Sofia Lind

November 09, 2010 | International Edition

Norton Rose has promoted four of its know-how lawyers to of counsel, in a move to broaden the career track for support lawyers. The promotions, which came into effect last week (1 November) mark the first time the City firm has promoted practice support lawyers (PSLs) to the of counsel rank.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

November 09, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has cut its overall IT spend by 10% during the past financial year, saving more than £1m through measures including the extension of an agreement with IT outsourcer Savvis to its European network. The magic circle firm confirmed that it has cut IT spend by 10% but would not be drawn on the precise figure saved, saying only that it was a seven-figure sum. A&O made the savings by axing servers in its international offices and expanding an existing deal with Savvis, which already held most of the firm's UK server space.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

November 08, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has become the first City firm to announce its half-year financial results, with the magic circle firm seeing revenues increase by 3%. The modest growth takes revenues for the six-month period ending 31 October to £526m, up from £511m at the same point in 2009. The firm said that more than half of its turnover was generated outside of the UK, with strong performances across the Asia-Pacific region, Moscow and New York in addition to London.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

November 08, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin has seen the departure of two City partners, with competition partner Niamh Grogan set to join Lloyds Banking Group and real estate partner Michael Metliss joining Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP). Grogan, who has been a partner at SJ Berwin since 2003, is joining Lloyds' risk division as group competition director in December.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

November 05, 2010 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons has sealed the hire of a new human resources (HR) director following the departure of its previous HR head to Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP). The top 15 UK law firm has hired Daniel Flint for the position with a start date pencilled in for January next year. The role marks the first legal industry role for the HR specialist who is currently serving his notice period as global compensation and benefits director at Accenture.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

November 05, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed a new joint leader for its financial institutions group (FIG), with City disputes partner Andrew Hart taking on the role. Hart replaces Will Lawes in the post, which will see him co-lead the sector group alongside Frankfurt-based corporate partner Gunnar Schuster and London banking partner Sean Pierce. The position came up after Lawes was recently elected as Freshfields' next senior partner.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

November 04, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has confirmed London finance partner Malcolm Sweeting as the firm's new senior partner, replacing Stuart Popham in the role from next year (1 January). Sweeting won the election after securing more than the required 50% of the partnership vote, fighting off competition from German M&A and corporate finance partner Daniela Weber-Rey and City tax partner Jonathan Elman.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

November 03, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) is set to repeat the first round of its senior partner elections due to a glitch in the firm's partnership deed. The unexpected voting re-run has arisen because the magic circle firm's partnership deed does not state that the contender receiving the least amount of votes in the first round is obliged to withdraw from the race.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has taken the lead role advising on a $3bn (£2bn) loan participation programme on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The magic circle firm has advised Russian metals giant OAO Severstal on the financing, which saw the company issue a $1bn (£626m) eurobond under the programme with a seven-year maturity.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

Trowers & Hamlins is targeting the private construction sector with the hire of Pinsent Masons' London transactional construction team head Michael Mullarkey. Mullarkey, who advises contractors in the health, education, water, transport, social housing and private development sectors, joined Trowers' projects and construction group earlier this week (1 November).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read