Suzi Ring

May 27, 2011 | International Edition

Former Ince & Co partner Andrew Iyer has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal after an initial investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for misconduct. The SRA made the referral in recent weeks and a date is still to be set for the hearing, which is likely to result in the tribunal imposing either financial penalties or striking Iyer off the solicitors' roll. In general, a decision of dishonesty is likely to result in a lawyer being struck off.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

May 27, 2011 | International Edition

Herbert Smith has opted not to increase its associate pay bands for 2011-12, following recent pay freezes at City peers Linklaters and Allen & Overy. The firm has chosen to hold junior salary bands at the same level as last year, with trainees receiving £38,000, newly-qualified lawyers taking home £61,000 and those with one year post-qualification experience (PQE) earning £68,000.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

May 27, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has hired a three-partner dispute resolution team from Herbert Smith in Paris, including the firm's newly-appointed head of disputes for Continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa (CEMEA), Denis Chemla. Chemla is set to join A&O's Paris office alongside arbitration partner Michael Young and litigation partner Erwan Poisson to launch a full service disputes practice for the magic circle firm.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

May 27, 2011 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has announced strong financial results for 2010-11, with profits per equity partner (PEP) set to soar by an estimated 56% to £712,000. The firm's estimated PEP figure, up from £455,000 in 2009-10, comes against a 20% rise in turnover to £229m, against £191m during the previous financial year.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

May 25, 2011 | International Edition

Ashurst and Clifford Chance (CC) have picked up key roles on the AED3bn (£505m) debt restructuring of Middle Eastern jewellery manufacturer and retailer Damas International. Ashurst won a first-time appointment to advise Damas on the restructuring, fielding a team led by City finance partner Martyn Rogers, who headed a team of associates across London and the Middle East including Dubai senior associates Aaron Lee and Chris Young and City senior associate Adair Gordon-Orr.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

May 25, 2011 | International Edition

Olswang has drawn up a roster of core clients for the year ahead as the firm brings in new measures to better monitor the time its lawyers spend working on each account. As part of its 2011-12 strategy plan, the law firm has identified 20 key clients to focus extra resources on over the coming year, including ITV, the BBC, Microsoft, Legal & General, Lloyds Bank and Nationwide.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

May 25, 2011 | International Edition

Clyde & Co has boosted its City energy practice with the hire of Watson Farley & Williams partner Sandra Sinclair-Hughes. Sinclair-Hughes joined the firm last week from the international project and structured finance group at Watson Farley. She specialises in advising offshore engineering and procurement contractors, service companies and oil companies in relation to project agreements including installation, leasing, operating and supply contracts.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

May 25, 2011 | International Edition

Partner promotions across the UK's 50 largest law firms by revenue increased by more than a third this year, buoyed by growing market confidence and a cluster of 
transatlantic mergers. Total partner promotions across the group stood at 495 globally in 2011, compared with 358 the previous year – an increase of just over 38%.

By Suzi Ring

4 minute read

May 25, 2011 | International Edition

Charles Russell has announced the details of its annual promotions round, with 10 lawyers added to the firm's partnership. Seven of the new partners have been made up in London, with the remaining three joining the partnership in the firm's Guildford office.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

May 25, 2011 | International Edition

Herbert Smith has appointed Paris litigation head Denis Chemla to the new role of disputes chief for Continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Chemla took up the role on 1 May this year after the firm's litigation conference in Paris at the end of last month. There is no fixed term for the position. The appointment has been made in light of a wider strategy for the firm's disputes practice that will see individual offices work more closely together to share clients around the world.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read