Suzi Ring

November 03, 2010 | International Edition

DWF has kept on 16 of 18 newly-qualified (NQs) lawyers in this year's intake, equating to a retention rate of 89%. The firm, which runs just one trainee intake per year, offered all 18 trainees a role at the firm, with two opting not to accept. Six of the NQs will now be based in the firm's LManchester office, with five in Liverpool, four in Leeds and one in London.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

November 03, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Hogan Lovells have taken lead roles on the court dispute over Eurostar's order for German-built Siemens trains to run through the Channel Tunnel. Eurostar handed Siemens a reported €600m (£522m) contract last month for a new fleet of trains following a succesful pitch against France's Alstom Transport.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

November 03, 2010 | International Edition

Berrymans Lace Mawer has made up seven lawyers to the firm's partnership in its second round of promotions this year. Four of the promotions come in Berrymans' London office, with the remaining promotions shared between the national firm's Manchester and Southampton arms. In the City, Martin Jensen and Alex Traill join the partnership in the professional indemnity practice, alongside Adam Lidster in costs and Greg McEwen in healthcare.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

Two Linklaters competition partners have left the firm's Stockholm and Hong Kong offices to set up their own boutique in Sweden. The new boutique, launched by Stockholm partner Kent Karlsson and Hong Kong partner Erik Soederlind, went live yesterday (1 November) under the name Kastell. Both partners joined Linklaters' Swedish competition practice in 2001 through its merger with local firm Lagerloef & Leman. Soederlind later relocated to the firm's Hong Kong office in 2008 to become head of competition and antitrust in Asia - a position he held at the time of his departure.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons is bulking up in Frankfurt with the hire of Latham & Watkins partner Martin Meissner to head its German real estate practice. Meissner is set to join the firm in Germany on 1 January 2011 from the Frankfurt real estate group at Latham. He brings with him a team of two associates, Sabine Wieduwilt and Harald Heller, and will be the sole partner in the group.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

Austrian firm Schoenherr has made its first equity promotions outside of its Vienna base, making up five partners across its network of international offices. The appointments in Prague, Bucharest and Belgrade make Schoenherr one of the first Austrian firms to admit lawyers to the equity outside Austria.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

DLA Piper has hired Hogan Lovells' head of intellectual property, media and technology (IPMT) in Warsaw to head up the firm's practice in Poland. Krystyna Szczepanowska-Kozlowska joined DLA last month to head up the intellectual property and technology practice (IPT) after leaving Hogan Lovells in September. She is the only partner in DLA's Warsaw practice.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

Withers has relocated City partner Katie Graves to Hong Kong in an effort to boost its Asia presence. Graves moved to the region last month and sits within the Hong Kong wealth planning practice. Her transfer follows that of counsel Patrick Hamlin who relocated in September to head the Hong Kong litigation practice. Both moves come as Withers prepares to start offering local Hong Kong law in the new year.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

November 01, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has linked up with an external provider to offer the firm's London employees emergency care for children and other dependents. The magic circle firm has teamed up with My Family Care to offer up to 10 free back-up care sessions a year to cover childcare, elderly care, school holiday cover or care for other dependent adults.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

November 01, 2010 | International Edition

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert is in negotiations over further partner exits as the firm moves to overhaul the structure of its practice groups. Barlows is currently in discussions with four or five corporate partners and a number of associates about possible departures. The firm has recently merged its commercial litigation and arbitration practice with its professional and financial disputes group, with the new group led by partners Sarah Clover and Neil Jamieson.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read