Legal Week

July 15, 2009 | International Edition

Mayer Brown partner Joseph Collins has been found guilty of conspiracy and four other charges in connection with a massive fraud at now-bankrupt Refco, writes the New York Law Journal. Collins, who testified that he was kept in the dark about more than $2.4bn (£1.5bn) in debt hidden by officials at the financial services firm, bowed his head as the jury foreman gave the verdict to Southern District of New York Judge Robert Patterson on 10 July.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 15, 2009 | International Edition

Interpreting law firm results is more challenging this year than it has ever been. There are a number of reasons for this, including the increasing complexity of law firms both in terms of the variety of work they perform and their international footprints; the significant exchange rate fluctuations; and the fact that fewer results have been published as many firms have been less keen to publicise their figures than in previous years.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

July 15, 2009 | International Edition

Nabarro has reported a 9.7% drop in revenue for the 2008-09 financial year while profits per equity partner (PEP) have fallen by 35%. Unaudited figures from the firm show that revenue for the last financial year stood at £126.5m, down from last year's equivalent figure of £140.1m. PEP fell to £375,000, down from last year's equivalent figure of £574,000.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 15, 2009 | International Edition

Ashurst has seen profits per equity partner (PEP) drop by more than a third during 2008-09. The top 10 City law firm has reported PEP of £673,000 for the last financial year, a 35% fall on the equivalent 2007-08 figure of £1.04m.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 15, 2009 | Legal Week

Ashurst has seen profits per equity partner (PEP) drop by more than a third during 2008-09. The top 10 City law firm has reported PEP of £673,000 for the last financial year, a 35% fall on the equivalent 2007-08 figure of £1.04m.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

July 15, 2009 | International Edition

Ask a group of 20 English law students to vote on the most controversial judge in history and the winner, invariably and overwhelmingly, is Lord Denning. But ask those same students to name the most controversial living judge, and their answer is far from unanimous. My nomination would go to Lord Hoffmann, who retired earlier this year aged 74. Lord Hoffmann's rise to the House of Lords was meteoric. He was appointed as a law lord a mere ten years after he first sat as a judge in the High Court, some three years faster than Lord Denning. As a law lord, he became embroiled in controversy for his part in the extradition proceedings of General Pinochet.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

July 14, 2009 | International Edition

Baker & McKenzie has promoted only one lawyer to its London partnership, compared with six in last year's promotion round.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 14, 2009 | International Edition

Nationwide Building Society has completed its first ever UK panel, with five firms making the grade. 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 14, 2009 | International Edition

Lovells has bolstered its Italian capital markets practice with the addition of a two-partner team from Simmons & Simmons. Corrado Fiscale and Federico Del Monte, who both specialise in structured finance and securitisation work, will join Lovells in Milan along with two associates and will co-head the firm's Italian capital markets practice.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 14, 2009 | International Edition

Linklaters and Slaughter and May have landed key roles advising on potential merger talks between insurers Friends Provident and Resolution. Linklaters has stepped in to advise long-standing client Friends Provident on the talks, with corporate partner Owen Clay taking the lead role for the firm.

By Legal Week

2 minute read