A&O swoops for stricken Shearman in transatlantic mega-deal
Allen & Overy is to merge with Shearman & Sterling in a transformative tie-up for both firms.
Simpson Thacher kills the training contract
While the largest firms still retain their training contracts, alternatives to the traditional route are now commonplace. But one US firm in London has hit upon a way to benefit from the Solicitors Qualification Exam’s new rules.
SRA closes Fletcher Day “with immediate effect” to protect clients
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has stepped in to close London firm Fletcher Day. As revealed by The Lawyer earlier this week, HM Revenue and Customs had issued a winding-up petition against Fletcher Day; however the SRA has now intervened to protect the interests of clients. In a statement the SRA said: “An intervention means […]
From benefits to barrister: my path to pupillage
I’ve been reflecting on the journey and sacrifice aspiring lawyers make to qualify as solicitors or barristers in England and Wales. Many of my friends and peers are still in the trenches fighting for their legal dream, so I want to take this opportunity to highlight the modern struggles of aspiring lawyers in 2023. The […]
Claim Spotter: Addleshaws launches multimillion-pound claim against PayPoint
A&O swoops for stricken Shearman in transatlantic mega-deal
Allen & Overy is to merge with Shearman & Sterling in a transformative tie-up for both firms.
Simpson Thacher kills the training contract
While the largest firms still retain their training contracts, alternatives to the traditional route are now commonplace. But one US firm in London has hit upon a way to benefit from the Solicitors Qualification Exam’s new rules.
SRA closes Fletcher Day “with immediate effect” to protect clients
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has stepped in to close London firm Fletcher Day. As revealed by The Lawyer earlier this week, HM Revenue and Customs had issued a winding-up petition against Fletcher Day; however the SRA has now intervened to protect the interests of clients. In a statement the SRA said: “An intervention means […]
From benefits to barrister: my path to pupillage
I’ve been reflecting on the journey and sacrifice aspiring lawyers make to qualify as solicitors or barristers in England and Wales. Many of my friends and peers are still in the trenches fighting for their legal dream, so I want to take this opportunity to highlight the modern struggles of aspiring lawyers in 2023. The […]
The Lawyer Awards 2023: Who’s in the running for Law Firm of the Year?
The shortlist for The Lawyer Awards was unveiled last month, celebrating legal excellence across the profession. Today, we reveal the firms in the running for Law Firm of the Year. This year, nine firms have been shortlisted by The Lawyer as contenders for the most important trophy in the legal sector. The winner of Law Firm of the Year, […]
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 […]
BDB Pitmans drops merger hunt for CMS-type network
BDB Pitmans partners have voted through proposals that will see the firm transition to a CMS-style network model, having called off merger talks with Womble Bond Dickinson in 2023. The firm has signed a letter of intent with Alvarez & Marsal Legal Services (AMLS) to help internationalise the business. Both BDB Pitmans and AMLS issued […]
The Passport: It’s finally happened – Dentons has been dethroned
Welcome to The Passport, your regular round-up of the most important stories to come from the European legal market. In this edition, we look at how CMS zoomed past Dentons in the Polish lawyer headcount stakes; why you might have to get used to the idea of three firms with ‘Snellman’ in their name; and […]
Cooley’s London boss leads three-partner move to Akin
Akin Gump has recruited three of Cooley’s London partners, including its City managing partner Justin Stock. Stock moves to Akin along with Stephen Rosen and David Bresnick. The three focus on transactions with a life sciences and technology element. At Akin, Stock will become the firm’s international head of technology. Both Stock and Bresnick joined […]
City talk: Clifford Chance’s corporate strategy still relies on its banking roots
For elite firms with ties to big banks, the first half of 2024 has been fruitful for corporate transactions. Sainsbury’s banking business was sold to NatWest Group last month, with Linklaters and A&O Shearman advising, while Addleshaw Goddard, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Paul Hastings led on Co-operative Bank’s sale to Coventry Building Society in an […]
Mills & Reeve staff set to share in £3m bonus pot
Mills & Reeve’s turnover rose by double digits in 2023/24 to a new record high that has resulted in the firm’s highest-ever all-staff bonus pool of £3m. The firm’s turnover rose by 14.1 per cent to £168m, beating its 2025 strategic target of £150m a year ahead of schedule. The firm has not yet revealed […]