Mark Goddard

June 08, 2009 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) is gearing up to relocate London banking partner Chris Wyman to Mumbai in a bid to tighten its links with Indian alliance firm AZB & Partners. Wyman will be seconded to the firm's Indian best friend for an unconfirmed period of time in an effort to strengthen the relationship between the two firms.

By Mark Goddard

2 minute read

June 08, 2009 | International Edition

Several major investment banks have raised in-house legal salaries to offset falls in the amounts of bonuses being paid out. Research by recruitment agency Sheffield Haworth reveals that UBS, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have all increased wages for their internal legal personnel, with the bulk of the rises occurring at more senior levels.

By Mark Goddard

2 minute read

June 08, 2009 | International Edition

Burges Salmon has overhauled its management structure, splitting its partnership committee in two. The regional heavyweight has divided its main management group, creating a smaller partnership committee, which will concentrate on long-term strategic issues, while department heads will now sit in a separate group focusing on operational short-term objectives, rather than sitting on the partnership committee.

By Mark Goddard

2 minute read

June 08, 2009 | International Edition

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is to keep on all six of its September 2009 qualifying trainees in the City while Shearman & Sterling has offered jobs to nearly two thirds of its qualifiers. Cleary has continued its record of retaining every qualifying trainee since it introduced its trainee programme in the City in 1997. One trainee will focus on tax while the remainder will keep a broader corporate practice.

By Mark Goddard

2 minute read

June 08, 2009 | International Edition

"Earlier this year I was made redundant from my role as a mid-level corporate lawyer at a US law firm, before which I spent a couple of years at a magic circle firm. I have good academics and my performance reviews have always been good, but I am finding it impossible to find a new role at any firm (both small West End firms and large UK firms). "I've thought about studying, but don't think that I can finance this. My attempts to find non-legal temporary admin roles have been futile so far. I have played out the scenarios and am torn between chasing what few roles there are out there in the hope that I can beat the competition, or starting again, which I really don't want to do as I did enjoy my job as a corporate lawyer.

By Mark Goddard

2 minute read

June 08, 2009 | International Edition

Squire Sanders & Dempsey has held merger discussions with Denton Wilde Sapte, it has emerged, as the top 100 US law firm continues its search for a transatlantic tie-up. The two firms have held discussions regarding a merger at management level with expectations a deal could be put together this autumn if the talks proceed well. The proposed union has not yet been generally discussed at partner level within Dentons, as the talks are at relatively early stages. Dentons has been looking to broaden its coverage in emerging markets while Squire Sanders is looking to widen its UK and European capabilities.

By Mark Goddard

3 minute read

June 08, 2009 | International Edition

Herbert Smith has announced its revenues for 2008-09, with the top 10 City firm reporting a 5% increase in turnover. The growth takes revenue to £444m, up from £421.8m last year. However, the firm estimates that profits per equity partner (PEP) could be down by as much as 22%. It is still in the process of finalising its PEP figure, however, it says the figure will have fallen by between 12% and 22% from last year's figure of £1.02m.

By Mark Goddard

2 minute read

June 05, 2009 | International Edition

SJ Berwin has expanded its German corporate practice with the hire of a capital markets partner from Clifford Chance (CC). Dietmar Anders joined SJ Berwin's Frankfurt arm earlier this week (1 June). The hire comes a month after the top 20 UK law firm saw the departure of local corporate head Michael Roos, who left to set up his own practice.

By Mark Goddard

2 minute read

June 05, 2009 | International Edition

Linklaters, Slaughter and May and Herbert Smith have all advised on Rio Tinto's $15.2bn (£9.5bn) rights issue and joint venture with one-time merger partner BHP Billiton. The roles come in the wake of this week's collapse of Rio's $19.5bn (£12.1bn) deal with Chinese resource giant Chinalco, with Rio opting against a tie-up after shareholder concerns that the deal was not in the best interests of the mining company.

By Mark Goddard

2 minute read

June 05, 2009 | International Edition

Baker & McKenzie and Norton Rose have won places on ING's global legal roster after the Dutch financial group completed a review of its key advisers. The review - the group's first since 2003 - was kicked off earlier this year by general counsel Jan Willem Vink.

By Mark Goddard

2 minute read