Sofia Lind

June 15, 2011 | International Edition

US firms' aggressive European private equity drive continues as Weil Gotshal makes significant team hire from CC

By Sofia Lind

4 minute read

June 15, 2011 | International Edition

The Law Society has reported a budget surplus of £56.9m for the last financial year. The Society's annual report, published today (15 June), attributed the surplus to four factors including higher than expected collections from the first year of its 'Fairer Fees' scheme, which saw the organisation introduce a firm-based practising certificate (PC) fee in addition to an individual fee.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 15, 2011 | International Edition

CMS Cameron McKenna is set to move into new offices in the City after signing a deal to move into the new Principal Place skyscraper in 2015. CMS has agreed a deal with property development company Hammerson to take on around one-third of the space in the new building.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 14, 2011 | International Edition

A trio of magic circle firms are advising on the high-profile restructuring of Southern Cross as the troubled care homes group attempts to reach a deal with landlords over unpaid rent. The negotiations have attracted intense media attention in recent weeks amid fears that the group may have to close some of its homes due to difficulties in paying a multimillion-pound rent bill.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 14, 2011 | International Edition

Trowers & Hamlins is opening an office in Birmingham next month (4 July), adding to its three existing UK offices. The office will be headed by housing projects partner Sara Bailey, who is relocating to Birmingham from London alongside fellow partner Jeremy Hunt. Trowers has also made a double partner hire from Shoosmiths to staff the office, with Rebecca McGuirk and Yetunde Dania joining the firm.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 13, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper has recruited the head of Berwin Leighton Paisner's (BLP) gaming practice Hilary Stewart-Jones as part of a double partner hire. Stewart-Jones is joining DLA alongside gaming partner Stephen Ketteley, with the duo set to join the firm's London intellectual property and technology (IPT) group in early September.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 13, 2011 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) is set to lose the bulk of its City funds practice, Legal Week can reveal, with a four-partner team exiting the firm to join Weil Gotshal & Manges in London. The team comprises funds partners Ed Gander, Nigel Clark and Nick Benson, as well as tax partner Jonathan Kandel, who works closely alongside the funds team.

By Sofia Lind

4 minute read

June 10, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) is set to scale back the number of London training contracts it offers by 14% for those applying from this November. The magic circle firm will take on 90 trainees per year from 2014 - down from the current figure of 105.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 10, 2011 | International Edition

Travers Smith's former senior partner Alasdair Douglas has been named the next chairman of the City of London Law Society (CLLS). Douglas will replace David McIntosh, who is retiring after seven years in the role, as of Monday (13 June). The role is not for a set term but is held on an ongoing basis.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 08, 2011 | International Edition

SNR Denton's UK partners are pushing management to confirm their individual share of the firm's profits, following last month's move to merit-based pay. Partners were expecting to learn at the beginning of May what they would earn during the current financial year, and are now calling for urgent clarification from management, with some raising the question of whether they will be paid in dollars or pounds.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read