Emma Sadowski

August 08, 2008 | Law.com

Norton Rose is considering scrapping binding academic restrictions for graduate recruits as the firm aims to increase diversity. Instead it may use a screening process based on tests similar to the National Admissions Test for Law run by U.K. universities. The firm hopes the new selection criteria will allow it to objectively judge applicants who may have taken less common routes into law. A number of other London firms have already introduced broader tests.

By Charlotte Edmond and Emma Sadowski

3 minute read

July 11, 2008 | Law.com

Berwin Leighton Paisner has kicked off a search for U.S. referral partners as the U.K. firm looks to expand its international network of preferred advisers. The firm currently has links with New York-based Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, but is looking to broaden its relationships in the country to include firms in six major U.S. cities. The firm's international network now covers around 65 countries, including all of Europe and most of Asia but, until now, has not been fully extended to the U.S.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

May 30, 2008 | Law.com

UBS has appointed a trio of in-house staff to fill Peter Kurer's general counsel role while the bank looks for a replacement for Kurer, who was named chairman last month. Global head of compliance Neil Stocks, group legal head and GC for the corporate centre Bernard Schmid and David Aufhauser, global GC for investment banking and GC of UBS Americas, will act as co-general counsels until the bank chooses a replacement.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

March 06, 2009 | New York Law Journal

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

March 24, 2008 | Corporate Counsel

The National Audit Office is set to overhaul its roster of external advisers, with London firm Nabarro and national giant Wragge & Co. among those likely to keep a close eye on the review. The government body, which monitors public spending, is set to name new advisers in five key areas: constitutional law; property; public law; commercial law and finance; and employment.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

May 07, 2008 | Law.com

Watson Farley & Williams has opened a new office in Milan, the top 50 U.K. firm announced Tuesday. The new branch becomes Watson Farley's second office in the jurisdiction alongside an outpost in Rome, and will focus initially on clients in the energy, shipping, transport and telecommunications sectors. The Milan operation will be overseen by current Rome chief Eugenio Tranchino -- who joined the firm in 2002 from leading Italian independent firm Carnelutti -- and will be staffed by four associates.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

August 22, 2008 | Law.com

Ashurst has bolstered its securities team with the hire of Dechert's Islamic finance head Abradat Kamalpour. Kamalpour, who has been a partner at Dechert since 2006, will join Ashurst's London office. Ashurst Dubai managing partner Nick Bryans said that Kamalpour had joined the top 10 U.K. firm to help to build up its Islamic finance practice. Bryans said: "Prior to Abradat, we have not really had an Islamic finance group as such; but rather pockets of expertise -- for example in project financing."

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

March 12, 2009 | New York Law Journal

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

October 01, 2009 | Corporate Counsel

Law firms under pressure from banks for "cheap resource."

By Emma Sadowski

3 minute read

August 06, 2009 | Law.com

Greenberg Traurig Maher has brought on former White & Case partner Tim Jeveons, the firm's first lateral partner hire since it launched in London earlier this summer. Jeveons, who had switched to White & Case from Linklaters in 2003, will launch GTM's capital markets practice. He has worked with such financial institutions as Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch and Barclays, although it is not yet clear whether he will bring these relationships with him.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read