Phew, it’s been busy morning. Ashurst unveils a massive 36% rise in PEP, DLA Piper stirs up controversy with its City-centric pay-rises, CC and A&O top the deal rankings and one of Italy’s best law firms shakes up its senior management. Anyway, the five most popular articles on legalweek.com this hectic news day are:

  1. Nine bluechips sign up 60 firms for cutting-edge legal network
  2. DLA Piper ups City pay 19% but just 4% in regions
  3. Ashurst PEP soars 36% to near £1m mark
  4. Barlows makes up 36 to new ‘director’ role
  5. 2007 pay round: a Legal Week Wiki special

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