Claire Ruckin

March 17, 2010 | Law.com

DLA Piper is defending itself before an employment tribunal in Liverpool, England, against sexual discrimination allegations brought by a former partner. The six-day hearing kicked off Monday after former real estate partner Sarah Sweeney started proceedings against DLA Piper last year. Sweeney, who joined DLA as a trainee in 1996, was asked to leave the firm in 2008 while pregnant.

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

May 29, 2008 | Law.com

Amy Schulman, DLA Piper's star co-head of mass tort and class actions, has left the firm to join Pfizer as GC and senior vice president, it was announced Wednesday. Schulman is renowned as one of the country's top litigators after a Harvard Business School case study in 2006 claimed that she was responsible for a $60 million book of business.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

October 09, 2007 | Law.com

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's Hungarian office is to split from the firm, it was announced last week. The Budapest operation, which will take the name of Oppenheim, will become an independent practice in the region starting Nov. 1, due to a desire by the Hungarian lawyers to undertake more local work. Freshfields announced that the split was mutual and the office will act as a preferred referral firm in the region, although it will not be an exclusive relationship.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 12, 2009 | New York Law Journal

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

February 13, 2009 | Corporate Counsel

Banks are clamping down on litigation fees as they move to cope in the face of spiraling claims against financial institutions. Top London firms are reporting growing numbers of banks pushing for alternative billing methods for litigation cases, with Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland as well as a number of U.S. investment banks understood to be among those increasing pressure on fees.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

October 26, 2010 | The Legal Intelligencer

Macfarlanes has introduced a senior associate rank for its up-and-coming lawyers, with associates with at least six years' post-qualification experience eligible to make the grade.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

July 14, 2010 | Law.com

DLA Piper has posted an 18 percent drop in profits per equity partner for 2009-2010 after a year in which the law firm was severely impacted by market turmoil in the Middle East. The firm saw PEP fall to 527,000 pounds from last year's figure of 645,000 pounds. In 2009, DLA made a number of job cuts in the Middle East, as a result of the firm's troubles in the regional market.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

February 01, 2011 | Corporate Counsel

The act was scheduled to be implemented in April this year, but will now be pushed back until guidance has been published and distributed to businesses to allow them to prepare and adapt for the new regime.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

July 25, 2008 | Law.com

DLA Piper is ramping up its integration efforts with a major push to increase work from its top global clients. The firm's global client target list is understood to include around 30 key companies, including Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Cathay Pacific and Cisco. These client efforts come after the firm decided last month not to go ahead with financial integration across its U.S. and international operations.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read