Sofia Lind

March 29, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has voted in two partners to replace retiring London finance head Mark Stewart. The firm opted to split the role between City acquisition finance partners Michael Bates and Robert Lee after a consultation revealed strong support for both of the partners to take on the role.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 17, 2010 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons is ending its post-qualification experience (PQE) model for associate pay and moving to an entirely merit-based system from 1 May. The City law firm's management committee has given the final go-ahead to proposals to usher in the model, which will see the firm entirely abandon the lockstep system that sees assistant pay increase based on experience. The decision was made last month after a consultation with associates.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 11, 2010 | International Edition

CMS Cameron McKenna is set to bolster its City telecoms team with the hire of a lawyer from the London office of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy. The City law firm has hired telecoms lawyer Joanne Wheeler from Milbank, where she was a senior associate, to lead the satellite capacity within its telecoms department.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 10, 2010 | International Edition

Norton Rose has hired a new partner who will relocate to Singapore to head up the firm's local insurance practice. Anna Tipping is set to join Norton Rose as a partner from Linklaters' City base, where she was a counsel.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 10, 2010 | International Edition

Denton Wilde Sapte has reappointed two members to its main strategy board. The firm has elected City-based head of restructuring and insolvency Mark Andrews to a fourth non-consecutive term on the partnership board, while Dubai corporate partner Stephen McGlennan has been elected for a second term to the body, which has overall responsibility for the firm's strategy and management.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 05, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin and Macfarlanes have advised on the creation of a £200m investment fund aimed at boosting the innovation technology sector in the UK. The creation of the Future Technologies Fund saw the Government and the European Investment Fund each put in £100m, with the commitment announced last month (22 February).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 03, 2010 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons is set to put 25 of its future trainees onto its MBA programme with BPP this September, with the firm moving to make the MBA a permanent option within its graduate recruitment process. The City firm is now asking all potential recruits to specify whether or not they would like to take up the one-year course before starting their training contracts with the firm.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 03, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin could be on track to pay back outstanding partner profits in less than a year after opting to restart quarterly distributions to partners this month. The firm, which as Legal Week revealed last week owes partners around £18m in unpaid profit distributions, has confirmed that it will restart distributions this month.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 03, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin has hired a litigation partner from Gibson Dunn & Crutcher in London. City partner Rachel Couter will join the law firm's dispute resolution practice, taking the partner count in the London practice to 12.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 03, 2010 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons is to launch a dedicated environment practice with the hire of Travers Smith's head of environment and planning Steven McNab. McNab, whose start date is still being negotiated, will take the title of head of environment at Simmons. He has been with Travers since 2006, having previously practised with Jones Day and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read