Georgina Stanley

February 28, 2013 | International Edition

In such established old boys' networks as the Bar and the judiciary, improving diversity – whether in terms of gender, race or class – was always going to be a challenge. Even so, the annual silk round and the Supreme Court judge appointments this week confirm just how much progress is still needed. At the Supreme Court, the promotion of three more white males to the bench means Lady Hale looks set to be the only female representative on the UK's highest court for another five years to come.

By Georgina Stanley

3 minute read

February 21, 2013 | Legal Week

For some time now, Asia – and Hong Kong in particular – has been seen as the land of hope and opportunity by international law firms. Its relative resilience against the worst of the downturn has meant firms have continued to plough money into the market, despite tightening purse strings elsewhere. But on the ground, as both our lead feature on life as an expat in Hong Kong and our front page story this week demonstrate, it's now a very different market to what it was a few years ago.

By Georgina Stanley

6 minute read

February 21, 2013 | International Edition

For some time now, Asia – and Hong Kong in particular – has been seen as the land of hope and opportunity by international law firms. Its relative resilience against the worst of the downturn has meant firms have continued to plough money into the market, despite tightening purse strings elsewhere. But on the ground, as both our lead feature on life as an expat in Hong Kong and our front page story this week demonstrate, it's now a very different market to what it was a few years ago.

By Georgina Stanley

3 minute read

February 14, 2013 | International Edition

Five quick-fire international mergers and three-and-a-half years are all it will have taken Norton Rose to transform its business from struggling UK mid-tier practice to global giant by the time its merger with Fulbright & Jaworski goes live this summer. Any way you look at it, the scale of what the firm has achieved is impressive, as our analysis this week illustrates. Even rivals – usually quick to criticise – readily concede that the mergers Norton Rose has pushed through are hard to knock.

By Georgina Stanley

3 minute read

February 14, 2013 | Legal Week

Five quick-fire international mergers and three-and-a-half years are all it will have taken Norton Rose to transform its business from struggling UK mid-tier practice to global giant by the time its merger with Fulbright & Jaworski goes live this summer. Any way you look at it, the scale of what the firm has achieved is impressive, as our analysis this week illustrates. Even rivals – usually quick to criticise – readily concede that the mergers Norton Rose has pushed through are hard to knock.

By Georgina Stanley

23 minute read

February 14, 2013 | International Edition

When Norton Rose's merger with US firm Fulbright & Jaworski goes live on 1 June, it will have completed its fifth tie-up in just three-and-a-half years. Given that even one merger is beyond the ability of many of the UK's leading players, the achievement cannot be underestimated. The unions mean that in just 42 months, Norton Rose will have transformed itself from an also-ran UK law firm with a smattering of international offices and turnover of £314m into a global giant operating in 55 locations around the world with revenues approaching £1.3bn.

By Georgina Stanley

28 minute read

February 07, 2013 | Legal Week

As Cobbetts this week looked to be taking its final steps towards obsolescence and a pre-pack deal with DWF, new research from Legal Week has found US firms' activities on this side of the pond moving in an entirely more positive direction. Casting aside the seemingly perpetual economic gloom, firms have turned their attention to London expansion, with our latest survey into the hiring trends of US players in the City demonstrating record levels of partner recruitment.

By Georgina Stanley

6 minute read

February 07, 2013 | International Edition

As Cobbetts this week looked to be taking its final steps towards obsolescence and a pre-pack deal with DWF, new research from Legal Week has found US firms' activities on this side of the pond moving in an entirely more positive direction. Casting aside the seemingly perpetual economic gloom, firms have turned their attention to London expansion, with our latest survey into the hiring trends of US players in the City demonstrating record levels of partner recruitment.

By Georgina Stanley

3 minute read

January 31, 2013 | International Edition

Looking at the headlines this week, it's hard to tell that UK law firms have held up pretty well over what has been a grim economic climate since 2008. While numerous big names have disappeared from our high streets and banks have slashed tens of thousands of staff around the world, by and large the UK's leading law firms have stuck it out. But as Legal Week went to press on Wednesday, news broke that one major UK firm looks set to disappear once and for all, with northwest stalwart Cobbetts informing staff that it was preparing to call in administrators.

By Georgina Stanley

3 minute read

January 31, 2013 | Legal Week

Looking at the headlines this week, it's hard to tell that UK law firms have held up pretty well over what has been a grim economic climate since 2008. While numerous big names have disappeared from our high streets and banks have slashed tens of thousands of staff around the world, by and large the UK's leading law firms have stuck it out. But as Legal Week went to press on Wednesday, news broke that one major UK firm looks set to disappear once and for all, with northwest stalwart Cobbetts informing staff that it was preparing to call in administrators.

By Georgina Stanley

10 minute read