Suzi Ring

August 09, 2011 | International Edition

Kirkland & Ellis has significantly bulked up its Asia arm with the hire of seven partners from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Latham & Watkins and Allen & Overy (A&O). Skadden Asia corporate co-heads Nicholas Norris and Dominic Tsun resigned from Skadden last Friday (5 August) to join Kirkland alongside corporate partner Li-Chien Wong. Norris has been at Skadden since 2005, when he joined from Simmons & Simmons, where he was the UK firm's Asia corporate head.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

August 09, 2011 | International Edition

Slaughter and May has agreed a new secondment arrangement with New Zealand firm Chapman Tripp. The pair have been in discussions over the last few months and have decided to enter into a non-exclusive programme that will see junior lawyers from each firm seconded to the other for a year.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

August 08, 2011 | International Edition

The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) paid out £257m in legal costs relating to clinical negligence claims during 2010-11 – a 58% increase on the previous year's figure of £163m. The organisation's latest annual report shows costs to claimant clinical negligence lawyers saw the biggest increase - growing 61% year-on-year from £121m to £195m over the period.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

August 08, 2011 | International Edition

Kemp Little has appointed a chief operating officer (COO) for the first time following the firm's decision to abandon its managing partner role earlier this year. Boodle Hatfield director of operations and IT Siddhartha Mankad has taken up the new position as of 1 August. At Boodle, he was responsible for technology, risk management, compliance and office services.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

August 05, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper, Charles Russell and Mishcon de Reya are among a roster of 17 law firms and chambers to win places on the pro bono panel for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

August 04, 2011 | International Edition

Linklaters and Eversheds have both announced their trainee retention rates for September, with the firms keeping on 93% and 87% of their respective trainee intakes. Linklaters is set to set to keep on 53 of its 57 trainees this autumn – equating to 93%. All bar one of the 57 qualifying applied for a position, with all those offered a place accepting.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

August 03, 2011 | International Edition

LG has won a high-profile role to advise the newly-appointed liquidators of Stanford International Bank (SIB) following its 2009 collapse amid a billion-dollar 
fraud scandal. The UK law firm is acting for accountancy firm Grant Thornton, which was appointed to handle the liquidation in May after former liquidator Vantis was removed in June last year.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

August 03, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters are considering plans to overhaul their partner remuneration structures, with both firms looking at ways to reduce the number of partners at the top of their respective locksteps. Freshfields, which until now has operated a pure lockstep with no powers to move partners up or down the equity, is in the early stages of talks with partners about modifying its system.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

August 03, 2011 | International Edition

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert and Clyde & Co have approved the largest-ever merger between two UK law firms, with the combined firm to operate under the Clyde & Co banner when it launches later this year. As Legal Week went to press, partners were set to formally sign the merger agreement yesterday (3 August), with the union set to go live on 1 November.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

August 03, 2011 | International Edition

Herbert Smith has become the latest City law firm to target the Qatar market as the firm gears up for the launch of a new office in Doha. The firm began the licence application process last month, with a view to opening in Doha at the end of the year if the launch is approved.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read