Suzi Ring

June 28, 2012 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) is set to push ahead with its expansive international strategy after partners gave broad backing to management at the magic circle firm's conference last month.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 28, 2012 | International Edition

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) will formally open in Hong Kong in August, with an ex-Clyde & Co partner joining the four-partner team it hired from the firm in April.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 28, 2012 | International Edition

LG and Norton Rose have advised on the £131m refinancing of London's iconic Lloyd's building after it was awarded English Heritage Grade 1 listed status last year. LG acted for the underwriters, DG Hyp and Deutsche Postbank, led by finance head Nick Turner alongside finance partner Jon Lent, tax partner Elliot Weston and real estate partner Christine Jackson. Norton Rose advised the building's owner, One Lime Street London, with a team led by London real estate finance head Lucy Wolley Dod, real estate partner David Hawkins and banking and finance consultant Ksenia Orlova.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 28, 2012 | International Edition

Herbert Smith and Australia's Freehills are set to merge on 1 October after partners at both firms voted in favour of a union under the banner Herbert Smith Freehills. Voting on the tie-up closed this morning (28 June), with the firms now planning a full financial merger from the autumn.

By Suzi Ring

5 minute read

June 28, 2012 | International Edition

DAC Beachcroft has reported its first post-merger financial results, with revenues at the combined firm growing 2.3% on a like-for-like basis.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 26, 2012 | International Edition

One Essex Court and 39 Essex Street have both announced plans to open in Singapore, as internationalisation continues to rise up the agenda for the Bar. Both chambers are set to open in the region after sending delegations to Singapore earlier this year to meet with local government and discuss moves to relax rules for foreign counsel.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 25, 2012 | International Edition

Herbert Smith has announced its 2011-12 financial results, posting a 3% increase in revenue against a drop in partner profits of 6%. The UK top 10 firm has reported turnover of £480m for the year, up from £465m in 2010-11, while profits per equity partner (PEP) have fallen 6% to £840,000, down from £892,000.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 22, 2012 | International Edition

There have been plenty of precedents for high-profile collapses in the world's largest legal market, but one failure still looms the largest over the US profession 24 years on. After all, the rise and rapid implosion of Finley Kumble Wagner Heine Underberg Manley Myerson & Casey was in some aspects even more startling than that of Dewey & LeBoeuf. Finley was built at breakneck speed on the basis of a new model. In place of the traditional focus on the practise of law, the firm hungered for partners who would win business and expansion through continuous lateral recruitment.

By Suzi Ring

7 minute read

June 21, 2012 | International Edition

Female partner promotions across the UK top 10 have increased by more than a third this year, as the country's largest firms push forward with efforts to boost gender diversity in their senior ranks. The total number of women made up at the 10 largest legal practices by revenue rose 36% to 72 this year, up from last year's figure of 53, with the increase comparing favourably to an overall rise in partner promotions across the group of 13%.

By Suzi Ring

5 minute read

June 21, 2012 | International Edition

Herbert Smith and Australian firm Freehills have opened the vote for their proposed tie-up, which will see the two firms enter into a full-equity merger if the deal goes ahead.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read