Suzi Ring

February 15, 2011 | International Edition

Kennedys has boosted its Belfast arm with the hire of Arthur Cox local litigation and dispute resolution head Amanda Wylie. Wylie joined Kennedys at the close of last year, bringing with her two associates - Frances Thompson and Megan Boyd.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 14, 2011 | International Edition

Watson Farley & Williams has overhauled its management structure and appointed a London head for the first time in the firm's history. Former head of international finance Michael Vernell has been appointed to the role as of 1 February 2011. There is no term length for the position. The firm has also appointed a number of its overseas office heads to its management committee, which meets four times a year. There are a total of 12 members on the committee.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 08, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has extended its referral relationship with Indian best friend firm Trilegal for an indefinite period. The agreement comes after A&O senior partner David Morley, managing partner Wim Dejonghe, India head Jonathan Brayne and a number of other India group partners met with Trilegal in India in November last year. A&O first entered into a non-exclusive referral relationship with Trilegal in January 2008 for an initial three-year period, which was scheduled to come to an end last month.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 08, 2011 | International Edition

One in two commercial partners has a negative view of the Law Society while a clear majority feel Chancery Lane is of little or no relevance to City law firms. These are the key findings of Legal Week's latest Big Question survey, which found that 48% had a negative view of the work of the Law Society, including 23% that viewed its work as 'poor'. A further 30% said the body was 'OK', while 22% viewed its efforts as 'good' or 'excellent'.

By Suzi Ring

4 minute read

February 08, 2011 | International Edition

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert is to substantially build up its international practice in the wake of a wide-ranging strategy review, with markets including the US, continental Europe and the Middle East all under discussion. The top 40 UK law firm, which currently has offices in Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore, is still exploring its options but expects to gain a presence in at least one new market during 2011.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

February 07, 2011 | International Edition

Travers Smith has made its first US-qualified partner hire, bringing in Clifford Chance (CC) Milan partner Charles Casassa for its City practice. Casassa is due to join Travers' London corporate practice next month from the Milan office of CC, where he has been a partner since 2008. Casassa specialises in capital markets transactions and also has experience of M&A, structured finance, and acquisition finance.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 04, 2011 | International Edition

The Legal Services Board (LSB) is gearing up to directly police 'Tesco law'-style vehicles ahead of a Law Society vote that could block its own regulatory arm from assuming such a role. A senior official at the LSB has confirmed to Legal Week that the oversight body is now investigating the procedures required to directly oversee alternative business structures (ABSs). The initiative is a direct response to a vote scheduled for next month by Chancery Lane's policy-making council which could bar the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) from licensing ABSs.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

February 02, 2011 | International Edition

Holman Fenwick Willan has grown its City corporate insurance arm with the hire of two partners from the London office of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge. Richard Spiller and Ashwani Kochhar joined Holman Fenwick as partners on 1 February 2011 from the City office of the Boston law firm. Spiller was co-chair of the UK regulatory and transactional practice at Edwards Angell and specialises in non-contentious insurance matters including transactions and regulation.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 02, 2011 | International Edition

Legal outsourcer Integreon has appointed legal technology strategist Richard Susskind as the chairman of its new client advisory board. The appointment, which took effect this month, will see Susskind head a board which will also include managing partners of law firms and general counsel at Integreon client companies.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 02, 2011 | International Edition

Shearman & Sterling has made up seven lawyers to its partnership, equalling the number the firm promoted last year. The new partners are spread scross the firm's Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Tokyo, New York and Washington DC offices. In the US, Paula Howell Anderson and David Connolly have been made up in the firm's New York litigation and M&A practices respectively, while Christopher Ryan has joined the partnership in Washington in the international arbitration group.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read