Suzi Ring

March 18, 2011 | International Edition

A former law student who sued the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (OXILP) after failing her Legal Practice Course (LPC) has seen her damages claim rejected in the High Court. Maria Abramova, who attended OXILP during the 2004-05 academic year, claimed tutors had not prepared her adequately for the LPC exam and sued the learning institution - part of Oxford Brookes University - for £100,000.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 16, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is set to formally launch its new associate development framework in the City next month, with bonuses to be measured against the scheme for the first time. The new framework, the first step in Freshfields' move away from associate lockstep, will see junior lawyers assessed against the firm's 'milestone' criteria and told of their official level during the current appraisal round.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 16, 2011 | International Edition

A raft of the UK's leading law firms are set to increase the number of universities they target for graduate recruitment in a bid to attract a wider pool of students. Linklaters, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Hogan Lovells and Bird & Bird are all planning to up the number of universities they visit during the next recruitment round, starting in September.

By Suzi Ring

4 minute read

March 16, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has bulked up its Madrid office with the hire of Uria Menendez's investment funds head Salvador Ruiz Bachs. Ruiz Bachs is set to join the firm in the coming weeks from the Madrid arm of Uria, where he has been of counsel since 2007, having joined Uria in 1996. At A&O he will sit within the Madrid banking and finance practice and will become the ninth partner in the magic circle firm's Spanish office.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 16, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Allen & Overy (A&O) and Uria Menendez have all taken roles on Qatar Holding's €2.1bn (£1.8bn) investment in Spanish utility company Iberdrola. Freshfields acted for Qatar Holdings, fielding a London team led by corporate partners Sarah Murphy and Bruce Embley alongside tax partner Jonathan Cooklin.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 15, 2011 | International Edition

Three sets of barristers' chambers will each gain four new queen's counsel (QC) next month as part of a 2011 silk round that saw applicants enjoy the highest success rate since 1995. The 120-strong round saw barristers from 76 chambers across the country securing the elite QC kitemark, with No5 Chambers, Thirty Nine Essex Street/82 King Street and Maitland Chambers all achieving the highest share of successful applicants, with four apiece.

By Suzi Ring

4 minute read

March 15, 2011 | International Edition

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has unveiled a raft of new proposals to reform libel law in England and Wales and bolster freedom of speech. The draft Defamation Bill sets out a number of changes to current defamation laws, including a requirement for claimaints to demonstrate 'substantial harm' before a claim can be pursued.

By Suzi Ring

6 minute read

March 14, 2011 | International Edition

Slaughter and May competition partner Sarah Cardell is set to leave the firm to take up a role at energy watchdog Ofgem. Cardell is due to join Ofgem next month as partner for legal markets, after three years as a partner at Slaughters. Her appointment comes after the energy regulator's joint legal director Duncan Sinclair resigned last year to return to the Bar. He joined 39 Essex Street in October 2010.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 11, 2011 | International Edition

White & Case has posted its London financial results for 2010, with the US firm's City revenues falling 6.5% over the year. The firm's London base saw turnover fall from $197m (£123m) in 2010 to $184m (£115m), while revenue per lawyer (RPL) grew by 5% to $814,000 (£509,000), up from $778,000 (£486,000) the previous year. The firm said in a statement: "The [revenue] reduction is 6.5% in dollar terms but 3% in local currency terms, taking into account foreign currency movements and the heavy mix of non-dollar revenue."

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 11, 2011 | International Edition

SJ Berwin has secured the high-profile appointment of former Linklaters managing partner Tony Angel as a non-executive director. Angel, who took up the role this month, will advise the UK top 20 firm's partnership board on strategy and execution. He is currently chief executive of healthcare technology group Vantage Diagnostics, a role which he will retain alongside his involvement at SJ Berwin.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read