Sofia Lind

September 14, 2011 | International Edition

Fulbright & Jaworski has kicked off a review of its international strategy that could see the top 50 US firm pursuing a much-touted merger with Norton Rose. The Texan firm's global chairman Steven Pfeiffer launched the review two months ago, with a prospective UK merger forming a central plank of the consultation. A merger with Norton Rose is not thought to be the only option under consideration; however, the firm is the preferred target for a number of partners within Fulbright, which has not yet engaged Norton Rose in any discussions.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

September 14, 2011 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons has moved to rebuild its US capital markets capacity in London with the hire of a lawyer from Clifford Chance's (CC's) Hong Kong office. The top 15 UK law firm has hired Julian Perlmutter as a corporate partner in its City equity capital markets team. Perlmutter, who is currently a foreign counsel with CC in Hong Kong, is expected to join Simmons on 14 November when he will become the second US-qualified partner in Simmons' ECM team alongside Charles Hawes.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 14, 2011 | International Edition

Middle East law firm Habib Al Mulla & Company has recruited a senior business manager from Clifford Chance (CC) as its new chief executive officer. The UAE firm has hired CC's Italy general manager Rob Morris, who is also the magic circle firm's global head of procurement. He will join Habib Al Mulla next week (19 September), relocating from CC's Milan arm to the Middle East. The hire marks the first chief executive appointment for the 50-lawyer firm, which said the move had come as part of an effort to instate a more formal law firm structure after significant expansion and the addition of a number of new clients.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 14, 2011 | International Edition

Despite already being touted as a landmark for the industry, the law firms behind the initiative aimed at improving access to the profession are hoping to substantially expand the number of firms 
backing the scheme. The scheme launched with 23 major firms across the UK and Ireland but the backers of the project to hand work experience to under-privileged children believe it will be essential to secure the active support of more law firms before addressing the considerable challenge of building links and co-operation with a broad base of schools nationally.

By Sofia Lind

6 minute read

September 14, 2011 | International Edition

Norton Rose has made a duo of lateral hires in Australia with the addition of a corporate and a banking partner. Gilbert & Tobin partner Martyn Taylor is joining Norton Rose Australia's corporate group in Sydney, while Corrs Chambers Westgarth banking partner Scott Miller is joining the firm in Melbourne.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 13, 2011 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has made a high-profile hire in Brussels with the addition of former Linklaters competition partner Johan Ysewyn. Ysewyn, who joined CC yesterday (12 September), was head of Linklaters' Brussels antitrust group and co-head of the firm's global cartel group. Before his departure in March this year, he had spent 16 years at the magic circle firm, including 11 years as a partner.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

September 12, 2011 | International Edition

City finance partners have criticised Government plans to push ahead with proposals that will force Britain's banks to ring-fence their retail banking operations from the investment banking arms within the next eight years. Banks will have until 2019 to implement proposals in Sir John Vickers' Independent Commission on Banking report, which was released today (12 September) and called on the Government to enact the reforms as soon as possible.

By Sofia Lind

7 minute read

September 12, 2011 | International Edition

Jones Day has hired a four-lawyer team from Norton Rose in Paris including the head of the UK firm's French corporate practice. Herve Castelnau joined the Paris office of Jones Day on 1 September along with three associates, two of whom - Silvain Fock-Yee and Thibaut Kazemi - have been promoted to counsel in the move.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 09, 2011 | International Edition

Twenty-three UK and Irish law firms have come together for a groundbreaking initiative to boost social mobility in the profession with a wide-ranging work experience scheme. The project, dubbed PRIME, will see the firms involved commit to provide significant work experience programmes for state school children from non-privileged backgrounds in a profession-wide bid to improve social diversity in law.

By Sofia Lind

5 minute read

September 08, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) senior partner David Morley and Eversheds managing partner Lee Ranson are to join Prime Minister David Cameron on a much-touted trade delegation to Russia. The two law firm leaders have been invited by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to join a delegation of senior business figures traveling to Russia next week with Cameron.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read