Claire Ruckin

January 15, 2010 | Law.com

Eversheds is in talks to set up an outsourcing business with its South African ally, positioning it to become the first major law firm to enter the legal outsourcing market. The U.K. firm this month launched a six-month pilot that will initially see it approaching clients about outsourcing in-house legal work to its South African ally, which last year rebranded from Routledge Modise to Eversheds.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

April 30, 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

October 22, 2009 | Law.com

Allen & Overy, Slaughter and May and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have taken lead roles on airport operator BAA's 1.5 billion pound ($2.5 billion) sale of Gatwick airport to Global Infrastructure Partners. Slaughter took the lead role for GIP, acting opposite Freshfields on the acquisition, which was agreed on Tuesday. Allen & Overy advised a consortium of 12 banks providing financing to GIP on the transaction.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

June 05, 2008 | Law.com

The U.K.'s Bar Council has relocated to new office space in Brussels as part of a push by the regulatory body to deepen its ties with a number of European counterparts. The Bar Council will now share premises with bodies including the German Federal Bar, the Austrian Bar and the law societies of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Council first launched its Brussels operation in 1999, with the outpost working closely alongside the body's European Union committee.

By Claire Ruckin and Leigh Jackson

2 minute read

November 09, 2009 | Law.com

Several leading firms in the U.K. are considering using contract lawyers as part of a venture by a new business to create a pool of temporary lawyers. Firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Travers Smith and a number of U.S. firms in London are interested in bringing in contract lawyers for individual pieces of work, a model rarely used in the U.K. And Allen & Overy is considering creating a central pool of alumni that it would be able to draft in to assist on its work for specific projects.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

August 19, 2008 | Law.com

Class action firm Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll has struck a deal with insurance provider FirstAssist Legal Protection in the U.K. to offer after-the-event insurance for cartel claims. The venture, dubbed "Cartel Key," is the first of its kind in the U.K. and will insure clients affected by cartel claims against the risk of adverse costs, which have traditionally prevented civil cartel claims from arising in the U.K.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 21, 2007 | Law.com

London-based Ince & Co has appointed a new senior partner, with James Wilson set to take the helm of the specialist shipping firm after clinching the post in a contested election. Wilson, who currently heads the firm's marine casualty practice, was confirmed in the management role for a five-year term on Friday. He will replace outgoing incumbent Peter Rogan when he steps down from the position in spring 2008 and will work alongside current managing partner Chris Jefferis.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

September 18, 2007 | Law.com

Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll is launching a major class action against airline carrier Virgin Atlantic. The news comes after Virgin on Friday filed a court stipulation admitting its involvement in an alleged price-fixing scandal over fuel surcharges that has already seen rival group British Airways fined by competition authorities. Virgin gained immunity from the U.S. government after alerting regulators to anti-competitive practices.

By Claire Ruckin

1 minute read

July 13, 2009 | Law.com

Addleshaw Goddard has rolled out a flexible work scheme after 95 percent of fee earners voted in favor of the plans. The scheme, which started on July 1, will run for a 12-month period and will see the firm putting some fee earners onto a four-day week in return for 85 percent of their normal pay. It is understood that the majority of fee earners in Addleshaw's real estate group are already working four-day weeks. Other flexible working initiatives include sabbaticals and "buying" additional vacation time.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

February 10, 2010 | Law.com

U.K. law firm Cobbetts has struck up an association with Egyptian law firm El Said Darwish & Partners in the first stage of Cobbetts? plan to build up an international network. At the end of last year, Cobbetts set up a Swiss Verein structure, named Cobbetts International, with the intention of forming associations with overseas legal practices. El Said, which has now been renamed as Cobbetts International Cairo, is the first firm to join the network.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read