Claire Ruckin

December 07, 2007 | National Law Journal

Lawyers are debating the benefits of introducing U.S.-style plea bargaining in U.K. fraud cases following the guilty pleas of three former NatWest bankers last week. Former Bar Council Chairman Stephen Hockman QC is due to submit a report on the use of plea negotiations in fraud cases by the end of the year. A Legal Week survey last year found 71 percent of U.K. lawyers in favor of plea bargaining. However, some doubt the success of using a U.S. system in the U.K.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

November 08, 2007 | Law.com

Bruno Castellini, the joint managing partner of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's Italian arm, will be the latest senior departure from the Magic Circle firm as he gets set to join the local office of Jones Day. His departure will leave Rome managing partner Raffaele Lener as sole head of the London giant's Italian practice. It is currently unclear whether Castellini will be replaced in the management role.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 08, 2007 | National Law Journal

Bruno Castellini, the joint managing partner of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's Italian arm, will be the latest senior departure from the Magic Circle firm as he gets set to join the local office of Jones Day. His departure will leave Rome managing partner Raffaele Lener as sole head of the London giant's Italian practice. It is currently unclear whether Castellini will be replaced in the management role.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

October 19, 2007 | National Law Journal

In a move reflecting U.S. firms' continuing push to launch in London, Nixon Peabody on Thursday unveiled its long-planned London arm, the firm's first foreign outpost. The new seven-lawyer branch includes three U.K.-qualified partners, who -- in a highly unusual move -- will simultaneously remain as partners at the Trinity International boutique, which Nixon Peabody describes as an "affiliated entity."

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 25, 2009 | Law.com

London law firms Charles Russell and Trowers & Hamlins have won roles to act as administrators to two Bahraini banks. The two were appointed earlier this month by the Central Bank of Bahrain, serving as local banking regulator, with Charles Russell acting as administrator of Awal Bank and Trowers acting for The International Banking Corporation.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 10, 2007 | National Law Journal

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

October 19, 2007 | The Legal Intelligencer

A lawsuit pitting former law firm partners against each other over a post-Sept. 11 insurance payout will proceed, a state judge has ruled.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

March 20, 2008 | National Law Journal

Eight of London's top 10 law firms are already using or assessing external funding for litigation and arbitration cases, marking a dramatic move of third-party funding into mainstream practice. All of the top 10 U.K. firms except Linklaters and Slaughter and May are now offering, or considering offering, clients external funding in some cases. The dramatic adoption of the once-controversial technique illustrates the fast-changing attitudes as litigators position themselves for an expected upturn.

By Claire Ruckin and Sofia Lind

4 minute read

October 19, 2007 | Law.com

In a move reflecting U.S. firms' continuing push to launch in London, Nixon Peabody on Thursday unveiled its long-planned London arm, the firm's first foreign outpost. The new seven-lawyer branch includes three U.K.-qualified partners, who -- in a highly unusual move -- will simultaneously remain as partners at the Trinity International boutique, which Nixon Peabody describes as an "affiliated entity."

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 14, 2008 | National Law Journal

Eversheds has launched in Switzerland after forming an association with local outfit Schmid in a move that adds further scale to the U.K. giant's expanding foreign network. The association, which saw the Swiss practice rebranded as Schmid Eversheds on Jan. 1, will give Eversheds a base in Zurich and Berne, adding to the U.K. law firm's network of 36 offices spanning 21 countries.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read