Charles Russell Speechlys (CRS) achieved double-digit growth in revenue and net profit for the financial year ending 30 April, with firmwide revenue reaching £218.3m. The firm saw revenue grow by 13 per cent on the previous year with revenue in the UK increasing by 12 per cent to £174.4m. Firmwide net profit increased by 20.5 […]
Kirkland & Ellis is hiring a new partner from Clifford Chance, in a move that will grow its outsourcing and technology expertise in London. André Duminy joins Kirkland after nearly 25 years at Clifford Chance, where he is head of its London tech and digital group and co-head of the strategic sourcing and complex contracting […]
White & Case has continued its expansion of its investment funds practice in the UK, with another hire from Ropes & Gray. Alexandra Chauvin joins White & Case as a partner in its investment funds practice and global private equity industry group from Ropes where she spent just over two years. Chauvin specialises in secondaries […]
Clifford Chance has altered its associate bonus review process in the UK, bringing it in line with offices in the US. The new system was introduced at the beginning of June and sees associates better rewarded when they are higher in demand – ultimately linking the number of hours billed to the individual’s bonus potential. […]
Reed Smith has increased its newly-qualified (NQ) solicitor salary to £125,000 in its first rise since announcing a hike in 2021. From September this year, the firm is set to increase base salaries for NQs from £107,500 with all other associate-level salaries expected to rise in line with the change. The new compensation structure means […]
In its first round of qualifiers as a newly-merged firm, A&O Shearman has retained 37 of its combined cohort of 56 trainee solicitors. A total of 48 trainees applied to qualify at the firm, but only 39 were made offers, with 37 accepting. Retention is therefore posted at 66 per cent, with no qualifiers on […]
Herbert Smith Freehills has increased its compensation package for its trainee solicitors and newly-qualified (NQ) solicitors, with NQs now earning £135,000. NQ pay at the firm will increase 12.5 per cent from £120,000 to £135,000 – a figure that now surpasses that of Slaughter and May which decided to remain at £125,000 in June. Trainees […]
Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison is to match its US rivals on newly-qualified (NQ) solicitor pay, with a pledge to start taking on trainee solicitors in London. The firm is expected to have its first cohort of trainee solicitors start in London in September 2026. Trainee pay is currently undisclosed but the firm will […]
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom took the lead role for BlackRock on its acquisition of private markets data solutions provider Preqin for £2.55bn. The deal sees BlackRock acquire Preqin to expand Aladdin, the private equity giant’s portfolio management software. The deal will bring Preqin’s data and research tools together with Aladdin’s workflow capabilities to […]
Slaughter and May, Kirkland & Ellis and Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison have together banked nearly £25m on EP Group’s (EP) takeover of Royal Mail’s parent company, IDS. EP, owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, announced its intention to acquire IDS just over a month ago in May. The bid valued the distribution company […]
Perkins Coie is designing a training contract that aims to harness the flexibility of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and take up to a year off the traditional training contract route. The launch of a legal trainee programme in London is understood to have been signed off by the US firm and will be finalised […]
Pinsent Masons is acting for England’s largest winemaker on a potential sale that could see the company de-list from the alternative investment market (AIM) less than a year after its float. Chapel Down Group, the official English sparkling wine sponsor of Ascot Racecourse, is conducting a strategic review of its funding options including a potential […]