Claire Ruckin

June 30, 2008 | Law.com

DLA Piper has shaken up its Middle East network after ending its relationship with Saudi Arabian firm Abdulaziz Al-Fahad. The alliance formally ended Monday, bringing an end to the two-and-a-half-year tie-up, which was understood to have come to an end after differences between the two firms. It is unclear which direction DLA Piper will now take in the region, but in order to maintain a presence in Saudi Arabia, local law states that firms must be tied to a local firm in order to practice.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

May 13, 2008 | Law.com

Beachcroft is set to close its international practice group as part of an overhaul of its international strategy. Following a review, the firm has announced its intentions to close the group. One partner and five lawyers in the firm's London office are affected by the move. The IPG was established in June 2006 in a bid to offer international legal advice to U.K. clients with overseas interests in-house. However, the firm now wants to strengthen its relationships with firms in foreign jurisdictions.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

May 26, 2010 | The Legal Intelligencer

Norton Rose has decided against unfreezing pay for its newly-qualified (NQ) lawyers, while carrying out discretionary pay reviews for the firm's more experienced associates.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 10, 2009 | Law.com

Herbert Smith has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on its largest single loan since it was founded in 1991. The top 10 U.K. firm advised the EBRD on a $500 million 10-year unsecured loan for state-owned rail monopoly Russian Railways, with the loan tied to reforms including the restructuring of freight operations. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised RZD, which is Russia's largest commercial employer, with some 1.3 million staff.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

September 25, 2007 | Law.com

After agreeing to a deal to take over boutique Martinez Lage & Asociados, Howrey will launch in Spain next year. The merger, which was agreed to on Friday, will see Howrey and the three-partner Spanish outfit become financially integrated as of Jan. 1, 2008. Other U.S. firms to have targeted the region of late include Latham & Watkins, which launched offices in Madrid and Barcelona at the beginning of 2007.

By Claire Ruckin

1 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

December 10, 2007 | Law.com

A clutch of London firms have landed roles advising on 3 Mobile's $508 million claim against four rival mobile phone operators, in one of the largest competition actions to hit the U.K. courts. Barlow Lyde & Gilbert is advising the company on its claim against rival operators O2, Vodafone and Orange, respectively advised by Ashurst, Herbert Smith and Field Fisher Waterhouse. T-Mobile was also named in the case -- which began in the Commercial Court on December 4 -- and is being advised by Bristows.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

May 08, 2009 | New York Law Journal

By Claire Ruckin

1 minute read

October 30, 2007 | National Law Journal

Italian leader Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners is to split, with the executive committee and approximately 100 lawyers breaking away to form their own practice. The firm, which has about 350 lawyers in total, is preparing an announcement on the news, which will represent one of the most significant splits of a leading European independent.

By James Illman and Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 07, 2007 | Law.com

Clifford Chance has transferred its shipping practice to Holman Fenwick & Willan as part of a wholesale review of the Magic Circle giant's litigation department. Head of shipping Mark Morrison and his team of three lawyers will join Holman Fenwick's London office in January. The move was prompted by a review in which Clifford Chance is attempting to ensure the department is focused on the firm's most important clients and on profitable, growing sectors.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read