Suzi Ring

October 18, 2010 | International Edition

Personal injury lawyers and claims management agencies could see their operations limited following a review of health and safety laws focusing on the UK's compensation culture. Lord Young's report - Common Sense, Common Safety - was published last week and calls for restrictions on the volume and type of 'no-win, no fee' advertising for personal injury claims, as well as restrictions on the operations of both the agencies referring the cases to solicitors and the lawyers themselves. Referral fees themselves would not be banned by Young.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 18, 2010 | International Edition

Former Linklaters capital markets chief Nick Eastwell is to join the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) as the body's new chief adviser on City law firms. The appointment comes as the SRA moves to improve its understanding and links with City firms, in response to previous criticism. Eastwell, who takes up the role in November, will provide expert advice to the SRA on the regulation of City firms, as well as providing additional quality assurance on the outcomes of SRA pilots in the City.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 15, 2010 | International Edition

Eversheds looks set to part company with the head of its Copenhagen office, as the firm holds discussions about the future of the Danish base. Local managing partner Troels Askerud has declared his intention to resign from Eversheds, confirming earlier today (15 October) that he has told the firm of his intention to quit. His confirmation follows a report on legal blog RollonFriday stating that Askerud had resigned and that the firm was in talks with three further partners over potential exits.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 15, 2010 | International Edition

Clarke Willmott is set to lose three partners from its family, real estate and construction practices in Birmingham. Family law partner Andrew Breakwell left the firm today (15 October) to set up and head a family practice for Harvey Ingram in Birmingham. Breakwell has been at Clarke Wilmott since 2008, prior to which he was at Mills & Reeve, where he also helped to launch a family law practice.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 14, 2010 | International Edition

Holman Fenwick Willan has signed an exclusive deal with Kaplan Law School to provide the Legal Practice Course (LPC) for the firm's trainees. The deal, which came into effect last month, will see Kaplan tailor the LPC to include a specific insurance module for the firm's trainees.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 14, 2010 | International Edition

Norton Rose is set to lose four partners from its Paris arm following disagreements about the direction of the office. Corporate finance partners Jean-Francois Mercadier, Pascale Gallien and Anne-Sylvie Vassenaix-Paxton and dispute resolution partner Alexander Brabant are leaving the firm, although their exit dates and next future destination are yet to be confirmed.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Hogan Lovells and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) are among the firms shortlisted for a number of categories in the 2010 British Legal Awards. The group has been nominated for the much sought after Law Firm of the Year award alongside Clyde & Co, Sullivan & Cromwell and Travers Smith.

By Suzi Ring

5 minute read

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

Clyde & Co has continued its expansion drive with a trio of hires for its City base. The firm has boosted its structured finance team with the hire of Chris Sykes from Osborne Clarke, while Robert Franklin joins from legacy Denton Wilde Sapte as a senior consultant. Both were partners at their previous firms.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons has merged its Dutch operations and moved to a new premises in Amsterdam following the City law firm's decision to close its Rotterdam base last year. The new office holds 80 lawyers from the combined arms of the former Rotterdam and Amsterdam offices, 17 of whom are partners. The outfit went live on 11 October.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has hired Axel Koelsch from Hogan Lovells as its new chief operating officer for Germany and Austria. Koelsch will join the firm by the end of the year to fill the newly-created position. He will act as the interface between lawyers and central business services across the firm's seven German offices, heading up the region's administration and reporting to regional managing partner Klaus-Stefan Hohenstatt.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read