Suzanna Ring

December 19, 2012 | International Edition

Legal Week's most-read stories of the last twelve months, including major international mergers such as the tie-up of Australia's Freehills with Herbert Smith, and the news that A&O had asked Hong Kong partners to leave the firm...

By Suzanna Ring

8 minute read

December 18, 2012 | International Edition

4-5 Gray's Inn Square has confirmed that it will continue to exist as a set despite suffering a mass defection of more than two-thirds of its members in recent weeks.

By Suzanna Ring

2 minute read

December 17, 2012 | International Edition

Linklaters has entered into a cooperation agreement with former Allen & Overy (A&O) Saudi Arabia associate firm Abdulaziz AlGasim Law Firm. The deal between Linklaters and Abdulaziz AlGasim went live last Friday (14 December) - one month after it emerged that A&O's team had moved out of the associated office in Saudi Arabia.

By Suzanna Ring

2 minute read

December 17, 2012 | International Edition

LG has made its first Singapore lateral hire since launching in the region last spring, as the firm sets out growth plans for the office. Ogier partner and British Virgin Islands (BVI) private client head Zac Lucas will join LG in Singapore in February next year. He has been at the offshore firm since 2010, and is qualified in both BVI and UK law.

By Suzanna Ring

2 minute read

December 14, 2012 | International Edition

Watson Farley & Williams is launching a Frankfurt office in the New Year, with the hire of a regulatory team from Salans led by partner Ivana Mikesic. The new office will open in January 2013 and marks Watson Farley's third base in Germany, alongside existing bases in Hamburg and Munich.

By Suzanna Ring

2 minute read

December 13, 2012 | International Edition

Olswang has launched its second governance overhaul in three years, with the firm looking to streamline its oversight body ahead of management elections next year after a spate of international expansion. The UK top 30 firm kicked off the review six weeks ago with firm general counsel Simon Callander leading it alongside eight partners.

By Suzanna Ring

2 minute read

December 13, 2012 | International Edition

In 2009, a hacker known as 'Igor' managed to get hold of some highly sensitive documents that have gone on to play a crucial part in one of the most headline-grabbing disputes of recent times – Boris Berezovsky's multi-billion dollar battle with business rival and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich. Igor delivered the documents to a flat in Sloane Square belonging to Abramovich where, in his absence, a servant opened the package.

By Suzanna Ring

17 minute read

December 13, 2012 | International Edition

City commercial and criminal set 36 Bedford Row has hired former Hill Dickinson London head Malcolm Taylor as its first chief executive alongside the recruitment of its first practice managers. The recruitment drive forms part of plans to modernise the set, with Taylor joining this week alongside two new practice managers – former 3 Raymond Buildings senior clerk Michelle Simpson and former 7 Bedford Row commercial and employment clerk Christopher Lane.

By Suzanna Ring

2 minute read

December 12, 2012 | International Edition

A new scheme to promote direct access to the Bar through a centralised portal of barristers has been launched this month, marking the latest in a string of moves to increase direct instructions. myBARRISTER, the brainchild of former Shearman & Sterling partner Ronald DeKoven, is a new online service that will allow individuals to search for a barrister in their area, select one from a relevant practice shortlist and submit their claim, without the need for a solicitor.

By Suzanna Ring

3 minute read

December 10, 2012 | International Edition

LG has concluded the redundancy consultation it began last month, with 16 employees - including eight fee earners - asked to leave the firm. The news comes after the firm announced an 18-strong redundancy consultation in early November, with the cuts attributed to an attempt to align "resources with what remains a difficult market".

By Suzanna Ring

2 minute read