Sofia Lind

March 29, 2012 | International Edition

SNR Denton is set to report significant growth in UK profitability after a year of pushing billing and cutting costs, according to its global chief executive Elliott Portnoy. The firm, which last year saw EMEA profits per equity partner (PEP) dip by 36% to £232,000, has since embarked on a major drive to boost profitability in the UK.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 29, 2012 | International Edition

Greater rigour or streamlined efficiency? Confusion about the real purpose of the looming merger of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Competition Commission (CC) perhaps explains the ambivalent reaction to the proposals announced on 15 March. Because, as competition advisers have argued since the Government floated the idea of unifying the antitrust agencies last October, those aims can easily come into conflict.

By Sofia Lind

6 minute read

March 29, 2012 | International Edition

Holman Fenwick Willan is set to make three internal partner promotions this year across its aviation, insurance and logistics sector focus groups. The promotions, effective from 1 April, will see two partners made up in the firm's London headquarters with the other based in Dubai.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 29, 2012 | International Edition

The Co-operative is set to offer legal services in all of its UK bank branches after being granted its alternative business structure (ABS) licence yesterday (28 March). The Co-op's legal arm, Co-operative Legal Services (CLS), has since last year been piloting a scheme to provide legal services in 30 bank branches, offering advice on wills, estate planning, probate and bereavement and funeral plans, and will now roll it out across the UK.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 26, 2012 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Singapore leader Allen & Gledhill have called off discussions about a potential tie-up between the two firms. The firms announced that they are no longer in talks earlier this afternoon (26 March), with a spokesperson stating discussions had ended because they could not reach an agreement that was satisfactory to both parties.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

March 26, 2012 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has taken the lead role as Permira prepares to sell off its frozen foods business Iglo Group for as much as €3bn (£2.5bn). CC is advising the private equity house, which has appointed Credit Suisse to handle an auction sale of the company. Global corporate head Matthew Layton is believed to be leading the team at the magic circle firm. Iglo, Europe's largest frozen foods business, owns household name brands including Birds Eye and Findus.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 23, 2012 | International Edition

Stephenson Harwood has elected a new senior partner, with City commercial litigator Roland Foord replacing Andrew Sutch after ten years in the role. Foord's first five-year term will begin on 1 May, while Sutch will return to full-time fee-earning as corporate partner. Foord, who qualified at Stephenson Harwood in 1985 and made partner in 1989, has served on the firm's partnership council and also its partner review panel.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 23, 2012 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) is set to make cuts in its London finance and capital markets practices, with up to 13 associates at risk of losing their jobs at the magic circle firm. The redundancies are being handled through individual consultations, which are expected to close in around two weeks' time.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

March 22, 2012 | International Edition

Bird & Bird has added four new partners in Asia as the firm sets out ambitious plans to expand its presence in the region. The firm has set a target for Asia to account for one fifth of total revenue and lawyer headcount in three to five years' time. Asia currently contributes 10% of the top 15 UK law firm's fee income – half of which comes from China – with the new target set at 20% for the region as a whole.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 22, 2012 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Clifford Chance (CC) are advising on Abu Dhabi healthcare company NMC Health's planned $250m (£159m) London listing. According to the advisers, the initial public offering (IPO) could mark the first time an Abu Dhabi business has obtained a full premium listing on the London Stock Exchange.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read