Emma Sadowski

August 07, 2008 | International Edition

Fears that Taylor Wessing's UK arm was planning to tap outside investment under the Legal Services Act (LSA) prompted the firm's French arm to enter breakaway merger talks with US practice Nixon Peabody, it has emerged. Taylor Wessing managing partner Michael Frawley today (6 August) said that the belief that its UK partnership was intent on using the LSA to gain outside capital led to its Paris office entering the merger talks, which are now at the heart of a high-stakes legal battle.

By Emma Sadowski

3 minute read

June 16, 2008 | National Law Journal

Clifford Chance global arbitration chief John Beechey has been appointed chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris. Beechey, who has been a partner at Clifford Chance since 1983, will become chairman in January 2009, when he will officially retire from the firm's partnership. The appointment was made in Stockholm on Friday by the ICC World Council.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

December 08, 2008 | Law.com

Clifford Chance has become the latest firm to cut back bonuses for U.S. associates, with the announcement that it is to halve its year-end payouts. The U.S. arm of the Magic Circle firm will award bonuses ranging from a prorated $17,500 for first-year associates to $32,500 for eighth-year associates -- a significant decrease from last year, when the firm awarded bonuses ranging from $35,000 to $65,000.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

April 08, 2009 | National Law Journal

Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy have delayed their 2009 partner promotions, the only large London firms to make such a move so far. Clifford Chance is pushing back this year's promotions process until it completes its restructuring, which is likely to cut the firm's partnership by between 10 percent and 15 percent. Allen & Overy is thought to be delaying its partner promotions process until at least the start of May, when the firm expects to have completed its own global restructuring.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

January 20, 2009 | Law.com

Denton Wilde Sapte has joined the ranks of London firms launching layoff consultations, with up to 80 jobs at risk across the firm's London and Milton Keynes, U.K., offices. The firm said that up to 40 fee earners could be laid off, with the remainder coming from other parts of the firm. Although it is unclear which areas will be affected by the cuts, the firm says tax, competition, technology, media and telecoms, marketing, facilities and accounts will not be affected.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

February 13, 2009 | National Law Journal

Clifford Chance is talking with associates about undergoing voluntary redundancies, according to lawyers at the firm, which has refused to comment on the matter. The redundancy consultation comes on the heels of last week's announcement by Clifford Chance that the firm had launched a partnership review that is expected to lead to a number of departures.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

May 30, 2008 | National Law Journal

Clifford Chance has become the first Magic Circle firm to post its financial results for the 2007-2008 financial year, with the firm seeing an 11 percent hike in revenue. Profits per equity partner increased by a similar amount, jumping by 13 percent. The firm said it saw particularly strong growth in Asia, the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

May 08, 2008 | National Law Journal

Clifford Chance has announced pay-raises of just over 4 percent for its junior lawyers in London, bringing the U.K. giant broadly into line with Magic Circle rivals Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

March 03, 2008 | Law.com

White & Case has expanded its eastern European network after launching a new office in Bucharest. The U.S. giant opened the new branch with about 10 lawyers, including two partners, on Thursday. It will initially focus on areas including real estate and corporate and will be led by former Linklaters corporate partner Todd Shollenbarger, who joined White & Case at the end of last year after a spell with a private equity house.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

May 12, 2008 | National Law Journal

Allen & Overy has frozen its associate salaries for 2008 — becoming the first Magic Circle firm to hold back from handing pay-raises to its junior lawyers. The news comes after rival Clifford Chance announced on Thursday raises of around 4% for its junior lawyers.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read