Simon Petersen

May 31, 2011 | International Edition

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is investigating a former Addleshaw Goddard partner who allegedly made false expenses claims. Commercial real estate partner Mark Gilbert left Addleshaws at the end of the financial year after an internal investigation discovered discrepancies relating to expenses and disbursements.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

May 25, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper's former global co-head of litigation Neil Gerrard has become embroiled in a dispute with his former firm over the terms of his departure to Dechert, it has emerged. Gerrard, who handed in his notice in late March, has been served notice of arbitration by DLA over the dispute, which centres on his departure date and whether he should have had to serve a period of gardening leave.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

May 25, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds has cut 75 jobs across its Birmingham, Cardiff and Leeds offices as a result of a back-office outsourcing agreement with Accenture it announced in August last year. The outsourcing, which has seen more than 350 of Eversheds' financial support processes taken on by Accenture in Bangalore since the deal was agreed, is due to be completed by September, with the firm predicting no further redundancies.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

May 25, 2011 | International Edition

Osborne Clarke (OC) has appointed a new head of financial regulation with the hire of Addleshaw Goddard legal director David Blair. Blair, who left Addleshaws in April, took up the new role in OC's financial services team this month. He will support financial services sector group head Paul Anning in developing the firm's non-contentious regulatory offering.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

May 25, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds has merged with Middle Eastern law consortium KSLG, handing the firm new bases in Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. The consortium, which comprises Dhabaan & Partners, Khasawneh & Associates and Sanad Law Group, has offices in Amman, Baghdad, Riyadh and Dubai. The merger, which went live today (25 May), follows a six-year working relationship between Eversheds and KSLG.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

May 24, 2011 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard is set to cut up to 40 jobs across its business services function, with the redundancies coming against a backdrop of falling revenue and profits and an overhaul of its management and operational structure. The national firm has launched a 30-day consultation with all those at risk of redundancy in its business services division. The consultation is expected to lead to up to 40 job losses. No fee earners will be affected by the cuts.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read

May 23, 2011 | International Edition

Osborne Clarke has taken a role alongside a number of US firms on Motorola's $975m (£600m) sale of assets to Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). The deal, which was announced in July 2010 and completed on 30 April 2011, sees NSN take responsibility for supporting 50 of the mobile phone giant's network operators across 52 countries, as well as approximately 6,900 employees.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

May 20, 2011 | International Edition

Shearman & Sterling has announced salary hikes for its English-qualified lawyers, increasing pay levels in the firm's three-tier merit-based system by as much as 15%. The salary increases, which took effect from 1 May, will see the basic pay level for junior associates - those with up to three-and-a-half post-qualification experience (PQE) - rise 7% from £73,000 to £78,000, with the maximum amount junior associates can be paid rising 14% from £95,000 to £108,000.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

May 18, 2011 | International Edition

Bonelli has made up six lawyers to the firm's equity. The promotions, which are effective retroactively from 1 January, see two partners join the equity in the tax practice – Andrea Manzitti and Riccardo Ubaldini – with litigation and public law gaining one apiece, in the shape of Angelo Bonetta and Domenico Ielo. Meanwhile, Stefano Micheli and Giuseppe Rumi have been made up to the equity in the corporate and banking practices respectively.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

May 18, 2011 | International Edition

Stephenson Harwood and Irwin Mitchell have announced their new partner promotions, with the firms making up 11 lawyers to partner and one non-lawyer to a partner-equivalent role between them. Stephenson Harwood has added four lawyers to its partnership, of which three are in the firm's Asian offices. Simon Moore and Daryll Ng join the marine and international trade practice in London and Singapore respectively, Ivan Tan joins the Hong Kong corporate practice and Hongkai Zhou the Hong Kong finance practice.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read