Sofia Lind

February 22, 2012 | International Edition

International law firms should not be prevented from visiting India to advise local clients on foreign law, an Indian high court has confirmed. The ruling comes in response to a petition questioning the legality of 'fly-in, fly-out' legal practices by foreign law firms as well as legal process outsourcing operations based on the ground in India.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

February 21, 2012 | International Edition

Sidley Austin is strengthening its City corporate practice with the hire of Linklaters partner Stephen Blackshaw. Blackshaw, who has been a partner at Linklaters since 1998, is set to join the US firm next month (5 Marc

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 19, 2012 | International Edition

SJ Berwin City litigator Hilton Mervis is to go head-to-head with EU and competition head Stephen Kon for the firm's senior partner position, after the nomination period closed last week. Mervis confirmed he was standing for election last week, after Legal Week reported that Kon had become the first candidate to put himself forward to replace current post-holder Jonathan Blake in the role on 13 February. The pair now have around a month to promote their respective platforms to the partnership, with a vote to be held in March, and the winner announced in early April.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 17, 2012 | International Edition

DLA-backed venture LawVest has assembled a team of solicitors and barristers to handle volume fixed-fee work, as details emerge of the legal services company's new-look business model. The company, which has launched under the trading name Riverview Law, will offer a range of legal services including commoditised work such as small debt collection, remortgaging and low-value litigation.

By Sofia Lind

5 minute read

February 16, 2012 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons is restructuring its partnership in an effort to boost profitability, with around 10% of the firm's equity to be affected. Around 12 equity partners are likely to either be asked to leave the firm altogether, to step down from the equity, or will receive a formal warning for underperformance.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

February 16, 2012 | International Edition

SJ Berwin is considering introducing restrictive covenants for exiting partners to counter the risk of losing client relationships and teams of associates when partners leave the firm. Partners received a memo from management earlier this month setting out the proposed changes, which follow a number of departures from the top 20 law firm in recent months.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 16, 2012 | International Edition

A band of lawyers are putting their heads together to help the world's least developed countries understand the impact of UN talks. Sofia Lind reports,,,

By Sofia Lind

6 minute read

February 16, 2012 | International Edition

Bird & Bird has moved to expand its African reach with a new association deal in Tunisia. The top 15 City firm has agreed an association with Tunisian law firm Dakhlaoui Avocats, which is led by former firm Gide Loyrette Nouel corporate and commercial lawyer Salah Dakhlaoui.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 16, 2012 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has confirmed that it has submitted a licence application to practice in Korea. The news was released by Korean regulators after CC submitted its application at the end of last year.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

February 16, 2012 | International Edition

BT is set for a push into the legal services market with the news that its claims management arm has applied to become an alternative business structure (ABS). BT Claims, which has been trading since 2010, is a motor claims company principally servicing the telecoms giant's own vehicles.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read