Jeremy Hodges

April 07, 2010 | International Edition

Microsoft has signed a new deal with Integreon that will see the legal process outsourcing (LPO) company carry out further legal support services for the software giant. The new agreement, which confirms Integreon as Microsoft's exclusive provider of offshore managed document review, will see the a team of lawyers in India provide contract review and offshore document review for Microsoft.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

April 07, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer joint senior partner Konstantin Mettenheimer is to stand down from the post when his term comes to an end later this year. Mettenheimer will now return to full-time fee earning in the magic circle firm's corporate practice out of Frankfurt, after spending 10 years in various management roles, including six as senior partner.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

April 06, 2010 | International Edition

Reed Smith has taken steps to bolster its restructuring and insolvency practice in London with the hire of a partner from McDermott Will & Emery. Georgia Quenby joined Reed Smith on 1 April, becoming the fifth partner in the US firm's City restructuring and insolvency team.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

March 31, 2010 | International Edition

Baker & McKenzie spent over £3m restructuring its London office last year after making 70 employees redundant. The firm, which laid off 21 fee earners, 21 business support staff and 28 secretaries in its London office in May last year, paid out £3.1m in redundancy costs over the 2008-09 financial year, according to the latest limited liability partnership filings at Companies House.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

March 31, 2010 | International Edition

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has abandoned plans to relax its conflict of interests rules following a lack of support from the in-house legal community. Following a consultation on rules three and four of the Solicitors' Code of Conduct, which closed in February, the SRA last week decided not to make changes that would have allowed firms to act for multiple 'sophisticated clients' in related matters with client consent after a number of responses raised concerns.

By Jeremy Hodges

3 minute read

March 31, 2010 | International Edition

Linklaters will this year move its associates through its annual pay bands as normal in a move that looks set to end the effective pay freeze seen at many UK firms in 2009. The announcement makes Linklaters the second magic circle practice to confirm its stance on associate salaries in 2010 and means that a one-year post-qualified experience (PQE) lawyer will earn £68,000 from May, against £61,500 for newly-qualifieds.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

March 30, 2010 | International Edition

Dechert is set to boost its UK corporate and securities practice with the hire of Jonathan Angell from Ashurst. Angell will join the US law firm's London arm next week, having been a partner at Ashurst since 2001.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

March 30, 2010 | International Edition

Lovells is set to shut down its Chicago office by the end of October following a strategic and financial review of its business. The office, which has seven partners and 15 fee earners, has been under review since before the firm's merger talks with Hogan & Hartson began.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

March 30, 2010 | International Edition

Ashurst will for the first time take on trainees direct from India from September 2011. The top 10 law firm has been actively targeting both Indian and Chinese universities for prospective trainees over the last year, with the first wave of new recruits set to hit the firm next year.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

March 30, 2010 | International Edition

Kirkland & Ellis restructuring partner Paul Atherton has backed out of a move to Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) and is set to continue at Kirkland's London arm. Last week (25 March) the ambitious City start-up announced Atherton was set to join its team alongside fellow Kirkland restructuring partner Jason Salman. However, Atherton has subsequently decided to stay at the firm after considering his options. Salman is still set to make the move across the City.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read