Claire Ruckin

March 31, 2010 | International Edition

Halliwells has made up 10 lawyers in its annual partner promotions round, twice as many as the firm promoted in 2009. The national firm's Manchester office received the lion's share of the promotions, with seven made up - James Pochin and Kurshid Valli in corporate, commercial litigator James Lappin, insurance litigators Andrew Steel, Ann Hughes and Sandra Baldwin and Rod Hunt in the firm's regulatory practice.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 30, 2010 | International Edition

The news last week that Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) is to take on the bulk of Thames Water's in-house legal team caused a fair amount of attention across the City. Even for a firm like BLP, which has expanded aggressively in recent years, the creation of a managed legal service division to take over a client's in-house capabilities is a substantial bet on the way the market is moving, but one it has high hopes for. On first glance there is much to commend the arrangement. BLP picked an obvious candidate to road-test the venture, choosing a regulated utility, which will provide stable work levels and incomes, making the project easier to manage.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

March 30, 2010 | International Edition

Beachcroft has added four new partners to its ranks with the acquisition of insurance boutique Williams Holden Cooklin Gibbons (WHCG). The deal, which is due to complete on 4 May, will see Beachcroft take on the firm in its entirety, including London-based partners Hugh Williams, Andrew Cooklin, Richard Fisher, Karen Cargill and Alastair Cornforth as well as Auckland-based founding member Antony Holden.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 29, 2010 | International Edition

Dickinson Dees disputes head John Marshall is set to take over as senior partner following a contested election. Marshall beat corporate partner John Flynn and tax partner George Lyall to take the post of senior partner following the election process, which took place earlier this month (19 March).

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 29, 2010 | International Edition

Travers Smith has confirmed former managing partner Chris Carroll as the firm's next senior partner. Carroll, who has been on sabbatical since his term as managing partner ended last year, will take over as the City firm's senior partner on 1 July, replacing incumbent Alasdair Douglas.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 24, 2010 | International Edition

Eversheds has won a role advising Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA) on a development project that could be worth up to £1bn. Eversheds real estate partner Stephen Manson is leading a team advising CGMA on the latest phase of the regeneration project that will see the development of a fresh produce market in Covent Garden.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 24, 2010 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) is in advanced talks to seal a groundbreaking deal that will see Thames Water transfer the bulk of its in-house legal team to the City law firm. The agreement, understood to be worth around £5m a year to BLP for the next five years, would see the firm take on 13 of Thames Water's in-house legal team and three administrative staff to carry out all of its longstanding client's legal work.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

March 23, 2010 | International Edition

Pinsent Masons has recruited Halliwells national head of real estate Mike Edge to fill the newly-created role of Manchester head of property. Edge is still negotiating his departure terms with Halliwells, where he has led the national firm's property group since 2001. He will be replaced by planning partner Andrew Piatt, who takes over leadership of the group nationally and is also based in Manchester.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 18, 2010 | International Edition

Slaughter and May has become the first magic circle practice to announce its 2010 partner promotions, with the firm adding two lawyers to its partnership. London-based corporate partner Richard Smith and Hong Kong-based corporate finance partner Lisa Chung will join the partnership from 1 May 2010.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 18, 2010 | International Edition

Hammonds has expanded its real estate team and launched a planning group in London with three senior hires. The national law firm is to launch a planning group in the City with the hire of Oliver Goodwin, who is set to join the firm in April from Mishcon de Reya, where he was head of planning and environment.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read