Claire Ruckin

December 14, 2010 | International Edition

A Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) lawyer has been charged with killing his wife. BLP tax associate Richard Davies Jones, 33, of Ashtead, Surrey, appeared before Guildford Magistrates Court earlier today (14 December) after being charged with his wife's murder on Monday (13 December).

By Claire Ruckin

1 minute read

December 13, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has seen the number of hours dedicated to volunteer work more than double over the last two years, according to the firm's latest corporate social responsibility (CSR) report. The magic circle firm spent 42,559 hours on pro bono activities during the 2009-10 financial year, according to the firm's second CSR report - up from the 16,409 hours detailed in the first CSR report, which covered 2007-08. Meanwhile, the total combined hours spent on volunteering and pro bono activities increased by 87% over the period, with just under 40% of the firm's staff now involved in either community or pro bono activities - a 10% increase on 2007-08.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

December 13, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has bolstered its City debt capital markets practice with two new partners, including the lateral hire of Peter Allen from magic circle rival Linklaters. Allen joins Freshfields' finance practice in London alongside Duncan Kellaway, who joins as a partner from Clifford Chance (CC), where he was a senior associate. Allen specialises in a wide range of securities work, including advising underwriters and issuers in connection with issues of debt, equity and equity-related securities in international markets. He has particular expertise in emerging markets debt issuance.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 13, 2010 | International Edition

DLA Piper's Leeds managing partner Neil McLean is set to retire from the firm. The high-profile property partner is due to retire at the end of April 2011 after 17 years at the national firm. He will be replaced in his role as office head by finance partner Sarah Day, who was appointment to the firm's international board last year.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 10, 2010 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard has reported a 4% drop in revenues for the first half of the 2010-11 financial year. The firm has posted fee income of £78.1m for the first six months of the year - down from the figure of £81.3m reported at the same point last year. The firm attributed the drop to the use of a number of conditional fee arrangements (CFAs) in significant contentious cases. Without these, the firm said that it would have posted flat H1 revenues on last year.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 09, 2010 | International Edition

Beachcroft has overhauled its claims division, creating a free-standing practice with new senior management. The national firm's insurance partner James Morris has been appointed to the newly-created role of chairman of the claims division, which has been renamed Claims Solutions.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 09, 2010 | International Edition

Barclays Capital (BarCap) and Barclays Corporate have merged their in-house litigation functions, with Barclays' global retail banking (GRB) litigation head Stephanie Pagni taking up a new role leading the merged team. Pagni, who has been on secondment to BarCap since June, is set to take up the newly-created role of director of litigation services for the bank's corporate and investment banking divisions in the New Year. The position will see Pagni leading a combined team of 10 in-house lawyers, equally split from both business units, as well as a number of secondees.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 08, 2010 | International Edition

DLA Piper's technology and sourcing team has landed its first role advising low cost airline easyJet on its tie-up with the Lowcostholidays group. The national firm fielded a team led by technology and sourcing partner Mark Crichard alongside associate Siobhan Mullens. The deal was completed last month (November), with the new venture due to launch in early 2011.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 07, 2010 | International Edition

Eversheds has identified 15 key clients it wants to build stronger relationships with as part of a push towards improved client relationship management. Lloyds TSB and Tyco are among relationships pinpointed by the UK top 10 law firm, with other core clients indentified in the financial institutions, energy, aerospace and technology sectors.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 07, 2010 | International Edition

Macfarlanes has overhauled its international strategy, setting up a number of relationships across the US and closing down its international practice group. The City firm has formed non-exclusive ties with six firms across the US, on top of its existing links with around half a dozen Wall Street firms. Former senior partner Robert Sutton, now a senior adviser to the top 30 law firm, led the review and identified the firms, which cover regions such as Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read