Claire Ruckin

January 07, 2011 | International Edition

Scotland's big four firms have been appointed to the City of Edinburgh Council's first legal panel. The panel, which was completed at the end of last year, sees McGrigors, Dundas & Wilson, Shepherd and Wedderburn and Maclay Murray & Spens appointed alongside a number of regional Scottish firms.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 07, 2011 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has strengthened its regulatory practice with the hire of Daren Allen from DLA Piper. Allen joined the UK top 20 firm earlier this week (4 January) as a partner in its disputes group. He served as a partner within DLA Piper's litigation and regulation group and headed up the national firm's financial services team until his departure at the end of December.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 05, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds has appointed former Hammonds partner David Beswick as the firm's new Birmingham senior partner. Beswick took up the post of office head on 1 January, replacing Sue Lewis, who has stepped down after four years in the role. She is set to return to full-time fee earning as a partner in the corporate finance practice.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

January 04, 2011 | International Edition

Hammonds' former Hong Kong arm is set to join SNR Denton to launch the firm's first China base. The six-partner office, which has 20 staff in total, will become associated with SNR Denton once the tie-up receives regulatory approval, and will initially be known as Brandt Chan & Partners.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

December 23, 2010 | International Edition

Norton Rose and Clifford Chance (CC) have won lead roles on the proposed £150m sale of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's Fleet Street headquarters to a Malaysian pension fund. Norton Rose real estate head Lindsay Morgan is advising Employees Provident Fund (EPF) on the acquisition of the magic circle firm's City office from its current owner, the German property fund Union Investment.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 22, 2010 | International Edition

LG dispute resolution head Andrew Witts is set to take over as the firm's new senior partner following a contested election. Witts will take up the role at the helm of the firm on 1 May 2011 when current incumbent Penny Francis steps down. At the same time, managing partner Hugh Maule has been re-elected to serve another term as managing partner.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 21, 2010 | International Edition

Mishcon de Reya has teamed up with luxury lifestyle group Quintessentially to offer its clients a global concierge service. The City firm is offering clients access to Quintessentially's services, which range from making reservations at restaurants, hotels and concerts through to helping with relocation issues such as finding houses, nannies and schools.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 20, 2010 | International Edition

Investec is targeting opportunities offered by the Legal Services Act (LSA) with the launch of a unit that will invest up to £10m in law firms. The South-Africa based bank has set up a professional services finance unit which will invest up to £10m per law firm in those looking to grow and take advantage of the LSA via the use of alternative business structures (ABS). The unit will be led by Investec's Jonathan Harvey, with the funds available to the UK's biggest 100 firms by turnover.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 16, 2010 | International Edition

Dickinson Dees has kicked off a new redundancy consultation in the firm's banking practice. The consultation - the regional firm's fourth since November 2007 - will affect the firm's banking group, which is headed up by partner Deborah Kirtley, with two fee earners set to be laid off from the seven-member team.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 14, 2010 | International Edition

LG has strengthened its City insurance team with the hire of Antony Woodhouse from Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge. Woodhouse joined the firm last week (8 December) as a partner and will work closely with LG insurance and reinsurance head Nick Bradley and practice partner David Breslin.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read