James Boxell

March 11, 2014 | International Edition

Oliver Campbell's education and training may explain his unusual career path. The grandly titled global head of business transformation at Clifford Chance (CC) is a qualified doctor who spent one day a week working in A&E while studying for his legal qualifications. His aim was to become a medical lawyer, but after a few years working as a CC associate he decided instead to devote himself to knocking his own organisation into shape by leading its ground-breaking programme of 'continuous process improvement'. While the unglamorous name of the project carries echoes of the dead hand of the management consultant, it is in fact a fairly radical attempt to force people to work far more efficiently in the notoriously ego-driven and individualistic culture of a law firm partnership. 'Permanent revolution' would be a livelier way to describe what is being attempted, but would probably frighten the partners.

By James Boxell

11 minute read

March 06, 2014 | International Edition

Litigators are seeing even once resilient big-ticket fees come under pressure from the boardroom as companies look for ways to slash their legal bills...

By James Boxell

16 minute read

January 22, 2014 | International Edition

Troubles in Canada's energy industry have taken the shine off its economy, but this has done little to deter the host of international outfits eager to tap into the market. With firms such as Dentons and Norton Rose Fulbright already active there, James Boxell asks what attracted them to the country, and whether their 'one-stop shops' can take on the dominant seven sisters

By James Boxell

12 minute read

January 16, 2014 | International Edition

As someone whose mother is a teaching assistant and whose father is "basically AWOL", Georgia Stores is a good person to ask about what is more likely to stop her becoming a high-flying corporate lawyer: being working class or being female. After a pause to consider her answer, this bright and personable sixth former at the Highbury Grove state school in north London says: "Class is a bigger barrier than being a woman. I think there has been progress on women, but the biggest barrier for someone like me is expectation." Stores is responding to questions after presenting to a group of fellow pupils and a lawyer at DLA Piper's City headquarters – part of a week-long programme of activities organised by the firm for the PRIME diversity initiative.

By James Boxell

9 minute read

November 14, 2013 | International Edition

To hear David Stone describe the London office of Simmons & Simmons, he could easily be talking about the nearby Whitechapel Gallery or the Tate Modern across the Thames. "Clients arriving in the building are immediately confronted with the collection," says Stone, a partner in the firm's intellectual property practice, making reference to a huge paper art work of a black road stretching to the horizon flanked by towers of stereo speakers. "Then as you walk to a meeting room, you pass works by Chris Ofili, Rachel Whiteread, Gary Hume, and Jake and Dinos Chapman."

By James Boxell

9 minute read

September 16, 2013 | International Edition

Baker & McKenzie has advised on the sale of premium Australia tea retailer T2 to Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever.

By James Boxell

2 minute read

September 16, 2013 | International Edition

Nick Olley, partner at Burges Salmon in Bristol, will take over as general counsel of the Department for Transport (Dft), where he will be in charge of a team of 80 lawyers. Olley is currently chair of the firm's well-regarded transport sector group and for five years previously was head of the 50-strong commercial department. Burges Salmon partner Brioney Thomas, a highly-rated rail sector specialist will succeed Olley.

By James Boxell

2 minute read

August 01, 2013 | International Edition

""In the past five years, we've invested a lot in people from the very best firms. They have been getting up to speed and now we are competing for higher-quality work than we used to – part of the reason we found last year challenging..."

By James Boxell

5 minute read

August 01, 2013 | International Edition

The top 30 law firms made up fewer partners this year, while there was a worrying dip in the number of women promoted at the magic circle. James Boxell, Anna Reynolds and Alex Newman spoke to new partners to seek their advice for frustrated associates, both female and male...

By James Boxell

9 minute read