Claire Ruckin

June 25, 2010 | The Legal Intelligencer

Olswang has formed an alliance with US law firm Cooley, with the pair set to boost referrals going forward.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 14, 2011 | Law.com

Some top U.K. law firms may be set to overhaul retirement policies for partners and employees. Discussions have accelerated in the midst of a closely watched case involving a law firm partner and upcoming legislation that will abolish the default retirement age of 65 for U.K. employees.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

June 29, 2010 | The Legal Intelligencer

Law firms will have to get used to competing against non-legal entrants to the market, senior lawyers have predicted in a set-piece debate on the future of the profession.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 29, 2010 | Corporate Counsel

Berwin Leighton Paisner 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 London law firm in an agreement understood to be worth around $7.5 million a year to BLP for the next five years.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 14, 2010 | Law.com

Addleshaw Goddard spent 20.9 million pounds ($34 million) fitting out its new London office, the firm's limited liability partnership filings have revealed. The U.K. firm took out a 5.5 million pound ($9 million) loan in order to help fund the process of setting up the new flagship office. The long-planned move united Addleshaw's London lawyers under one roof. The filings also show the firm's cash reserves decreased to 6.9 million pounds for 2008-09, compared to 11 million pounds the previous year.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

May 26, 2010 | Law.com

Olswang has become the latest law firm to announce a move toward a merit-driven structure. Under the firm's new system, which goes into effect on Sept. 1, associates will progress through three levels depending on performance and ability, rather than a traditional lockstep model. Olswang's move reflects a wider shift in the United Kingdom's legal market, as more law firms replace or modify the associate lockstep system in their U.K. offices and other locations.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 12, 2007 | Law.com

Italian leader Gianni, Origoni, Grippo & Partners is to officially split at the beginning of December, with 95 lawyers now likely to break away, in the latest phase of an ongoing saga. The break-up follows disagreements between the firm's executive committee and founding partner Francesco Gianni last month over strategic issues including the firm's hiring policy, billable hours and the importance of regional offices.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

June 23, 2008 | Law.com

Howard Kennedy launched a 30-day redundancy consultation Thursday that could affect up to 20 fee earners and as many as 30 further support staff. The review will be carried out across the firm, but the property department could be most at risk given the slowdown in the market. News of the consultation follows two negligence claims filed against the firm last year, for $4.7 million and $3.4 million respectively. Both claims related to advice the company gave clients in regard to property deals.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

May 24, 2010 | Corporate Counsel

British broadcaster ITV holds discussions with a number of major legal teams in a bid to get the in-house community working together to drive down legal costs and secure more favorable panel terms.

By Jeremy Hodges and Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 05, 2007 | Law.com

Australia's Slater & Gordon -- the world's first publicly owned law firm -- has continued its aggressive expansion drive with the acquisition of three regional firms. The $4.4 million deal, announced Nov. 22, will see the firm acquire Crane Butcher McKinnon and Nagle & McGuire in New South Wales as well as Edwin Abdo & Associates in Western Australia, extending Slater's offices network to a total of 24. The three practices combined are set to add $4 million in annual fee revenue.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read