Legal Week

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

DLA Piper International has appointed a new senior partner, with litigation partner Janet Legrand set to replace Peter Wayte in the role. Legrand, who joined DLA Piper in 1991 as a partner, will take up the new post on 1 July, with Wayte set to retire after 37 years with the firm.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Baker & McKenzie is set to expand its London banking practice with the hire of Allen & Overy (A&O) partner Calvin Walker. Walker, who specialises in project and structured finance, will join Bakers in September after 11 years as a partner with the magic circle law firm.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Mishcon de Reya has merged its corporate & commercial and employment practices and, in an unusual move, installed former litigation head James Libson to lead the newly-combined group. The shift gives the combined corporate and employment group 18 partners and 38 other fee earners, of which five partners and around 14 other fee earners come from employment.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Crowell & Moring has bolstered its London arm with the hire of Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll's former European managing partner Rob Murray. Murray joined the firm's antitrust litigation practice last month after leaving Cohen Milstein in February, when the office rebranded as Hausfeld.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

CMS Cameron McKenna has completed its redundancy consultation, laying off 73 London staff earlier this month (8 June). The cuts come as the firm prepares to implement its flexible working scheme in the City from the beginning of next month, after 96% of staff opted into the programme.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Schering-Plough has added five international firms to its roster of external legal advisers. Allen & Overy (A&O), Lovells, Eversheds, DLA Piper and Baker & McKenzie, have joined the pharmaceutical giant's legal panel.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Eversheds is planning to form an integrated management board with its alliance network within the next three years. The firm hopes to tighten links with its Eversheds International alliance firms as part of the three-year strategy being drawn up by new chief executive Bryan Hughes.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Those still nursing delusions that senior City lawyers are a charitable bunch would have been swiftly disabused of that notion had they this week discussed the merits of Norton Rose's surprise tie-up with Australia's Deacons. The response can be summed up as a double helping of negative with a large side-order of snide. I'm not sure that's fair. The move, which is the largest international union for years, is definitely a little off the beaten track – but then the road less travelled often turns out to be the most rewarding.

By Legal Week

3 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Bird & Bird has secured an innovative debenture agreement with Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to provide flexible credit. The unusual agreement, signed on 6 May in the wake of the City firm's conversion to a limited liability partnership (LLP) last year, gives the bank security over the firm's assets.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Norton Rose and Australian firm Deacons will operate two separate profit centres when the pair merge in January next year. The firms will integrate practice lines and systems including IT, finance and HR; however, partner remuneration will remain independent.

By Legal Week

5 minute read