United Kingdom

Apple Ordered to Say on Its UK Site, in British Papers That Samsung Didn’t Copy iPad; Appeal Planned

Unhappy about the prospect of having to post material on its own United Kingdom website and in newspapers there saying that a competitor didn’t copy its iPad design, Apple Inc. is planning to appeal a British judge’s ruling that imposes the penalty, for a six-month period, in a copyright infringement…

Jul 18, 2012 7:48 PM CDT

UK Solicitor Shot at Desk in Law Office Is In Critical Condition

An unusual attack on a lawyer working at his desk in a British market town left other residents stunned and solicitor James Ward, who was shot in the head and airlifted to a Bristol hospital, in critical condition fighting for his life. A 62-year-old builder who lost an expensive case…

Jul 5, 2012 4:30 PM CDT

Law Firm Mergers Level Off in US But Continue at a Steady Pace Abroad

Law firm mergers seem to be leveling off among U.S. legal shops but continuing at a steady pace among foreign competitors, according to recent surveys. Although there were more U.S. law firm mergers so far in 2012 than in 2011, the level of activity in the second quarter is down…

Jul 3, 2012 9:02 PM CDT

Herbert Smith and Freehills OK Megamerger; 2,800-Attorney Firm Plans to Open New York Office in 2012

Partners of London-based Herbert Smith and Australia’s Freehills have agreed to merge on Oct. 1. The 2,800-attorney merged firm will open a New York office this year, as well as in Africa and Seoul, reports Bloomberg. An office in Germany is planned next year. The Australian (reg. req.), the Financial…

Jun 28, 2012 3:31 PM CDT

Ecuador Says It’s Mulling Asylum Request by WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange

Former computer hacker and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, facing likely extradition to Sweden—where he is wanted for questioning concerning claimed sex crimes against two volunteers for his organization—has holed up in the Ecuador’s embassy in London and is seeking political asylum in the South American country. Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino…

Jun 19, 2012 8:30 PM CDT

Partner in $2M Hogan Lovells Expense Fraud ‘Lost All Reason,’ Spent $1M on Mistress, His Lawyer Says

A then-partner of Hogan Lovells “lost all reason” after falling for a Lebanese woman living in New York, spending well over $1 million on her during the course of an 18-month affair, his counsel told a British court before Christopher Grierson was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison The…

May 30, 2012 4:40 PM CDT

British Fixed-Fee Legal Services Business to Open New York Office; DLA Piper Is Part Owner

A legal services business in the United Kingdom that offers fixed-price litigation packages is set to open in New York this week. The business, Riverview Law, is partly owned by DLA Piper, the Am Law Daily reports. The New York office will target American clients seeking representation in the United…

May 30, 2012 1:24 PM CDT

Corporate Finance Team Exits Dewey & LeBoeuf Offices in UK and Moscow for Orrick

A group of corporate finance attorneys from the London and Moscow offices of Dewey & LeBoeuf is headed to Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. Led by Moscow partners Leo Batalov and Dmitry Gubarev, the group also includes associates from both offices, Legal Week reports. London associates of Dewey were informed earlier…

May 10, 2012 10:05 PM CDT

From ‘Drip Torture’ to Closure: Dewey Begins Laying Off Associates, Gives 1 Week Notice, WSJ Reports

Even as a once-mighty law firm was disintegrating around them, many associates of Dewey & LeBoeuf heard nothing official about their own fate. But that changed Tuesday as the law firm began laying off associates with one week of notice in a conference room meeting, reports the Wall Street Journal…

May 8, 2012 10:27 PM CDT

Dewey Sends WARN Notice to US Workers, Says Law Firm Could Close

Citing “a period of extraordinary difficulties in the last few days,” Dewey & LeBoeuf has warned all United States personnel in an internal memo “it is possible that adverse developments could ultimately result in the closure of the firm, which would result in the termination of your employment.” The notice…

May 4, 2012 10:41 PM CDT

At Least 12 More Partners Exit Dewey & LeBoeuf for McDermott, Morgan Lewis and Pillsbury Winthrop

Updated: There is news Friday that at least 12 more partners are exiting from the troubled Dewey & LeBoeuf, which has already lost about one-third of its partners in 2012. The exiting partners include four hired by McDermott Will & Emery in Germany; two practice leaders headed to Pillsbury Winthrop…

May 4, 2012 7:18 PM CDT

Top M&A Partner Exits Dewey & LeBoeuf for White & Case as Tally of 2012 Departed Partners Nears 100

Updated: As additional partners announce their departures from Dewey & LeBoeuf, the total of those leaving the approximately 1,000-attorney and 300-partner firm in 2012 is moving toward 100. Among the latest to announce a planned exit is mergers and acquisitions ace Morton A. Pierce, a former chairman of Dewey Ballantine…

May 3, 2012 6:26 PM CDT

Quinn Emanuel Opens 2nd Office in Germany with 11-Lawyer A&O Team; More Euro, Asia Growth Planned

For the second time in a year or so, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has raided Allen & Overy to set up a new office in Germany. This time, Nadine Herrmann, formerly A&O’s local intellectual property practice group chief, led an 11-attorney group to Quinn, where they are now resident,…

May 1, 2012 5:46 PM CDT

Highest UK Court Says Law Firms Can Set Mandatory Retirement for Partners

The United Kingdom’s Supreme Court has ruled that law firm partnerships may impose mandatory retirement for partners. The opinion (PDF) remanded the case, however, for a determination whether a retirement age of 65 was justified, report Bloomberg News, BBC News and the Independent. The lawyer challenging his forced ouster, Leslie…

Apr 25, 2012 12:14 PM CDT

UK Megafirm Linklaters Forms Alliance with Australia’s Allens Arthur Robinson

A United Kingdom megafirm has joined forces with Australia’s Allens Arthur Robinson, agreeing to form an alliance and engage in joint ventures in Asia. However, the team effort with London-based Linklaters is not expected to involve a formal merger, according to the Australian (sub. req.) and Legal Week. The new…

Apr 23, 2012 9:56 PM CDT