Chris Johnson

May 01, 2011 | The American Lawyer

By By Chris Johnson

11 minute read

November 17, 2010 | Law.com

France's Gide Loyrette Nouel has launched a London funds practice as it attempts to diversify a finance-focused practice that left the office brutally exposed during the downturn. A transactional work decline saw gross revenue in London drop by 51 percent to $12 million in 2009. Net income for the office fell by 70 percent to $5.8 million. "We've always been aware that having all our eggs in one basket as a finance boutique was perhaps not the safest business model in the world," says London managing partner Colin Mercer.

By Chris Johnson

4 minute read

November 23, 2010 | Law.com

What makes a merger? That's the question being posed after U.K. firm Norton Rose announced deals with Canada's Ogilvy Renault and South Africa's Deneys Reitz. The combined firm will rank as one of the largest by headcount, and for Norton Rose the moves represent continued progress in its strategy to target Asia and the natural resources market. But detractors point out that, as with Norton Rose's union earlier this year with Australian giant Deacons, the firms will not share profits -- at least, not at first.

By Chris Johnson

7 minute read

June 02, 2011 | Law.com

McDermott Will & Emery has relocated senior Brussels antitrust partner Frank Schoneveld to its Chinese alliance firm, Shanghai-based MWE China Law Offices. The move comes as China's anti-monopoly law is "at the top of [our clients'] minds," says McDermott's firmwide antitrust head.

By Chris Johnson

3 minute read

October 04, 2010 | The Legal Intelligencer

The long wait for the onset of Alternative Business Structures is almost over. Just 12 months remain until the third and final stage of the Legal Services Act comes into force, permitting U.K. law firms to accept outside equity investment for the first time. Firms are already preparing themselves for a change that many experts believe will fundamentally reshape the profession.

By Chris Johnson

9 minute read

May 27, 2011 | Law.com

Sullivan & Cromwell has made a rare lateral hire in London, bringing in white-collar crime expert Louise Delahunty from U.K. firm Simmons & Simmons. Hers is the latest move in a series of lateral hires as firms prepare for the implementation of the new U.K. Bribery Act.

By Chris Johnson

3 minute read

July 08, 2011 | Law.com

Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy saw its gross revenue grow by 7 percent to a new high of $1.87 billion for the fiscal year ending April 30, thanks in part to a new Australia practice. The firm also launched an Indonesian base and added 16 lateral hires to existing locations, in response to an increase in demand for cross-border legal services.

By Chris Johnson

5 minute read

September 17, 2010 | The American Lawyer

Here in the U.S., we hear a lot about the changing relationship between newly assertive corporate counsel and their outside law firms. A roundtable at London's College of Law shows that legal chiefs at European corporations are just as serious about shaking things up.

By Chris Johnson

4 minute read