Suzi Ring

September 28, 2011 | International Edition

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has bulked up its Asia partnership with the promotion of dispute resolution associate Gary Yin in Hong Kong. Yin has been made up to partner as of 20 September this year, a move which takes the firm's partner headcount in Hong Kong to seven, of which five sit in disputes. He specialises in China-related litigation with a focus on commercial and shipping matters.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 27, 2011 | International Edition

Berrymans Lace Mawer, Hill Dickinson and Mills & Reeve are among a raft of firms to have won roles on a new legal services panel for healthcare purchaser HealthTrust Europe. The trio have been appointed alongside Browne Jacobson, Capsticks, Bevan Brittan, Hempsons, Ward Hadaway and Birmingham City Council to HealthTrust Europe's general law panel, which covers all areas of legal advice except healthcare, such as education and environmental advice...

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 27, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper is advising former News of the World (NoW) editor Andy Coulson on his claim against the now-defunct tabloid's publisher, News Group Newspapers. The claim, which has been filed in the High Court by DLA corporate crime and investigations partner Jo Rickards, relates to the withdrawal of payment for Coulson's legal fees by News Group.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 26, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has completed its overhaul of associate remuneration, with the firm set to align junior lawyer salaries with its new four-stage 'milestone' framework as of next year. From May 2012, the magic circle firm's associates will no longer be paid based on post-qualification experience, but will instead see their pay based on the firm's new merit-based associate development system which was formally launched earlier this year.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 26, 2011 | International Edition

Holman Fenwick Willan is set to reduce the length of its lockstep by one year, in an effort to simplify its current system. The firm is looking at reducing its lockstep from six years to five from the next financial year, as well as introducing a mandatory retirement age of 62.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 23, 2011 | International Edition

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) will add £10m to the UK's publicly funded mediation budget next year as part of an effort to promote the use of mediation over litigation. According to the MoJ's 2010-11 annual report, an extra £10m will be added to the mediation budget as of April 2012, taking the total allocated amount to £24m.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 23, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper has strengthened its Italian corporate practice with a team hire from Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners. Partner Fabio de Bene joined DLA's Milan office this week (19 September) alongside senior associate Pier Francesco Maria Faggiano and associate Giovanni Meschia.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 23, 2011 | International Edition

Taylor Hampton's Mark Lewis is set to file a US class action against News Corporation relating to allegations of phone-hacking and police bribery by News of the World staff. Lewis - who represents a number of phone-hacking victims such as the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler - has instructed New York civil liberties lawyer Norman Siegel to assist him on the action.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 22, 2011 | International Edition

The Government's proposed overhaul of 'no win, no fee' agreements is set to face further scrutiny following an appeal to the Prime Minister by the parents of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. The Dowler family has written to both Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to highlight the impediments to justice the proposed reforms could bring, including the claim that without a 'no win no fee' agreement, they would not have been able to bring their case against News International for phone-hacking.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

September 22, 2011 | International Edition

Charles Russell has appointed a new Middle East real estate head with a hire from Norton Rose. Simon Green has joined the firm's Bahrain office this month from Norton Rose's local base, where he was a senior associate. He will be made up to partner at Charles Russell after serving a three-month probationary period.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read