Sofia Lind

October 19, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has launched its own iPhone application in a bid to make headline reference material about the firm more accessible to clients. The new service, 'A&O Connect', for iPhones and iPads, is a quick reference directory of the magic circle law firm's lawyers, global network and expertise. The application, available to download from Apple's iTunes store, was the idea of A&O senior partner David Morley. It officially launched today (19 November).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 19, 2010 | International Edition

Baker Botts has made up two London lawyers to its partnership in the US firm's annual promotions round. A total of thirteen lawyers will join the partnership at the US firm as of 1 January 2011, a slight increase on the previous year when 10 were made up, including one in the London litigation practice.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 18, 2010 | International Edition

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge has boosted its London office with the hire of Squire Sanders' City litigation head. Rod Cowper becomes the sixth partner in Edwards Angell's London litigation practice, which advises corporates, multinationals and government organisations on commercial disputes and cross-border issues.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 18, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin's managing partner elections are set to go to a second round after litigation partner Hilton Mervis lost out in the first round of voting that closed on Friday (15 October). The two remaining candidates are now Rob Day and Perry Yam, both of who are corporate partners in the firm's City base. The second round of voting will close on Friday this week (22 October) when the firm's next managing partner will be announced.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 15, 2010 | International Edition

Law firm partners are among those likely to be affected after the Government today (15 October) laid out its proposed cuts to pension tax allowance. The coalition Government is set to reduce the annual tax-free cap to £50,000 - a move that will primarily affect those earning more than £100,000.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has estimated the value of its pro bono activities last year at £17m - breaking convention among City firms by defining the value of its non-profit efforts. The figure is contained in CC's 2010 Corporate Responsibility Report, which estimates the value based on 57,071 hours invested by its lawyers in community and pro bono efforts. The firm's non-legal staff committed a further 2,274 community hours while the Clifford Chance Foundation paid out £2.4m in charitable donations.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

Burges Salmon has taken the lead role on Eurostar's multimillion-pound German train purchase. The Channel Tunnel rail operator announced a £700m investment programme for its fleet last week (7 October), including the purchase of 10 new high-speed trains from German engineering giant Siemens, which are set to cut the London-Paris journey time by about 15 minutes.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

The City's top film lawyers might be experts when it comes to questions of finance, distribution and intellectual property law - but do they know what makes a good movie? Sofia Lind asks a line-up of film law partners for their recommendations

By Sofia Lind

6 minute read

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has launched a dedicated group to bolster its global microfinance activities, which are focused on providing loans to develop businesses in poor regions of the world. The group consists of around 100 lawyers based throughout 20 offices and comes as part of a project launched in the firm's London base.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

A number of law firms are considering putting profits into new business structures to mitigate the effects of increased income tax levels for partners. City accountants have recently experienced an increase in demand from law firms looking at setting up subsidiary service companies or introducing new ownership structures to the LLP.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read