Law Firm Management

Ashurst receives approval to open up new base in Beijing

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong | March 20, 2013

Ashurst is set to formally open for business in Beijing after becoming the latest international law firm to receive a licence from China's Ministry of Justice. The UK outfit has appointed banking and finance partner Patrick Phua to lead the office, which will include 11 associates and focus on structured finance and derivatives work, in addition to some outbound investment.

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214 Asia GCs polled: Linklaters, KWM and Ashurst win client plaudits

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong | March 14, 2013

King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), Ashurst and Linklaters have ranked among the top providers of legal advice in Asia in a new Legal Week report on client satisfaction in the region. Legal Week's Client Satisfaction Report Asia, which is based on responses from general counsel at 214 companies in Asia, also saw Singapore's WongPartnership and Australia's Clayton Utz emerge as top-ranking firms in the region for client satisfaction, with all five firms receiving above-average scores. Asia-Pacific giant KWM – formed last March through the merger of China's King & Wood and Australia's Mallesons Stephen Jaques, received the highest average satisfaction score of 8.67 out of 10, ahead of second-placed Clayton Utz. It was rated particularly highly for quality of legal advice and service delivery and responsiveness, receiving scores of 9.5 and 9.3 respectively.

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Lands of opportunity – charting the rise of Africa as an attractive destination for deal lawyers

By Legal Week | March 14, 2013

With much of the world economy in the doldrums, Africa is an increasingly attractive prospect for investment. And while it's risky to generalise about 54 countries, there is a theme of increased sophistication when it comes to the deployment of legal services across the continent. Nuno Antunes, director at Miranda, a practice that has a long-standing alliance in Africa, describes the situation as something of an 'economic conundrum', given the rate at which Africa is growing compared to the rest of the world. He also notes an increasingly long-term approach to investment in the continent. "Short-term gains are not easy, if they ever were, in the current volatile economy," he says.

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HSF names new China managing partner as Tortoishell steps down

By Alex Newman | March 14, 2013

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has appointed Hong Kong arbitration partner Justin D'Agostino as its new Greater China managing partner. D'Agostino will replace Andrew Tortoishell in the role from 1 May, ahead of Tortoishell's retirement from the HSF partnership on 30 June 2013. D'Agostino has acted as counsel and advocate before tribunals in Hong Kong, London, Singapore, Beijing, Bangkok, Zurich, and The Hague, including a role for Grand Pacific Holdings Limited in its high-profile and successful appeal against a decision by the Hong Kong Court of First Instance.

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Betting on in-house – can corporate moves into legal services win credibility?

By Georgina Stanley | March 7, 2013

"At a time when in-house advisers are under growing pressure to demonstrate their worth to the wider business, why not try to leverage skills already housed within the department to make a profit from external clients or make new inroads where they know they have a ready made client base to serve?"

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International Edition

Betting on in-house – can corporate moves into legal services win credibility?

By Georgina Stanley | March 7, 2013

"At a time when in-house advisers are under growing pressure to demonstrate their worth to the wider business, why not try to leverage skills already housed within the department to make a profit from external clients or make new inroads where they know they have a ready made client base to serve?"

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Eversheds and Squire Sanders take lion's share as GLA legal spend surges

By Gerard Starkey | March 7, 2013

The Greater London Authority's (GLA) legal spend has increased more than 60-fold during the current financial year, following the transfer of responsibility for housing and regeneration work from the Homes and Community Agency (HCA). A freedom of information request submitted by Legal Week has revealed the administrative body headed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson spent £490,785 on legal services during the nine-month period from 1 April to 31 December 2012 – up on just £7,805 for the full 12 months of 2011-12.

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Bakers holds talks over tie-up with top UAE firm Habib Al Mulla

By Gerard Starkey | March 6, 2013

Baker & McKenzie has held talks with respected United Arab Emirates firm Habib Al Mulla & Company over a possible combination. The law firm, which has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, was founded in 1984 by executive chairman Habib Al Mulla.

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Addleshaws and Nabarro call off talks over near-£300m merger deal

By Pui-Guan Man | March 6, 2013

Addleshaw Goddard and Nabarro have confirmed that the two firms held merger talks, with preliminary discussions ending at the start of February. The failed talks, which were first reported by Legal Business earlier today (6 March), could have created a combined firm with revenues of more than £280m, putting it just outside the top 10 UK firms by revenue.

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Hogan Lovells names new London head in top-level management revamp

By Alex Newman | March 6, 2013

Hogan Lovells has overhauled its international management committee, with a number of high-profile changes set to take effect this year, including the appointment of antitrust partner Susan Bright as London managing partner. The committee, which is responsible for the strategic direction and business operations of the firm, comprises the heads of Hogan Lovells' five practice groups and five administrative regions.

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New York Law Journal

Midsize NY Law Firm Sees Commoditization of Legal Services as a Threat

By Susan DeSantis | August 1, 2018

Jeffrey Boxer, co-chair of the litigation practice at Carter Ledyard & Milburn, discussed the advantages and challenges of being a midsize firm in a supersized city.

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The American Lawyer

A Trans-Atlantic Acquisition Shows Divide in US, UK Legal Tech Adoption

By Roy Strom | August 1, 2018

HighQ is hoping to match the success it has had across the pond by acquiring stateside competitor Legal Anywhere.

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Pro Mid Market

Midsize Moves: Virginia is for Movers, Plus Midwest News

By David Gialanella | August 1, 2018

Lateral moves at midsize law firms.

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International Edition

KWM ratchets up London presence with new leadership, partner relocations and office move

By Krishnan Nair | August 1, 2018

Darren Roiser named as London chief as firm adds three partners to new Walkie Talkie base

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The American Lawyer

Law Firm Merger Rush Continues With Nelson Mullins Tie-Up

By Dan Packel | August 1, 2018

A finalized union with Florida's Broad and Cassel supercharges the Southeast-focused Am Law 100 firm, which now boasts 25 offices up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

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Pro Mid Market

Harter Secrest & Emery: How a Midsize Upstate NY Law Firm Competes With Big Law

By Susan DeSantis | August 1, 2018

Craig Wittlin, managing partner of Harter Secrest & Emery in upstate New York, discusses his firm's competitive advantages: its partnership structure, low overhead and meaningful work for younger associates.

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Corporate Counsel

For Managing Partners, a Move In-House Isn't Always Easy

By Stephanie Forshee and Ben Seal | August 1, 2018

Law firm managing partners who have become general counsel say the transition is more challenging than it may appear.

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International

O'Melveny Management Jets Into London as Allen & Overy Merger Talks Continue

By Rose Walker | July 31, 2018

O'Melveny chairman Bradley Butwin met in London with Allen & Overy leaders last week.

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The American Lawyer

Chasing M&A Dominance, Cadwalader Adds Sidley Austin Antitrust Co-Leader

By Meghan Tribe | July 31, 2018

Cadwalader "is poised to be one of the firms that is going to really be in control of the next M&A cycle,” said new partner Joel Mitnick in New York, who was global co-head of Sidley Austin's antitrust group.

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The American Lawyer

Women Exit Ogletree Deakins in Wake of Gender Bias Allegations

By Miriam Rozen | July 31, 2018

“A lot of my good friends had left. I looked around and said, 'Why am I still here?'” said a former nonequity partner at Ogletree Deakins, a national labor and employment firm facing a $300 million gender bias suit.

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