Law Firm Management

Middle East and Africa

By Legal Week | September 5, 2013

Rising interest in an already full Middle East market and reforming Libya's legal system post-Gaddafi are this week's top features in Legal Week.

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Hard work has just begun: SJB and KWM chiefs outline bold plans for merged firm

By Pui-Guan Man | September 5, 2013

When counting down the days to a holiday, that 'to do' list can often seem a little daunting. But for most, pulling off an international merger deal is not one of the tasks on the agenda. SJ Berwin management duo Stephen Kon and Rob Day (pictured, top left and centre) have been enjoying a much-needed rest since signing an agreement to merge with Sino-Australian firm King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) at the tail end of July.

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Desert dreams – why law firms are reassessing their Middle East strategies

By Pui-Guan Man | September 5, 2013

In Abu Dhabi Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has been looking in recent months to sub-let half its office space on the 23rd floor of the prestigious Al Sila Tower. The firm stresses it remains committed to the city, but its move nonetheless reflects a broader readjustment of international law firm ambitions in the UAE capital. "It's no secret that we are looking to sub-let half of the floor we originally let," says Zubair Mir, head of HSF's Middle East operations, before adding that "we are not looking to return the lease in any way". He explains: "What happened was we bought an entire floor in Dubai which became more full than we expected, so when we negotiated in Abu Dhabi we took out more space than we needed to try to avoid the situation of not having enough room." HSF is not alone in rethinking its needs in Abu Dhabi. Hogan Lovells closed its outpost there last year and transferred its work to the firm's Dubai office, having decided that it made for a stronger regional hub.

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Herbert Smith Freehills calls off planned Guinea office launch

By Anna Reynolds | September 4, 2013

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has decided not to go ahead with its planned launch in Guinea, a move which had been expected to take place early this year. The firm announced the planned launch in the capital of Conakry in October last year, with the decision attributed to increasing interest in the West African jurisdiction from its energy and infrastructure clients.

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Dentons extends Kazakhstan reach with Astana office launch

By Alex Newman | September 3, 2013

Dentons has expanded its presence in Kazakhstan with the launch of an office in the capital Astana. The office will be headed by newly promoted partner Birzhan Zharasbayev, who was previously based in the firm's Almaty office.

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Speechly launches second Switzerland base in Geneva

By Anna Reynolds | September 2, 2013

Speechly Bircham has opened an office in Geneva today (2 September), ahead of the planned launch of another European office this November. The new office will be led by former Withers lawyer Michael Wells-Greco and of counsel Francis Rojas, who both left the firm in 2011 to join Luxembourg-based personal wealth outfit Maitland.

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Kennedys set to grow to £160m as firm seals Simpson & Marwick merger

By Anna Reynolds | August 30, 2013

Kennedys is to merge with Scottish law firm Simpson & Marwick later this year after partners at both firms voted in favour of the tie-up. The combined firm will be known as Kennedys, although Simpson & Marwick will be known as Kennedys Simpson & Marwick in Scotland for a period after the merger goes live on 1 November. The news follows the firm's recent union with specialist aviation and aerospace law firm, Gates and Partners, in June.

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Shoosmiths takes Challinors team as Midlands firm's collapse sees 46 jobs go

By Alex Newman | August 23, 2013

Shoosmiths has become the latest firm to benefit from the administration of Midlands firm Challinors with the hire of an eight-strong team including top-rated clinical negligence partner Richard Bannister. The Birmingham medical negligence team, which includes solicitors Erica Burrows, Pamela Katsionis and Sumit Morjaria, two associates and two paralegals, is joining Shoosmiths Access Legal, the firm's private client offering.

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Slater & Gordon takes over personal injury law firm Fentons in £32.5m deal

By Alex Newman | August 21, 2013

Slater & Gordon has announced a 37% increase in global revenues alongside the £32.5m acquisition of UK personal injury law firm Fentons Solicitors. The fast-growing Australian firm, which in 2007 became the world's first publicly listed law firm, saw revenue grow 36.7% to A$297.6m (£171.2m) in 2012-13, while net profit after tax was up 67.6% to A$41.9m (£24.1m).

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Baker Botts becomes latest firm to move into much-coveted Rio market

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong | August 15, 2013

Baker Botts has opened an office in Rio de Janeiro, as it seeks to grow its energy and disputes practices throughout Latin America. The Brazilian base, which will operate as a foreign legal consultancy, is the firm's first office in South America in almost 50 years, and its ninth international branch worldwide.

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Corporate Counsel

Seven Creative Solutions for Legal Resourcing Needs

By Monica Zent | September 14, 2018

These days, there are a range of options in the marketplace for how a legal department can resource its various needs. Here are a few to consider.

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Pro Mid Market

Beyond 'Better Call Saul': Why ABA Advertising Rule Changes Matter for Midsize Firms

By Zack Needles | September 14, 2018

Even if you're an attorney at a midsize law firm who is serving highly sophisticated clients and has never run a single daytime television commercial, you should be paying attention to the American Bar Association's recently adopted changes to its model rules on advertising and business solicitation.

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Law.com

The Law Firm Disrupted: Outside Ownership of a Law Firm Alert!

By Roy Strom | September 13, 2018

San Francisco-based Atrium, started a little more than a year ago by someone who made his fortune live-streaming video games, has snagged $65 million to continue providing flat-fee legal advice to startups. Where is Big Law in all of this?

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The Legal Intelligencer

Klehr Harrison Passes Leadership Baton to Second Generation

By Lizzy McLellan | September 13, 2018

Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg has chosen a new managing partner for the second time in its history, as part of a newly created executive committee.

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Pro Mid Market

At Morris James, an Eye on the Future, and the Client

By Lizzy McLellan | September 13, 2018

"Opportunity often comes from our ability to intentionally and rapidly act and react to changes in the market," managing partner Keith Donovan said.

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The American Lawyer

Nashville-Based Transactions Lawyer Takes Reins at Bradley Arant

By Scott Flaherty | September 13, 2018

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings has selected a new leader: Nashville-based Jonathan Skeeters, a transactional lawyer who will now guide the Am Law 200 firm's direction.

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International Edition

'If you're going to play in London, you've got to completely do it or not at all' – what do more Ropes exits mean for the firm's UK plans?

By Hannah Roberts | September 13, 2018

With another four partners set to leave the US firm's City base, Ropes' London ambitions have been called into question

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Law.com

A Deeper Look Into Performance Indices

By Madhav Srinivasan, Chief Financial Officer at Hunton Andrews Kurth | September 13, 2018

A look at the key trends that emerge from evaluating law firms overall performance

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Daily Business Review

Steven Zelkowitz Lands at Fox Rothschild From GrayRobinson

By Catherine Wilson | September 13, 2018

Zelkowitz managed GrayRobinson's Miami office and is in line to do the same next year for Fox Rothschild, which is on a hiring tear.

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Litigation Daily

Ex-Dickstein Shapiro Lawyers Sue Blank Rome for $4 Million in Unreturned Capital

By Ross Todd | September 12, 2018

The lawsuit, filed in California state court Wednesday, claims that Blank Rome styled its 2016 merger with Dickstein Shapiro as an “asset sale” to avoid paying out capital contributions to departed partners.

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