Claire Ruckin

January 31, 2011 | International Edition

Finisterre Capital has established its own in-house legal function and appointed its first-ever general counsel with the recruitment of Altima Partners' head of legal Ursula Newman. Newman joined Finisterre Capital earlier this month (12 January) as GC after the fund manager decided that it required an in-house legal function due to the company's growth and increasing regulatory demands. Newman said: "I am here to provide Finisterre with the legal coverage that they need going forward."

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 28, 2011 | International Edition

Linklaters is advising BP on a high-stakes dispute after Russian shareholders of the UK company's local joint venture (JV) TNK-BP launched a claim to halt BP's planned alliance with Russian oil giant Rosneft. Linklaters London head of litigation Michael Bennett was instructed to advise BP, after the billionaire shareholders who make up the Alfa-Access-Renova (AAR) consortium that owns 50% of TNK-BP filed for an injunction in the High Court earlier this week to block the planned Rosneft partnership.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

January 28, 2011 | International Edition

Mr Justice Peter Smith has been ordered to stand down from presiding over a professional negligence case involving Mills & Reeve. Smith has been recused from the case by the Court of Appeal for expressing strong views unfavourable to Mills & Reeve.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

January 28, 2011 | International Edition

Herbert Smith, Clifford Chance (CC) and Macfarlanes have announced the retention rates for their 2011 newly-qualified (NQ) intakes. At Herbert Smith, 44 out of 48 (92%) qualifying trainees were offered a permanent position with the firm, and of those, 43 accepted, resulting in an overall retention rate of 90%. The top 10 City firm's most recent retention figure is higher than the figure announced in September 2010, when 75% of qualifying trainees were kept on.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 27, 2011 | International Edition

The UK's three largest legal regulators have set up an advisory group led by Lord Justice Thomas to support the upcoming launch of an ambitious new kitemark for advocates. The independent advisory group has been set up by the Joint Advocacy Group (JAG) - the body set up by the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and ILEX Professional Standards (IPS) to implement the scheme.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 27, 2011 | International Edition

Barclays has merged its in-house litigation functions and appointed a managing director of group litigation and special investigations to lead the new group. Jonathan Peddie is taking on the newly-created role after 18 months as director of litigation and special investigations for Barclays Global Retail Banking.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 27, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper International is set to merge with its Australian best friend firm DLA Phillips Fox. The two firms are due to fully financially integrate by 1 May, after terms have been agreed, in a move that will see DLA Phillips Fox become part of DLA Piper's international LLP. The two firms have had an exclusive referral relationship since 2006, but have now decided to take the arrangement to the next stage. DLA Phillip Fox New Zealand will not be part of the arrangement, but will remain as an exclusive best friends referral firm.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

January 27, 2011 | International Edition

The Government has unveiled proposals designed to cut the number of claims being pursued through employment tribunals, it was announced today (27 January). The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announced the shake-up of the tribunal system, which is billed as reducing the burden on companies of employment laws and speeding up the resolution of disputes.

By Claire Ruckin

4 minute read

January 26, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds is set to lose one of its best-known lawyers in the northeast as Ian Gilthorpe prepares to launch his own law firm. Gilthorpe is due to leave Eversheds' Newcastle office in the coming months to launch a local boutique which will primarily act for local corporates and high net worth individuals.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 21, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's highest-earning partner took home nearly 20% less during 2009-10 than the previous financial year. The figure, revealed in the firm's limited liability partnership accounts recently filed with Companies House, shows the firm's top-earner took home £2.7m last year - just over 18% less than the equivalent £3.3m figure in 2008-09. The figure includes retirement payments as well as the standard profit share.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read