Claire Ruckin

November 29, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed a new global head of tax with London-based Colin Hargreaves taking over the role from Stephan Eilers. Hargreaves will take on his new post from January 2011 for a two-year term following the recent announcement that existing tax head Eilers is taking up the post of executive partner as part of the magic circle law firm's new management team.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 26, 2010 | International Edition

Fixed-share partners are unable to bring unfair dismissal claims, according to a recent ruling in the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT). The tribunal this month upheld an earlier ruling that claimant Martin Tiffin, formerly of Bournemouth-based law firm Lester Aldridge, was classified as a partner of the firm and not an employee, and was therefore unable to claim unfair dismissal.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 24, 2010 | International Edition

The Bar Council is ramping up efforts to compete directly against solicitors as it attempts to encourage local authorities to hire barristers directly. Bar Council chairman Nicholas Green QC has held talks with around 10 local authorities to discuss tender processes for large contract work, with Green wanting to encourage local authorities to look beyond law firms and discuss with chambers how they can better compete.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 24, 2010 | International Edition

Slaughter and May, Simmons & Simmons and Bird & Bird have emerged as the City's top-performing law firms based on client feedback, as part of a major research project from Legal Week. The trio were the top-rated international firms according to Legal Week Intelligence's seventh annual Client Satisfaction Report, which is based on responses from 1,265 senior in-house lawyers and finance directors. The flagship project from Legal Week's independent research arm is its most comprehensive client survey to date and includes rankings of 71 UK and US firms based on responses from 903 companies operating in the UK. The report covers 71% of the FTSE 100.

By Claire Ruckin

4 minute read

November 24, 2010 | International Edition

Herbert Smith is set to launch a new base in Belfast to handle volume disputes work. The office, which will open in April 2011, will principally focus on reviewing and analysing large volumes of documents from major contentious work, notably in litigation, arbitration and regulatory investigations. The Belfast base, which will be wholly owned and controlled by Herbert Smith, will be led on the ground by London-based Libby Jackson, a solicitor currently in a practice management role, who will relocate to Northern Ireland in early 2011.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

November 23, 2010 | International Edition

Beachcroft has expanded its London and Ireland bases with the hire of two new partners. Former Blake Lapthorn partner Jimmy Desai has joined Beachcroft's City arm as a partner in the commercial services team. Desai will sit within the UK top 30 firm's technology team and will work closely with sector head Tim Sewart, focusing on intellectual property, IT, data protection, privacy law and internet and media law. He has worked with a wide range of bluechip clients, public sector and government bodies as well as a number of universities.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 23, 2010 | International Edition

Hammonds and Squire Sanders & Dempsey have appointed practice group heads for the merged firm as integration gets underway, with the duo also naming the line-up of its new operating leadership group. The combined firm has appointed 16 partners to lead 14 practice groups globally, with Hammonds partners securing five of the posts and the remainder going to legacy Squire Sanders partners.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 22, 2010 | International Edition

Five of Halliwells' creditors, including its largest secured and unsecured creditor, have joined together to form a committee in the latest stage of the administration process of the now-defunct law firm. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which as a secured creditor with a debenture over the firm is first in line to receive a payout, has teamed up with unsecured creditors HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC); the managing agent of its Spinningfields premises Muller Professional Services; ING Lease UK; and the landlord of Halliwells' Liverpool office, Bruntwood 2000 Beta Portfolio, to form the committee.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 19, 2010 | International Edition

Olswang reduced its net debt by more than 20% during the last financial year, according to the firm's first limited liability partnership (LLP) filings. The UK top 50 firm saw total debt drop from just under £13.5m in 2009 down to just under £10.5m for the year ending 30 April 2010, according to filings with Companies House, with cash in hand and at the bank increasing to £4.7m, up from £337,000 the previous year. The filings also show that Oslwang reduced its professional and administrative staff headcount by nearly 11% over the year, with total staff numbers dropping from 542 to 484 as a result of cost-saving measures, with staff costs falling from £36.3m to £31.5m as a result.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 19, 2010 | International Edition

Herbert Smith's former senior partner David Gold is among a handful of lawyers to be made a life peer in the latest round of appointments announced today (19 November). Gold will take up his life peerage for the Conservative Party, with the appointment conferred by the Queen having been vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission. Gold's links to the Conservatives include last year sitting on the party's scrutiny committee looking into its MPs' expense claims.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read