Suzi Ring

March 07, 2011 | International Edition

Clyde & Co is in discussions to open in Canada through a tie-up with a local firm, with the UK firm bringing in one of the former senior partners of Canada's Stikeman Elliott to help with its plans. Clydes has appointed Clyde & Co is in discussions to open in Canada through a tie-up with a local firm, with the UK firm bringing in a former senior partner of Canada's Stikeman Elliott to help with its plans.Clydes has appointed Senator David Angus QC, currently chairman of the Senate Energy Committee and formerly senior partner at Stikeman, to help with its bid to establish a presence in Canada.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 04, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has become the first of the magic circle to announce its 2011 partner promotions, making up 20 lawyers across the firm. Nine of the new partners will join the firm's City office, with three in dispute resolution, two each in corporate, competition and finance, including Simone Bono, who joined the firm this month from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

March 04, 2011 | International Edition

Macfarlanes is set to see the departure of two City partners, with planning head Ian Ginbey and real estate partner Richard Reuben joining Clyde & Co and Fladgate respectively. Ginbey, who specialises in appeals, environmental impact assessments and High Court litigation, is set to join Clydes at the end of April to lead the firm's London planning group, while Reuben will also leave Macfarlanes next month.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 03, 2011 | International Edition

Trainee retention rates at the UK's 30 largest law firms have risen across the majority of practices, with the average rate across the group nearly 10% higher than in March 2010. Average retention across the UK top 30 firms stands at 84% when considering the number of job offers against the number of qualifying trainees. This figure drops marginally to 83% when taking into account rejected job offers. This compares with an average retention of just 75% this time last year, when job offers were affected by the prolonged economic downturn.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 02, 2011 | International Edition

Herbert Smith has relocated London dispute resolution partner Robert Hunt to Hong Kong in response to growing activity in the region. Hunt moved to Hong Kong at the end of last month, with the relocation making him the sixth partner in the office's disputes practice. He takes the total number of partners in the firm's Hong Kong arm to 17.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 01, 2011 | International Edition

Kennedys has merged with its Portuguese alliance partner Almeida & Athayde as the fast-growing UK firm continues its international expansion. The merger went live today (1 March) following a six-year relationship between the two firms.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 01, 2011 | International Edition

The latest round of QC appointments has been announced today (1 March) with former Clifford Chance senior partner Stuart Popham awarded honourary QC status. One hundred and twenty of a total of 251 applicants have been awarded the QC title, equating to a success rate of 48% - a marginal increase on last year's rate of 47%.

By Suzi Ring

7 minute read

March 01, 2011 | International Edition

Herbert Smith and Clifford Chance (CC) have lined up to advise on Essar Energy's exclusive agreement to buy Shell's Stanlow refinery in Cheshire for around $350m (£214.4m). The agreement, which will see Shell leave the UK refinery market if it goes through, saw Essar agree to pay a break fee of $50m (£31m) if it backs out of the deal before the exclusivity period ends on 31 March.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 01, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed four new partners as mentors for its 2011 London trainee intake. Dispute resolution partner Nigel Rawding and antitrust partner Andrea Gomes da Silva will mentor the February intake, with corporate partner Tim Wilmot and structured finance partner Flora McLean set to look after the August intake.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 01, 2011 | International Edition

Holman Fenwick Willan has moved to expand its insurance and tax practices with the hire of two partners in London and Paris. The firm has hired Jonathan Bruce as a partner in its City insurance and reinsurance practice from London insurance and shipping boutique Elborne Mitchell.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read