United Kingdom

Report: Secret plans in place to ax or demote 20 to 50 of 189 partners at Ashurst Australia

Relying on unidentified sources, an Australian business publication says the Australian arm of Ashurst is secretly planning to cull between 20 and 50 of its 189 partners in order to meet financial projections and complete its planned merger with the United Kingdom-based law firm of the same name. Doing business…

Jan 31, 2013 10:39 PM CST

UK Spy Accused of Attacking Colleague to Be Tried Behind Screen, Under Pseudonym

A British spy is accused of sexually assaulting, beating and harassing a female colleague at various times last year will be tried for in a highly unusual manner next year. Because the 28-year-old’s life could be in danger if his identity is revealed, he will be tried under a pseudonym,…

Dec 10, 2012 8:19 PM CST

Partners OK Latest Mega-Merger; Dentons Will Have Nearly 2,500 Attorneys, Be Set Up as Swiss Verein

A three-way merger of major law firms was approved Wednesday by the partners involved, setting the stage for SNR Denton, Salans and Fraser Milner Casgrain to combine early next year. The new megafirm, which will be known as Dentons, will have more than 2,500 attorneys and professionals, making it the…

Nov 28, 2012 8:25 PM CST

Attorney Who Gave Up City Job for Kids Forms ‘Top Brain’ Law Firm With Other Stay-at-Home Moms

A former London lawyer who gave up a lucrative legal job in the global financial center after she had her first child is now challenging the traditional idea that skilled corporate attorneys have to work at traditional BigLaw firms if they want a challenging legal career. Eve King joined with…

Nov 27, 2012 7:03 PM CST

Ogletree Deakins to Plant Flag in Europe with Offices in London and Berlin

In what it says is the first such move by a U.S.-based firm specializing in labor and employment law, Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart has announced that it will soon be opening two offices in Europe. Its new Berlin office, which is expected to open Dec. 1, will be…

Nov 14, 2012 10:15 PM CST

Told Apple Needs 14 Days to Change ‘Untrue’ Samsung Correction Notice, UK Judge Expresses Disbelief

Ordered by the United Kingdom’s High Court of Justice last month to put a post on its website explaining that a competitor didn’t copy its iPad design, Apple Inc. tried to comply but published a notice that was “untrue” and “incorrect,” according to British judges. Then, when Apple was ordered…

Nov 1, 2012 9:53 PM CDT

Top 10 UK Law Firms Rake In Nearly Half of BigLaw Revenue, Could Gain Even More via Foreign Growth

The top 10 law firms in the United Kingdom bring in almost half of the income earned by the country’s 100 largest legal shops, and could get an even bigger share of the pie through international expansion. Already, the top 10 bring in around 40 percent of their revenue from…

Oct 29, 2012 4:05 PM CDT

UK Outsourcer Announces Plans to Buy Another Law Firm

A publicly traded outsourcing company is buying a second U.K. law firm, provided it gets regulatory approval. Software and outsourcing business Quindell Portfolio is buying the Pinto Potts law firm, which specializes in personal injury claims, according to Legal Week and the Global Legal Post. The purchase is authorized by…

Oct 15, 2012 2:26 PM CDT

British Judge, a Well-Known Author, Is Temporarily Suspended After Arrest; Police Won’t State Reason

A well-known British barrister who serves as a part-time judge in London has been temporarily taken off the bench. Constance Briscoe, 55, was arrested on Saturday by Kent Police and released on bail, and subsequently has been removed from hearing cases, according to the Telegraph. The basis for her arrest…

Oct 11, 2012 8:52 PM CDT

More Staff Layoffs in London at Mayer Brown

The London office of Mayer Brown is trimming back staff in a second round of cuts this year. The firm plans to lay off fewer than 20 non-lawyer staff, according to Legal Week. Legal Week reported on an earlier round of layoffs in May, involving about 16 support and legal…

Sep 25, 2012 10:25 AM CDT

Law Firm Partner Ranks Dip in UK, ‘Unproven’ Associates Look Elsewhere

Continuing economic problems, older lawyers putting off retirement and uncertainty about the U.K.’s new “Tesco Law” are reasons cited for a shrinking partner base. The dip in partner levels is the first since the 2008-09 recession, according to the Financial Times. Citing a recent survey by Wilkins Kennedy, the Financial…

Sep 24, 2012 11:28 AM CDT

UK Mulls Revoking Immunity After Ecuador Allows Assange to Remain in London Embassy

Ecuador says it will allow WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who faces extradition to Sweden, to remain indefinitely under its humanitarian protection. Assange has been in the embassy for two months already and the recent development heightens what’s turned into a tense confrontation between Ecuador and the British government, the New…

Aug 16, 2012 10:07 AM CDT

UK Insurers Mull Taking Work In-House and Setting Up Their Own Law Firms as Latest Cost-Cutting Move

After a change ushered in with the United Kingdom’s Legal Services Act allowing nonattorneys to have an ownership interest in law firms, a number of insurance companies are planning to either bring legal work in-house or set up their own law firms as a cost-cutting move, a study has found.…

Aug 15, 2012 5:13 PM CDT

British Bank Agrees to $340M Deal to Settle Laundering Claim

British bank Standard Chartered has struck a deal to pay $340 million to New York’s top banking regulator to settle claims that it laundered billions of dollars for Iran and lied to regulators. The New York Times reports that the agreement is a victory the 10-month-old New York Department of…

Aug 15, 2012 12:05 PM CDT

Well-Known UK Law Firm Launches Low-Cost Paralegal Team

A well-known commercial law firm headquartered in Scotland has launched a new “firm within a firm” paralegal initiative intended to provide clients with a cost-efficient alternative to using attorneys for work such as basic due diligence, document review, filings, registrations and searches. The new Dundas & Wilson Legal Servivces Unit…

Jul 19, 2012 4:18 PM CDT