Legal Week

June 15, 2009 | International Edition

Commercial litigation specialist firm Kennedys looks set to have propelled itself into the UK's top 50 law firms, posting a 30% increase in revenue for 2008-09. The firm's revenue reached £67.3m during the last financial year compared to the previous year's total of £51.5m. Meanwhile, profits per equity partner increased by almost 17% to £350,000, from a mark of £300,000 in 2007-08. The vast chunk of the firm's revenue came from the firm's litigation practice, which accounted for £58.3m of total revenue. London made up £53.2m of turnover, while Asia contributed £13.4m.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 15, 2009 | International Edition

MTV Networks International has appointed Roger James as senior vice president, general counsel for the international business including the UK and Ireland. James moves up from his post as vice president of business and legal affairs for MTV Networks UK, Ireland and International to replace Sofia Ioannu, who was recently named as managing director of MTV Networks Latin America.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 15, 2009 | International Edition

Herbert Smith is set to kick off a leadership election in November as David Gold's term as senior partner comes to an end. Gold's five -year management stint is set to draw to a close at the end of April 2010 and it is thought unlikely that he will stand again, although he has yet to give any formal indication.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 15, 2009 | International Edition

Stephenson Harwood has held firm against the recession, posting flat turnover of £85.1m for the 2008-09 financial year. Profits per equity partner (PEP) dipped marginally by 1.6% to £610,000 from £620,000. Over the last five years the firm's PEP has grown from £280,000 to £610,000, representing a 54% increase over the period.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 15, 2009 | International Edition

US firm Greenberg Traurig is to launch in London with the hire of former Mayer Brown heavyweight Paul Maher. Maher is joining the Miami firm with two other Mayer Brown partners - corporate partner Fiona Adams and former European environment head Cate Sharp. He joins the firm as chairman of a separate UK limited liability practice to be called Greenberg Traurig Maher, and will also co-chair the US firm's global M&A practice.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 15, 2009 | International Edition

Appleby has become the first global offshore firm to launch an office on the Isle of Man with a merger with local firm Dickinson Cruickshank. The tie-up, set to go live on 1 October, will gift Appleby an additional 38 lawyers, including 11 partners, taking its total partnership to 73 across its nine offices.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 15, 2009 | International Edition

"I qualified a few months ago as a solicitor at a top 20 City firm, and am currently awaiting to hear if the firm I trained at will take me on as an NQ. Although I had great appraisals in all my seats, I may not get taken on due to the the reduced numbers the firm will take on as NQs this year. "In the long term, I see myself at a large City practice similar to the one I have trained at, but having spent the last few months looking, I have found NQ positions at such firms few and far between due to recruitment freezes. "Should I hold out until a vacancy at such a firm comes along and do something else in my time off, or should I take an NQ position at a smaller West End firm - or would this reduce my chances of making it at a City firm in the future?"

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 14, 2009 | International Edition

I grew up in Russia, but I never really thought of it as a disadvantage until someone asked me the question: "Did you ever get the feeling that your inability to secure pupillage may be influenced by the fact that you're foreign?"

By Legal Week

4 minute read

June 12, 2009 | International Edition

I grew up in Russia, but I never really thought of it as a disadvantage until someone asked me a question: "Did you ever get the feeling that your inability to secure pupillage may be influenced by the fact that you're foreign?"

By Legal Week

4 minute read

June 12, 2009 | International Edition

Norton Rose has become the latest top 10 City firm to unveil its financial results for 2008-09, reporting an increase in fee income but a double-digit fall in profits per equity partner (PEP). The firm's revenues climbed by 6% to £314m compared with the previous year's figure of £297m. However, despite the growth in turnover, PEP fell by 17% down to £517,000 from last year's figure of £625,000. During the previous financial year Norton Rose saw turnover increase by 27.5%, with PEP growing by 22%.

By Legal Week

2 minute read