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International Edition

Facing the chop

Even if you know you are with the wrong partner, no-one likes to be rejected. So how do clients feel when a law firm tells them they have decided that their business no longer fits with them?After all, there has been much coverage in recent years of large City law firms actively managing their client base, a process that usually means that some smaller clients are turned away.While in busier markets this was typically as much a means for developing advisers' business, with the emphasis on law firms focusing on larger clients, now some firms - notably Linklaters - are looking at trimming their client base to limit potential conflicts in what promises to be a more litigious environment.
6 minute read

International Edition

Bigger isn't better

The rise of large, high-quality, global corporate law departments started more than 20 years ago. It was aimed, in part, at breaking up the monopolies that law firms had with corporations. Using a range of initiatives from requests for proposals to auctions, in-house counsel sought to end these cosy relationships and introduce a measure of competition into the law firm-client dynamic. The mantra of 'lawyers, not law firms' was uttered so often that it became a cliche.Because of these pressures - among others - law firms increasingly focused on becoming more effective business organisations. Some followed globalising clients and looked to provide cross-speciality, cross-border service, either through acquisitions or organic growth, or both.
11 minute read

International Edition

Legal Week launches e-briefing for in-housers

Legal Week has launched a digital newsletter that aims to provide busy general counsel with a round-up of key news and developments affecting the in-house legal community. Published every Friday morning via email, the newsletter is written by Legal Week's award-winning editorial team and is free for in-house lawyers.As well as highlighting the main news, analysis and profiles in Legal Week, it also draws on Incisive Legal's stable of leading US titles, including Corporate Counsel and The American Lawyer.
1 minute read

International Edition

UBS wealth management head in fraud charge

Raoul Weil, the chairman and CEO of the global wealth management and business banking division at UBS, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he helped US taxpayers avoid income taxes on assets in overseas accounts. According to the indictment, Weil and other UBS bankers used encrypted laptops and other counter-surveillance techniques to assist US clients in concealing their identities and nearly $200bn (£135bn) in offshore assets from US authorities. The indictment claims that Swiss bankers who reported to Weil routinely travelled to the US to discuss Swiss bank accounts with current and prospective clients. Between 2002 and 2007, these activities allegedly generated nearly $200m (£135m) in cross-border business for UBS.
3 minute read

International Edition

Pay attention

Salary surveys have become something of a fixture of the in-house world but, as popular as their production is among recruitment professionals, there has been little debate about how useful - or how widely used - they are by their intended audience.Of course, no one disputes the demand for research that can provide lawyers working outside the highly structured world of private practice with a yardstick by which to judge their own compensation. But with salaries and bonuses widely varying as the type, sector and geography of the companies looking to recruit, just how useful are current surveys on the market? Are such surveys a true reflection of the earnings of lawyers working in-house? And what is the general quality of the research behind such initiatives?
7 minute read

International Edition

In-house representative group votes in new chair

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) has elected a new chair and six new directors to its board. The international in-house representative group has appointed Ivan Fong, chief legal officer and secretary of Cardinal Health, as its new chair. Fong and the new directors were sworn in at the ACC annual meeting last month.New members of the organisation's board include Bradford Smith, general counsel of the Microsoft Corporation, Danette Wineberg, general counsel and secretary of the Timberland Company and Elisa Garcia, general counsel of Office Depot.
2 minute read

International Edition

Norwich Union to merge teams after budget cuts

Norwich Union is to make a raft of changes to its life insurance legal team after its budget was cut by 20%. The cost-cutting measures, which are part of wider initiative led by parent company Aviva, will see the company separate its legal department from its investment helpline team, reducing the legal headcount from 72 to 43.As part of the overhaul, the company is set to merge its legal bases in Norwich and York Around nine staff, including five lawyers, are expected to be affected, with some likely to take early retirement. The legal team staff in Southampton is expected to be unaffected by the move.
2 minute read

International Edition

Coca-Cola Enterprises makes senior in-house appointment

Coca-Cola Enterprises has appointed Jeff Kirsh as its new vice president legal and company secretary for Great Britain. Kirsh will take up the role at the beginning of the year and has been appointed internally from the US arm of the soft drinks manufacturer and distributor.Kirsh will replace Eva Bishop, who was recently hired by drinks company William Grant & Sons as their first-ever general counsel.
2 minute read

International Edition

The Coke side of in-house life

Advising the world's most famous global brand for three decades is no mean feat. Christopher Barnard has worked in almost every legal role, in almost every jurisdiction for Coca-Cola since 1978 and still has a thirst for more.Always excited by his work with the brand, he says: "As you might expect, Coca-Cola is a very creative business and a great company to work in. The demanding work keeps the adrenalin running and it is constantly evolving - it keeps you on your toes."Barnard joined the company in a management role and his career has developed over the last 30 years to the point that he is now the group general counsel for Coca-Cola Europe.
7 minute read

International Edition

BLP and Hammonds head up new National Grid panel

National Grid has appointed a new panel of seven firms to deal with its groupwide property, planning and parliamentary agency work. The international electricity and gas company will use Berwin Leighton Paisner, Dundas & Wilson and Hammonds for complex project, environmental and property work and BrookStreet des Roches, Davies & Partners and Needham & James for volume property, easement work and less complex property matters. Bircham Dyson Bell has been appointed for general property easement work and to act as the group's parliamentary agent.
2 minute read

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