Sofia Lind

January 06, 2012 | Law.com

Antony Dutton, one of Norton Rose's high-profile litigation partners, is set to join Dechert's London office. Dutton, who has held relationships with such key clients as HSBC, BNP Paribas and Royal Bank of Scotland, said he is joining Dechert because of its reputation in litigation, including in his focus area of financial institutions.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 09, 2009 | National Law Journal

Clifford Chance has launched a redundancy program in its U.K. headquarters, with the Magic Circle firm potentially set to cut around 70 to 80 lawyers. The consultation, separate from one for support staff, puts nearly one in 10 of the firm's London lawyers under threat. The firm laid off 20 U.S. litigators last year, citing a general lack of work, but the U.K. job cuts are expected to affect other practice areas as well.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

April 19, 2012 | Law.com

The first of the Magic Circle firms to announce 2012-2013 pay rates, Allen & Overy is increasing associate pay between �500 and �1,000, matching newly qualified pay figures reached by other firms last year. Allen & Overy opted not to increase its associate pay levels last year due to what it called a "flat trading year."

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 02, 2008 | National Law Journal

Davis Polk & Wardwell has completed the hire of O'Melveny & Myers Beijing head Howard Zhang in a rare lateral hire for the elite New York firm. M&A heavyweight Zhang joins Davis Polk as a partner April 7 in the Manhattan firm's Beijing office. Zhang, a former diplomat with the Chinese government, specializes in venture capital and private equity work. His clients include private equity houses, investment banks and multinational corporations.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 21, 2011 | Law.com

Abu Dhabi corporate finance specialist Patrick Watson-Thorp is leaving Norton Rose to take a senior in-house role at Standard Chartered. Head count at Norton Rose's Middle East arm has shrunk from 66 to 57 lawyers since the August exit of a quartet of partners to U.S. firms.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 26, 2012 | Law.com

Ruling in a high-profile age discrimination case, the U.K.'s Supreme Court has dismissed a challenge to a law firm's attempt to enforce a compulsory retirement age for partners. Despite unanimously rejecting the former law firm partner's appeal, the court referred the case back to the Employment Tribunal to consider whether the choice of a retirement age at 65 was justified.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

May 27, 2008 | Law.com

Linklaters is to split with four of its six Central and Eastern European offices as the U.K. giant repositions itself to target the world's key emerging markets with a new 50-partner group. The split, which follows a review of the firm's international network, will see the firm's offices in Budapest, Bratislava, Bucharest and Prague breaking away later this year and relaunching as a separate firm. Linklaters will launch a new group to service emerging markets in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 24, 2012 | Law.com

Simmons & Simmons, whose Middle East offices saw a number of high-profile exits last year, is set to cut lawyers and support staff in its Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices, due to tough market conditions. Several other law firms have recently cut back their own Middle East operations as a result of difficult trading conditions.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 23, 2012 | Law.com

Middle East real estate company Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Co. has appointed 13 law firms its first-ever legal panel, with a raft of U.K. firms winning roles, including Norton Rose, Allen & Overy and Ashurst, as well as U.S. firm Latham & Watkins. Qatari Diar's roughly 49 projects in 29 countries have a combined value of about $35 billion.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 23, 2009 | National Law Journal

Clifford Chance has cut 20 more jobs in New York as it finalizes a second business services staff review — taking its U.S. layoff tally to 99 over the last seven months. The review of support staffing needs was prompted by the departure of 24 transactional associates who were laid off in March. The Magic Circle firm had blamed "continued sluggishness in the market" for the associate cuts.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read