Tea, cakes and clarity: The story behind the extraordinary turnaround at DACB
David Pollitt is transforming DACB thanks to his style of cheery communication coupled with strict financial discipline.
Kirkland’s beaten Linklaters again
Does anyone need any confirmation of the gradual takeover of the City by rampaging US law firms? No, thought not. If, however, your answer is yes, then more evidence of the Americanisation of London can be found in the upcoming edition of the UK Corporate 50. Much of the focus in this year’s report is […]
We’re entering a new era in Spain’s most expansionist firm
Mexico is set to welcome thousands of lawyers later this year when the capital city plays host to the International Bar Association’s (IBA) showpiece event. Partners and support staff will mingle from dawn until way after dusk, discuss strategies and scan way off into the horizon. However, Mexico’s been high on the interest list for […]
Clydes needed BLM as much as BLM needed Clydes
At times, Clyde & Co appeared dangerously close to squandering the growth opportunities presented by its July 2022 acquisition of BLM. The firm’s most recent financials, however, suggest BLM was the fuel Clydes needed to grow in the UK. Not that it has been without casualties, with a significant proportion of former BLM partners having […]
These are the M&A winners so far this year
The M&A rankings for the first half of 2024 confirmed one thing we already felt was true: that Linklaters and Slaughter and May have had a lot of acquisitive or targeted clients this year. According to data provided by the London Stock Exchange Group, the pair rank first and second respectively in terms of the […]
Stephenson Harwood is playing the long game
When Stephenson Harwood chief executive Eifion Morris set a target for doubling revenue to £400m by 2027, he knew it would be a tough challenge. “A profitable growth strategy will probably take more than individual lateral joiners and internal promotions to achieve,” he told The Lawyer back in 2021. This protective view came as the […]
European 100 firm splits into two boutiques
The French legal market has welcomed a new boutique this week as CGR Avocats opens its doors following the breakup of its predecessor firm earlier this year. European 100 firm LPA-CGR Avocats finally split in May, bringing an end to the seven-year partnership between Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés and CGR Legal. CGR Avocats relaunched at […]
Kirkland ushers in new policies for partner leavers
Kirkland & Ellis is introducing three key changes for departing partners, with amendments to notice period rules and the payout of distributions. From this month, the firm brought in a new measure to its partnership agreement, which will allow the firm to hold onto an exiting member’s potential distributions. The payout of a partner’s distributions […]
Climate crisis: Half of DLA Piper’s assets could be destroyed by tornadoes
With law firms increasingly looking at the risks to their business caused by climate change, DLA Piper has found that 47 per cent of its assets worldwide are vulnerable to tornadoes. The findings follow an assessment of the climate change risks facing the firm. According to the firm’s most recent accounts, the analysis also revealed […]
AI guru Susskind wins new Commonwealth role
Richard Susskind, one of the UK’s best-known experts on legal market technology and artificial intelligence (AI), has been appointed to a new position of special envoy for justice and AI to the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland KC. Susskind’s focus in this new role will be on helping the 56 Commonwealth countries use AI […]
Three-quarters of Clifford Chance qualifiers retained for autumn 2024
Magic circle firm Clifford Chance will keep 42 of its 56 qualifying trainees this September, meaning its retention is 75 per cent. A total of 54 trainees applied from newly qualified (NQ) positions at Clifford Chance, meaning just two chose not to remain at the firm. There were 44 offers made to the soon-to-be qualified […]