Sofia Lind

April 14, 2011 | International Edition

The latest annual statistical report from The Law Society has confirmed the extent to which law firms have so far failed to react to the increase in women in the profession, with the number of female solicitors nearly doubling over the last 10 years. The report - Trends in the Solicitors Profession - published earlier this month, showed that between 2000 and 2010 the number of women holding practising certificates rose by 80%, although the profession as a whole has grown by only 42%.

By Sofia Lind

4 minute read

April 14, 2011 | International Edition

City lawyers have reacted critically to the Vickers report's proposals for reform of the UK banking sector, highlighting the potentially damaging impact on the City's status as a global banking hub. Key proposals contained within the interim report from the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) include the suggestion that UK banks should ring fence their retail divisions from their investment banking arms and that there should be increased capital requirements for "systemically important banks".

By Sofia Lind

4 minute read

April 14, 2011 | International Edition

Plexus Law's parent company, Parabis Group, is set to become one of the first alternative business structures (ABSs) after confirming plans for an early conversion. Parabis, which comprises the Plexus and Cogent Law insurance litigation firms as well as a number of separate non-legal arms, has been working with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) as part of a trial of the new ABS licensing process, ahead of this October's implementation of the Legal Services Act (LSA).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 12, 2011 | International Edition

The Law Society has elected its future leader with the appointment of Nick Fluck as its new deputy vice president (DVP). The Law Society Council has voted in Fluck, a partner at Stapleton & Son in Lincolnshire, to take up the role from in July this year. The election means that Fluck, who is chair of the Law Society's technology and law reference group, will become Law Society president in 2013. He stood against Denis Cameron and Ian Kelcey in the vote, which closed yesterday (11 April).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 11, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has taken a lead role on new property developer Almacantar's acquisition of London's landmark Centre Point tower. The deal also handed roles to Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), which advised the administrator for bankrupt former owner Targetfollow, and to Clifford Chance (CC), which acted for Eurohypo on debt financing.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 11, 2011 | International Edition

City lawyers have reacted critically to the Vickers report's proposals for reform of the UK banking sector, highlighting the potentially damaging impact on the City's status as a global banking hub. Key proposals contained within the interim report from the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) include the suggestion that UK banks should ring-fence their retail divisions from their investment banking arms and that there should be increased capital requirements for "systemically important banks".

By Sofia Lind

5 minute read

April 11, 2011 | International Edition

Slaughter and May, Clifford Chance (CC) and Linklaters are among a line-up of firms to have won roles on US businessman Stan Kroenke's full takeover bid for Arsenal Football Club, which values the North London club at £731m. The deal has also handed roles to Herbert Smith and White & Case, with the duo advising on the financing. Kroenke, who has turned to CC City partner Tim Lewis for advice, agreed to launch a mandatory full takeover this weekend after his company Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE) acquired a majority stake in the club. He now holds 62.89% of shares in the Premier League club.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 07, 2011 | International Edition

Fast-expanding law firm franchise QualitySolicitors has agreed a deal with WHSmith to offer legal services via hundreds of the newsagent's national branches. The move, which has been hailed as a ground-breaking initiative for the retail legal market, will see QualitySolicitors place "legal access points" in 150 WHSmith stores from this summer ahead of a wider rollout targeted at 500 locations.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

April 07, 2011 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons, SNR Denton, Bevan Brittan and Osborne Clarke have lined up to advise on a £230m energy deal in Devon. The private finance initiative deal sees top 15 City firm Simmons advising German energy company MVV Umwelt, which has struck a deal with three local councils - Plymouth, Torbay and Devon County - to build a 245,000-tonne energy plant in the Devonport Dockyard.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 06, 2011 | International Edition

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has unveiled its new Code of Conduct and Handbook, which focuses on principles-based regulation rather than hard rules. The new rules, published today (6 April) will apply to both traditional law firms and Alternative Business Structures (ABS), with the details emerging six months before the rules will come into effect in October.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read