Legal Week

June 24, 2009 | International Edition

Manches has signed up intellectual property (IP) and litigation partner Margaret Tofalides from Addleshaw Goddard. Tofalides, who headed up Addleshaws' retail and data and information groups, has experience of working on a wide range of IP matters with a focus on litigation. She has acted for the likes of Argos, Homebase and Harrods.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 24, 2009 | International Edition

Ince & Co has joined a handful of firms in defying the downturn to announce strong growth in revenues. The top 50 firm saw turnover for 2008-09 grow by 23.5% to hit £79.4m, up from £64.3m last year. In contrast, revenues during 2007-08 increased by 14.5% on the previous year. The firm's London office brought in the bulk of the fee income, breaking through the £50m barrier. Asia and Europe brought in £14.9m and £11.7m respectively.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 24, 2009 | International Edition

US law firm leaders feel the economy is stabilising and could even improve over the next six months, according to new research. The survey by consultants Hildebrandt International found that two-thirds of managing partners or chairmen at major US firms believe the economy is the same or better than six months ago.

By Legal Week

3 minute read

June 24, 2009 | International Edition

Denton Wilde Sapte has been appointed to advise administrator Deloitte on the collapse of sports broadcaster Setanta. The City firm is fielding a team led by head of restructuring and insolvency Mark Andrews and fellow partner Nigel Barnett, working alongside corporate partner Jeremy Cohen and a team of associates.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 24, 2009 | Legal Week

Denton Wilde Sapte has been appointed to advise administrator Deloitte on the collapse of sports broadcaster Setanta. The City firm is fielding a team led by head of restructuring and insolvency Mark Andrews and fellow partner Nigel Barnett, working alongside corporate partner Jeremy Cohen and a team of associates.

By Legal Week

19 minute read

June 23, 2009 | International Edition

Birmingham-based chambers St Philips has appointed Chris Owen as its new CEO, replacing Mike Kimmons. Owen, who will join the chambers in September, has been a CEO at a commercial chancery chambers in London and a consultant to a number of leading sets for the last eight years, prior to which he was a senior clerk at 7 Bedford Row.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 23, 2009 | International Edition

Partnership for Schools (PfS), the delivery body for the Government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative, has unveiled the firms on its new legal panel. Seventeen law firms feature on the roster. They are: Addleshaw Goddard, Beachcroft, Bevan Brittan, Burges Salmon, Dickinson Dees, DLA Piper, Eversheds, Mills & Reeve, Nabarro, Norton Rose, Pinsent Masons, Sharpe Pritchard, TPP Law, Trowers & Hamlins, Walker Morris, Ward Hadaway and Wragge & Co.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 23, 2009 | International Edition

Charles Plant has been appointed as the new chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) board. Plant, a former partner at Herbert Smith (where he is currently a consultant), will take up the new role on 1 January, 2010. He will replace current chair Peter Williamson, who announced in May that he had decided not to reapply for the post.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 23, 2009 | International Edition

Norton Rose has taken a dramatic step to reposition itself in the wider Asian region after securing a merger with Australian firm Deacons. The top 10 City law firm's partnership voted on the move last night (22 June) and Deacons will become part of Norton Rose Group on 1 January, 2010.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

June 23, 2009 | International Edition

Amid continued uncertainty over the long-term viability of the global law firm business model - and suggestions that law schools need to reconsider the way they deliver legal education in response to the market - the York branch of the College of Law held its 20th anniversary celebrations last week. Speakers included the College CEO Nigel Savage and Law Society Vice President Robert Heslett; both of whom reflected on the likely long-term impact of the recession on the future of legal education.

By Legal Week

3 minute read