Suzi Ring

February 22, 2011 | International Edition

City litigators have questioned Justice Secretary Ken Clarke's calls to reform the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the wake of its ruling that serving prisoners should be given the right to vote. In an interview with political commentator Andrew Marr over the weekend (20 February), Clarke said that there was a "good case for reforming the court", adding that he would look to address the ECHR's relationship with national courts when the UK takes over as chair of the Council of Europe this November.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

February 21, 2011 | International Edition

Baker & McKenzie has added to its Hong Kong dispute resolution practice with the hire of Simmons & Simmons partner James Kwan. Kwan, who is set to join Bakers on 1 March, joined the Simmons partnership in Hong Kong in 2008 from Allen & Overy's Dubai office, where he was a dispute resolution consultant. His practice focuses on international commercial arbitration and litigation, with a particular emphasis on infrastructure, engineering and energy disputes.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 21, 2011 | International Edition

Herbert Smith's former European alliance relationship partner Henry Raine has left the firm to take up an in-house regulatory role at online loan company Wonga.com. Raine has been a consultant at Herbert Smith since April last year, when he stepped down from the partnership. His responsibilities in managing the firm's relationship with alliance partners Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe were primarily taken on by David Willis as part of his managing partner role.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 18, 2011 | International Edition

Garrigues has appointed a new London managing partner to succeed the outgoing Guillermo Munoz-Alonso. Ignacio Corbera Dale has been appointed to the role, effective 1 February, and has relocated to London from the firm's Barcelona office. The appointment has been made following the end of Munoz-Alonso's three-year term as London chief. He is set to relocate back to Garrigues' headquarters in Madrid this month.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 17, 2011 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells has announced its first combined financial results since its merger last year, with average profits per equity partner (PEP) climbing around 10% to reach $1.144m (£715,000). Pro forma results for the 2010 calendar year show Hogan Lovells posted firmwide PEP of $1.144m up from an estimated equivalent of $1.042m (£651,000) for the calendar year 2009.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 16, 2011 | International Edition

"We're focusing on stability," says Barlow Lyde & Gilbert senior partner Simon Konsta. And who could query those sentiments? Despite having built a reputation as one of the City's top insurance and litigation firms, Barlows has had an unhappy recent history. The last 15 years have been marked by a series of strategic shifts, while over the last five years financial performance has increasingly lagged behind its peer group. Since 2007 the firm has made repeated efforts to update its management and reshape its practice, with Barlows moving to refocus its business around its insurance core. The result has been a series of partner departures and a firm still searching for the stability Konsta cites.

By Suzi Ring

23 minute read

February 16, 2011 | International Edition

Swedish independent Magnusson has recruited six partners for the firm's new Helsinki office with a raft of local hires. Peltonen Ruokonen & Itaeinen managing Tomi Merenheimo is set to take up the role of Helsinki managing partner when the new Magnusson office opens on 1 March 2011. He joins alongside Peltonen corporate and M&A partner Mika Oksanen.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 16, 2011 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) is set to launch in Australia through a tie-up with local outfits Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe and Chang Pistilli & Simmons. The tie-ups, which come less than three months after Legal Week revealed CC had been talking to both Australian firms, mark the firm's first venture into Australia, with the deals gifting the magic circle firm offices in Perth and Sydney.

By Suzi Ring

4 minute read

February 15, 2011 | International Edition

Uria Menendez has posted a 3% rise in turnover for the last financial year, becoming the last of the Spanish big four law firms to issue its 2010 results. Turnover climbed to €186.5m (£156.9m) over the year, up from €181m (£152.2m) in 2009. The rise comes after the firm posted increases in revenue of 4% for 2009 and 8% for 2008.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 15, 2011 | International Edition

Withers is set to bulk up in London with the hire of Dawsons Solicitors' head of family law, with news of the departure coming as merger talks between Dawsons and City firm Fladgate come to a close. Dawsons partner Suzanne Kingston is set to join Withers' London family team as a partner in May from the Lincoln's Inn firm. Assistant solicitors Jennifer Dickson, Richard Handel and two secretaries are set to make the move with her.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read