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International Edition

Sending the right signals – top IT heads discuss how technology can boost efficiency

Legal technology can boost efficiency and increase profits. A panel of experts at last year's Legal Week Strategic Technology Forum discussed whether technology a revenue generator or a profit enhancer...
8 minute read

International Edition

Top firms broaden recruitment horizons in social mobility drive

Disadvantaged students considering a career in law may be given greater access to the profession as several top law firms have joined a working group with the aim of adopting a 'contextual recruitment' scheme. The system, which is set to be rolled out later this year, could introduce a new element to recruitment across all industries including law, allowing firms to rate candidates against the average performance of their school, potentially widening the pool of recruits considered. Firms including Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Ashurst have teamed up with diversity recruitment and training company Rare to form a working group looking into the new system, which will also allow firms to take into account economic background and personal circumstances, such as whether they are the first generation of their family to go to university, or whether they have spent time in care.
4 minute read

International Edition

Corridors of power: corporate heavyweight Charles Randell looks back at a colourful 33-year career at Slaughters

From advising on a tranche of Thatcher-era privatisations to helping the Government steer through the banking crisis, recently retired Slaughter and May partner Charles Randell has had an eventful 33 years at the magic circle firm. Charlotte Edmond finds out about his highs and lows
10 minute read

International Edition

Ex-Cobbetts partners face multi-million pound claim from former client as adminstration extended

Former partners of collapsed law firm Cobbetts are facing a multimillion pound claim from a former client, who alleges the firm was professionally negligent and engaged in misrepresentation.
3 minute read

International Edition

Freshfields and Simpson Thacher take headline role as Guardian sells stake in Trader Media

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have won roles on Guardian Media Group's (GMG's) sale of its 50.1% stake in Auto Trader owner Trader Media Group. The Guardian publisher has offloaded its remaining stake, worth around £600m, to private equity firm Apax. The disposal is subject to regulatory approval and final completion.
2 minute read

International Edition

Proskauer swoops for Fried Frank's London tax head

Proskauer has hired the head of Fried Frank's London tax practice Robert Gaut, to support the expansion of the firm's City corporate and funds teams.
2 minute read

International Edition

Latham & Watkins delays London managing partner decision

Latham & Watkins' has delayed an expected London managing partner vote by at least a year. Corporate partner Nick Cline was selected for the role for a four-year term in April 2010, replacing technology and outsourcing partner Andrew Moyle on his appointment to the Latham's firm-wide executive committee.
2 minute read

International Edition

Lord Goldsmith to co-head Debevoise City office in management reshuffle

Lord Peter Goldsmith QC, the European and Asian litigation practice head of Debevoise & Plimpton, has been appointed co-managing partner of the US firm's London office.
2 minute read

International Edition

Follow the leader – CC die not yet cast as Layton prepares to take the helm

Any law firm manager elected or re-elected in the middle of the last decade probably faced a similar dilemma to Clifford Chance's David Childs: voted in during a boom, these leaders found their roles re-cast as the economy took a dramatic turn for the worse. As many managing partners over recent years will attest, leading a firm through a downturn is certainly a test of mettle, forcing them to take hard decisions about resources and costs that were more easily swept under the carpet during the more forgiving reigns of their predecessors. For Childs, this meant a partnership restructuring and staff cuts among several other unpopular measures, as he attempted to keep CC's turnover and profits on the right trajectory. But as Childs prepares to hand over to managing partner-elect Matthew Layton in the coming months, it is clear that the incomer also has some hard decisions to make, despite taking over in a more positive market.
3 minute read

International Edition

Primed for action – how the PRIME scheme is helping to open up the legal profession to poorer students

As someone whose mother is a teaching assistant and whose father is "basically AWOL", Georgia Stores is a good person to ask about what is more likely to stop her becoming a high-flying corporate lawyer: being working class or being female. After a pause to consider her answer, this bright and personable sixth former at the Highbury Grove state school in north London says: "Class is a bigger barrier than being a woman. I think there has been progress on women, but the biggest barrier for someone like me is expectation." Stores is responding to questions after presenting to a group of fellow pupils and a lawyer at DLA Piper's City headquarters – part of a week-long programme of activities organised by the firm for the PRIME diversity initiative.
9 minute read

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