Sofia Lind

February 08, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) hopes to set a precedent for law firm offshoring with its plans to launch a 300-strong support centre in Belfast. While the firm is not the first to relocate support staff to lower-cost locations, it has taken a different tack to its rivals. A&O's decision means it avoids going as far as Clifford Chance, which has a service centre in India, or CMS Cameron McKenna, which is to outsource virtually its entire back office, but goes further than the likes of Linklaters, which has a small support office in Colchester.

By Sofia Lind

7 minute read

February 07, 2011 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has recruited Herbert Smith private client tax partner Rupert Ticehurst for the firm's City base. Ticehurst has joined BLP's London office as a partner in the the UK top 20 firm's tax department. He has been a partner at Herbert Smith since 2005 and headed the firm's private wealth and charities practice. He advises on tax and trusts, in particular legal disputes for families, individuals and charities for UK and international clients.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 04, 2011 | International Edition

SJ Berwin cleared more than £20m of loans and debts owed to its limited liability partnership (LLP) members during 2009-10, according to the firm's recently-filed accounts. The Companies House filings show that total amounts due to the LLP's members decreased from £21.6m to just £1.1m during the financial year.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

February 04, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) is to launch an operational support and legal services centre in Belfast that is expected to grow to 300 members of staff by 2014. The initiative, which was announced to staff internally today (2 Ferbuary), will see the creation of a new support services centre delivering some core internal business support processes, as well as a legal services centre delivering some routine or less complex elements of legal work. The City giant expects to have as many as 300 staff based in Belfast by 2014 and is to begin consulting on proposals to transfer 180 roles from London in the autumn.

By Sofia Lind

4 minute read

February 02, 2011 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) is carrying out a formal review of its management committee for the first time. Senior partner Malcolm Sweeting kicked off the process last month by asking partners for feedback on the performance of the committee, which is chaired by managing partner David Childs and is responsible for setting the firm's strategy. After the initial review, the committee will be appraised on an annual basis.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 02, 2011 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard and Herbert Smith have picked up lead roles as UK retail giant JD Sports considers a takeover of troubled rival JJB Sports. Herbert Smith is advising JJB in relation to both the preliminary discussions with JD Sports, as well as a £31.5m capital raising confirmed earlier today (2 February). The top 10 City firm's team is being led by corporate partner Will Pearce and also includes corporate partner Gareth Roberts and finance partners Kevin Pullen and Ewen Ferguson.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 02, 2011 | International Edition

A former Clifford Chance (CC) secretary was jailed last week for defrauding the magic circle firm of more than £23,000. Jodie Groom, 33, who was based in CC's City headquarters, has been jailed for 15 months after being sentenced on 15 counts of fraud. The secretary, who worked in the firm's construction department, was dismissed from the firm in July 2009 after CC uncovered her actions via internal checks.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 02, 2011 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has advised on a planned $500m (£314m) float on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) by a Russian commodities company. The City law firm has advised Siberian-based Koks Group on its intended initial public offering (IPO), with price ranges announced last week (26 January).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 01, 2011 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons has appointed a successor to lead the firm's finance practice in anticipation of current head Jeremy Hoyland taking up the managing partner role as of 1 May. The top 15 City firm has appointed City-based capital markets head Jonathan Hammond to assume both the sector group head and practice group head roles currently held by Hoyland.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 01, 2011 | International Edition

Integreon has signed up another law firm to its stable of outsourcing clients with Morgan Cole the latest to take up the use of its Bristol service centre. The 340-lawyer law firm has signed a deal for Integreon to run its library and information service, joining existing clients Osborne Clarke, Beachcroft and TLT Solicitors in the use of the service centre, which now employs around 120 staff.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read