Suzi Ring

January 12, 2011 | International Edition

Salans has sold off its mortgage and debt processing business in Bromley and Thetford, leaving the firm's UK presence based purely in London. The firm sold the two offices last month to Solex Legal Services, which provides volume legal services to mortgage lenders and brokers, with Solex taking on all 81 of the offices employees, including eight lawyers.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 12, 2011 | International Edition

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has predicted a £17m increase in turnover following its acquisition of Halliwells' Manchester insurance arm last year. The firm's limited liability partnership (LLP) accounts, recently filed on Companies House, show that the firm expects to see revenues increase by £17m as a direct result of taking on "the majority of partners, staff and business of the insurance group of Halliwells" in July 2010.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 11, 2011 | International Edition

Weil Gotshal & Manges City finance partner Michael Nicklin is set to leave the firm to join Ropes & Gray in Hong Kong. Nicklin will relocate to the region to take over the role of office banking head at the rival US firm, with current head Alison Bomberg set to move back to Ropes' Boston office later this year. Nicklin has been at Weil since 2000 and made partner at the firm in 2007.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 11, 2011 | International Edition

Salans has bulked up its City arm with the hire of Squire Sanders & Dempsey partner Daniel Larkin to head up its global hospitality group. Larkin joined the firm on 1 January from his role as European co-head of Squire Sanders' real estate finance practice.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 11, 2011 | International Edition

Walkers has launched a tax practice in Ireland with the hire of William Fry partner Anthony Smyth, marking the offshore firm's first venture into providing tax advice. Smyth is set to join Walkers' Dublin arm in March 2011 from the Dublin office of William Fry, where he has been leading the financial services and inward investment tax practices.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 11, 2011 | International Edition

Trowers & Hamlins has merged with its Egyptian alliance firm Nour Law Office and hired the head of Eversheds' associated firm in Riyadh in a bid to bolster its presence in the region. The merger between Trowers' three-partner Cairo office and its nine-lawyer alliance firm took effect on 1 January, with the new firm to be known as Nour Law Office, managed by Trowers & Hamlins.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 11, 2011 | International Edition

French firms have kicked off the year by announcing their partner promotions with Slaughter and May ally Bredin Prat, De Pardieu Brocas Maffei and Gide Loyrette Nouel all expanding their partnerships. Bredin Prat and De Pardieu have both added one new partner apiece from 1 January, with Gide making up two.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 10, 2011 | International Edition

The City of London Law Society (CLLS) has appointed a chief executive for the first time with current Bar Council chief executive David Hobart set to take up the new role in May. Hobart will step down from his role at the Bar Council in the same month to take up the new job. He has been chief executive of the Bar Council since 2004, leading its policy development and management.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 10, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Robert Ashworth to the role of Asia managing partner as current regional head Simon Marchant returns to the firm's City practice. Ashworth is set to take up the role on 1 February 2011. He is currently Asia corporate head, a role he has held since 2000, with the title set to disappear altogether from the firm when he starts as managing partner.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 10, 2011 | International Edition

Howard Kennedy has overhauled its management structure and appointed a chief executive for the first time, as senior partner Trevor Newey retires from the firm. Mark Dembovsky joins the firm today (10 January) from his role as chief executive at City outfit Dawsons, marking Howard Kennedy's first appointment of a non-lawyer to its management.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read