Legal Week

July 06, 2009 | International Edition

During the heady months of early summer, when the majority of the population are planning holidays, bemoaning the heat and getting worked up about tennis, wannabe barristers are in search of something that can seem even more elusive than a British Wimbledon champion - a pupillage.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

July 06, 2009 | International Edition

Bingham McCutchen is to acquire McKee Nelson , with the two firms to merge from the start of next month, writes The American Lawyer. Partners at both firms were told of the merger this morning (6 July), with the combined firm, which will be called Bingham McCutchen, to take on all of McKee Nelson's lawyers.

By Legal Week

3 minute read

July 03, 2009 | International Edition

Opinion-formers in legal IT discuss the key issues for a rapidly-changing market.

By Legal Week

1 minute read

July 03, 2009 | International Edition

Charles Russell has joined the ranks of firms reporting a drop in profits per equity partner (PEP) of more than 30%. The UK top 50 firm has reported a plunge of 36%, with PEP falling to £235,000 in 2008-09, down from £368,000 the previous year. The firm initially reported a PEP figure of £419,000 for 2007-08; however, this figure reduced as a result of accounting adjustments. The fall in PEP came against a slight dip in turnover to £69.5m, down 3.2% from the £71.8m figure the firm billed in 2007-08.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 03, 2009 | International Edition

Hill Dickinson grew revenue by 12% over the last financial year to reach a new high of £82m, while average profits per equity partner (PEP) dropped by 6%. The firm brought in turnover of £82m during 2008-09, compared with £73m the previous year. The increase went against a 6% dip in PEP to £294,000, down from £312,000 in 2007-08.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 03, 2009 | International Edition

As an undergraduate at St Andrews University – which doesn't have a law faculty – it can be intimidating slogging it out for training contracts and pupillages with law students from English universities. But, as I've found out, you're not really at a disadvantage, provided that you go out and get some work experience.

By Legal Week

3 minute read

July 03, 2009 | International Edition

The winners of the recent ESU-Essex Court Competition on unimpressed judges, appearing in the Royal Courts of Justice and why mooting showed them they wanted to be lawyers.

By Legal Week

6 minute read

July 03, 2009 | International Edition

Linklaters has become the largest firm in the UK by revenue, edging marginally ahead of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The magic circle firm reported virtually static turnover of £1.298bn for 2008-09 compared with £1.293bn last year. The figure puts it just ahead of Freshfields, which yesterday announced revenues of £1.287bn.

By Legal Week

3 minute read

July 02, 2009 | International Edition

With financial results from CC, Freshfields and Linklaters coming out pretty much as expected, I haven't currently got much to add. You can feel the tectonic plates of the industry and its hierarchy shifting, but that has been evident since late 2008. However, there is one aspect that stands out from talking to City firms, and that is the extent to which the concept of scale has become almost a bogeyman for top law firms. In particular, there is much discussion from Linklaters and Freshfields about how no one cares about size anymore. What else could explain both firms making so little of ending CC's long reign as the UK's largest law firm in revenue terms?

By Legal Week

3 minute read

July 02, 2009 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has posted a 9% increase in revenues for 2008-09, taking it ahead of magic circle rival Clifford Chance (CC) by turnover. The firm's revenues for 2008-09 stood at £1.287bn, up from £1.178 in 2007-08, with the turnover figure pushing it ahead of CC by fee income.

By Legal Week

3 minute read