Claire Ruckin

March 08, 2010 | Law.com

Success fees for defamation cases in the U.K. are to be slashed by 90 percent in a major step toward libel reform. The move has already been hailed as a victory for free-speech campaigners, coming at a time when the tactics of claimants in libel cases have attracted sustained controversy. The changes will go into effect in April in a bid to stop legal costs in defamation cases spiraling out of control, reducing the success fees lawyers can charge from 100 percent to 10 percent.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

July 07, 2010 | Law.com

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has secured a lead role advising BP on its attempts to ward off a takeover bid in a mandate that will be viewed as a coup for the London giant. The appointment will be seen as a surprise as Linklaters has traditionally been regarded as the oil company's lead corporate adviser. Speculation has mounted regarding BP's future after sustained political pressure and a mounting cleanup bill. Exxon Mobil and Shell have been cited as potential bidders for the company.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 05, 2007 | National Law Journal

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

February 01, 2011 | Law.com

The implementation of the U.K. Bribery Act has been delayed, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed. The act was scheduled to be implemented this April, but will now be pushed back until guidance has been published and distributed to businesses to allow them to prepare for the new regime.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 24, 2009 | Law.com

Herbert Smith has bolstered its Dubai arm with the relocation of London dispute resolution partner Stuart Paterson to the region. Paterson, who specializes in commercial and finance disputes as well as corporate fraud and asset tracing, was involved in the epic $485 million Talco dispute -- one of the most expensive cases in British legal history -- advising the Republic of Tajikistan in its dispute with a group of aluminum traders that settled at the end of last year. Paterson will move in September.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 05, 2007 | Corporate Counsel

Insurance group Skandia has finalized its debut U.K. law firm panel with five firms winning places on the coveted roster. Ashurst, Morrison & Foerster, Bevan Brittan, Bond Pearce and Berwin Leighton Paisner have all won places on the savings group's panel of preferred advisers following a tender process during the summer involving 11 firms. The review was led by Skandia head of legal Duncan Eardley and in-house lawyer Angela Harris.

By Claire Ruckin

1 minute read

January 05, 2011 | The Legal Intelligencer

Hammonds' former Hong Kong arm is set to join SNR Denton to launch the firm's first China base.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 03, 2010 | Law.com

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

September 24, 2010 | The Legal Intelligencer

The dispute over Halliwells' outstanding �4m in property liabilities has come to a head after 90 ex-partners resigned from the defunct firm's limited liability partnership (LLP).

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 12, 2008 | Law.com

Eversheds has struck a deal to outsource low-end legal work to India. The firm has signed a contract with a third-party provider to outsource small commercial contracts that are too expensive to carry out in the U.K. or in-house. The initiative, the result of a review led by commercial group head Jonathan Guest, will initially allow the firm to offer cheaper rates for low-end volume work such as commercial contracts but could be expanded to cover larger-scale work such as due diligence.

By Claire Ruckin and Sofia Lind

2 minute read