Legal Week

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Macfarlanes both saw profits per equity partner (PEP) drop by more than 30% during the last financial year. BLP's PEP fell by 33% during 2008-09, after the firm spent £10m opening new offices and bringing in senior laterals. The drop takes PEP down to £414,000 from £620,000, while turnover fell by 2.7% to £180m from £186m. Net profit at the firm fell by 23% to £57m.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Ex-Slaughter and May solicitor Jennie Rooney on how she wrote her first novel, 'Inside the Whale', during her training contract. Lots of people talk about doing things, but never actually do them, says Rooney. There's plenty of that at a law firm...

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Bevan Brittan has seen profits per equity partner (PEP) increase by 35%, the firm announced today (16 July). PEP for 2008-09 stood at £222,000 compared with £164,000 in 2007-08, with the increase coming against a marginal dip in turnover to £41.1m compared to £41.6m the previous year. Overall profits increased by 56% to £8.6m.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Barclays and Smith & Williamson assess the key financial issues for law firms facing a punishing market

By Legal Week

1 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

"I'm six months qualified, but have more than the usual amount of experience in my chosen area of law. I gained paralegal experience in the public sector, trained at a small firm and then joined an international firm as an NQ. I thought things were going really well - I'd been praised by clients and the partners in my department and had made all my targets. I was even going to extra seminars, helping out with CSR and networking.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Linklaters has moved to substantially bolster its German restructuring practice after recruiting Clifford Chance's (CC's) best-known local insolvency lawyer. Linklaters today (16 July) announced the appointment of Kolja von Bismarck, who will join the magic circle law firm's Frankfurt arm.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 16, 2009 | Legal Week

Linklaters has moved to substantially bolster its German restructuring practice after recruiting Clifford Chance's (CC's) best-known local insolvency lawyer. Linklaters today (16 July) announced the appointment of Kolja von Bismarck, who will join the magic circle law firm's Frankfurt arm.

By Legal Week

5 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Ashurst managing partner Simon Bromwich is coming to the end of his second term in office, with the firm's management board expected to reappoint him in the autumn. Bromwich's second term in office is due to end in January 2010, with a decision expected from the eight-member management board in either October or November.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Nationwide Building Society has completed its first-ever group-wide panel, with five City firms making its approved roster. Allen & Overy (A&O) is the only magic circle firm to have been appointed to the roster, joining Eversheds, Burges Salmon, Olswang and Nabarro on the panel.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Field Fisher Waterhouse has made its eighth lateral partner hire so far this year, with the City law firm set to boost its disputes practice. Commercial litigation partner Michael Mulligan will join the dispute resolution practice on 1 September from Halliwells, bringing with him a practice focused on contentious insolvency, asset recovery and fraud work.

By Legal Week

2 minute read