighter outlook for law firms, but for the foreseeable future the balance of power will remain firmly with clients. With each panel review that passes, law firms are falling over themselves to get in in-house teams' good books, throwing in secondees, training and all manner of other added extras in an attempt to secure lucrative mandates. Despite this trend, Legal Week Intelligence's annual Client Satisfaction Survey, which this year polled more than 1,400 senior in-house counsel on how they rate their external law firms, has consistently found that the factor clients value above all else is quality of legal advice. Out of 10, clients place an average value of more than 9.5 on the importance of the standard of legal advice provided.

By Charlotte Edmond

6 minute read

November 21, 2013 | International Edition

Positive half-year financials and increased deal flow may be pointing to a brighter outlook for law firms, but for the foreseeable future the balance of power will remain firmly with clients. With each panel review that passes, law firms are falling over themselves to get in in-house teams' good books, throwing in secondees, training and all manner of other added extras in an attempt to secure lucrative mandates. Despite this trend, Legal Week Intelligence's annual Client Satisfaction Survey, which this year polled more than 1,400 senior in-house counsel on how they rate their external law firms, has consistently found that the factor clients value above all else is quality of legal advice. Out of 10, clients place an average value of more than 9.5 on the importance of the standard of legal advice provided.

By Charlotte Edmond

3 minute read