Legal Week

June 18, 2009 | International Edition

In the run-up to the Legal Week Corporate Counsel Forum Europe – to be held in September – leading in-house counsel speaking at the event echo one mantra: out of every crisis comes opportunity.

By Legal Week

6 minute read

June 18, 2009 | International Edition

Pinsent Masons has won its first major mandate since launching a strategic alliance with Salans, with the law firm securing a role as sole adviser in a value billing pilot scheme for insurance giant Hiscox. The firm has been selected to take part in a 12-month pilot scheme that will see it take on all technology disputes work for Hiscox using alternative billing structures.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 18, 2009 | International Edition

How are businesses reacting to the downturn in economic activity? Will they be tempted to 'green-wash' through the recession, will they genuinely try to make sense of the 'green is good for business' argument, or will they simply not bother to do either?

By Legal Week

8 minute read

June 18, 2009 | International Edition

Norton Rose's litigation practice boosted revenues by 26% last year, with the firm now aiming to make one-fifth of its fee income from the group by 2012. The practice brought in £34.8m in turnover during 2008-09 – beating its budget target by 2% to increase revenues by 26%. In contrast, the firm's revenues as a whole grew by only 6% to £314m.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 18, 2009 | International Edition

Allen joined the top 40 firm's real estate group in London earlier this month (1 June) after four years at Olswang, including two as a partner. Before Olswang, he spent four years at Clifford Chance and five years at Norton Rose. Allen, who advises on property development, investment transactions, joint ventures and lettings, most recently advised REIT Asset Management on its £635m portfolio acquisition from the administrators of the Dawnay Day Group.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 18, 2009 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) is set to transfer parts of three back-office functions to its global shared services centre (GSSC) in India and bolster headcount in the country, with up to 100 positions set to go across its global network as a result. The outsourcing will see a number of jobs from its finance, information technology (IT) and research functions moving to the GSSC centre in New Delhi, following a wide-ranging review of its IT and support staff. Most of the job losses will be in London.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 18, 2009 | International Edition

Returning from the American Bar Association dispute resolution conference I was struck by how simple life seems here by comparison. It came as a shock to hear a mediator in her forties confide that she had done 3,200 mediations. I calculate that this means most days she mediates around eight disputes. That is not commercial mediation as we know it in the UK.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

June 18, 2009 | International Edition

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert former senior partner Richard Dedman is to leave the firm after nearly three decades as a partner. Dedman handed in his notice last month, with his departure coming after he stepped down as senior partner in May 2008 – just two years into his second five-year term – to return to fee earning.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 18, 2009 | International Edition

As City law firms cut jobs and freeze pay levels, the public sector has become an increasingly attractive option to lawyers. Part of the allure is, no doubt, the relative security offered by government employers. But that's not the whole story. City associates who are tired of handling repetitive tasks such as due diligence and document review have long looked enviously at the more challenging work carried out by their peers in government bodies such as the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Treasury Solicitor's Office, but shied away from moving because of the carrot of law firm partnership and higher salaries. However, with uncertainty about future employment prospects – let alone partnership prospects – rife, increasing numbers have begun to consider a move into public service roles.

By Legal Week

17 minute read

June 18, 2009 | International Edition

ITV is calling on its legal panel firms to supply a range of new training and pro bono initiatives. The broadcaster is launching its ITV legal excellence and responsibility programme next month, which will see it team up with panel firms for a series of training initiatives, including secondments.

By Legal Week

2 minute read