Sofia Lind

August 11, 2010 | International Edition

Slaughter and May has won a role on a $1.9bn (£1.2bn) energy deal as UK oil giant BP has moved to sell assets in South America.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

August 10, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin managing partner Ralph Cohen has announced his intention to step down from his role as the firm reaches the advanced stages of merger talks with Proskauer Rose. He will remain with the firm as a partner in the EU and competition department, although the exact details of his move, including his last day as managing partner, are yet to decided on. The firm will finalise the details in September when it will also set out the timetable to elect a new managing partner.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

August 09, 2010 | International Edition

Trowers & Hamlins is considering making a number of redundancies following the Government's recent announcement on public sector spending cuts. Trowers confirmed that it is currently reviewing three or four associate roles in its public sector practice across the UK, but that it had not yet reached a final decision. The firm cited the Government's plans to cut public sector spending as the principal reason for the potential layoffs.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

August 09, 2010 | International Edition

Ashurst has secured a boost for its City regulatory practice with the hire of Nabarro financial services regulation head Rob Moulton. He will join the top 10 UK firm on 1 November as a partner in the financial regulatory group, which is headed by City partner James Perry.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

August 06, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has been ordered to pay damages to a former Paris associate who was laid off last year as part of the firm's global redundancy programme. The magic circle firm declined to comment on the ruling, first reported on RollOnFriday, other than to state: "The court found in favour of the associate and the matter has now been settled."

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

August 04, 2010 | International Edition

CMS Cameron McKenna has launched a major alternative billing campaign in a bid to boost client loyalty and attract new business. The firm is offering a 'no questions asked' fixed-fee payment system, which will see clients pay for legal advice on a regular monthly basis.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

August 04, 2010 | International Edition

Trainee retention rates at the UK's leading law firms are recovering strongly this year as activity levels begin to pick up in the wake of the downturn. The average retention rate for September intakes across the UK top 30 firms currently stands at 81%, an improvement of seven percentage points on September 2009, based on the number of qualifying trainees due to remain at their firm.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

August 04, 2010 | International Edition

A number of UK top 20 law firms have announced their associate salary levels for the year ahead, with several opting not to increase their rates. Bird & Bird has reduced its pay bands for associates with between one and three years' post-qualification experience (PQE), while trainee and newly-qualified (NQ) salaries remain unchanged. The City firm has taken £2,000 off each pay band between one and three years' PQE with levels now standing at £58,000, £63,000 and £69,000

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

August 04, 2010 | International Edition

The Legal Services Board has backed proposals to charge individual lawyers an annual practising certificate fee of £428 as part of a move to substantially overhaul the funding of solicitors' professional regulation. The move will see the costs of the practising certificate shift from a single levy on individuals to a regime in which there is a split charge on both individuals and the law firms.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

August 03, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has bolstered its US capital markets practice with the hire of a top-rated securitisation partner from Bingham McCutchen. Ed de Sear has joined the firm's New York international capital markets practice in a lateral move from Boston-based Bingham.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read