United Kingdom

Australia’s Slater & Gordon Snaps Up UK Personal Injury Firm, Russell Jones & Walker, for $84M

Slater & Gordon, the world’s first publicly traded law firm is poised to grow again after agreeing to pay 53.8 million pounds (about $84 million in U.S. dollars) for a United Kingdom law firm that also specializes in personal injury work. The acquisition of Russell Jones & Walker is authorized…

Jan 30, 2012 11:55 PM CST

Ousted BigLaw Partner Gets 5 Years for Helping Client Trick Swiss Bank Into Making $28M Loan

A British lawyer ousted in 2008 from his equity partnership at Mishcon de Reya was sentenced today to 5½ years in prison for helping a client trick a private Swiss bank into making a loan of some $28 million. Solicitor Kevin Steele, 51, helped his client, Michael Shephard, present fake…

Jan 28, 2012 12:02 AM CST

Ex-BigLaw Partner Accused of Faking Kidnap to Avoid DUI Case Gets 12 Months, Loses Driver’s License

A former partner of Allen & Overy and Macfarlanes has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for claiming to police he had been kidnapped in an apparent effort to avoid a possible driving-under-the-influence case after driving his Range Rover off the road. “I doubt a drink-drive conviction would have…

Jan 24, 2012 10:14 PM CST

Public Company to Buy UK Law Firm for $30M to Enhance Insurance Claims-Management Business

In what may be the first purchase of a law firm by a publicly traded United Kingdom company, Quindell Portfolio plans to acquire Silverbeck Rymer to expand the array of claims-management services it offers to insurers. It will pay 19.3 million pounds (about $30 million in U.S dollars) for the…

Jan 24, 2012 8:20 PM CST

British Juror Gets 3 Months for Researching Defendant Online, Resulting in Mistrial

A British university lecturer found guilty of contempt for ignoring a Luton Crown Court order and doing Internet research on the defendant while participating in jury deliberations in a criminal trial last summer has been sentenced to a six-month jail term by a three-judge High Court panel. Theodora Dallas, 34,…

Jan 23, 2012 8:23 PM CST

Davis Polk to Expand London Office Practice with Freshfields Partner, Perhaps Others

Following the lead of several other well-known Wall Street law firms, Davis Polk & Wardwell announced that it is expanding its English law practice at the firm’s office in London. Capital markets specialist Simon Witty of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer will join the London office in April, but it isn’t known…

Jan 9, 2012 10:24 PM CST

Ex-BigLaw Partner Collapses in Court as Judge Warns of Likely Jail Time for Drunk-Driving Case Lies

Things went from bad to worse for a solicitor in a major London law firm after he apparently had a few too many alcoholic drinks and crashed his Range Rover last year. Found later at home by police, where he tested over the limit, Francis Bridgeman said he had been…

Dec 19, 2011 2:36 PM CST

Feel Free to Tweet and Text, UK Lord Chief Justice Tells Journalists There

United Kingdom journalists no longer must obtain permission to email, text or tweet during courtroom coverage, Baron Igor Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, announced today. According to the Guardian, individuals who are not media members will still have to file applications with the court to use live…

Dec 14, 2011 8:22 PM CST

Top 10 UK Law Firm Herbert Smith to Open New York Office

One of the top 10 law firms in the United Kingdom plans to open an office in New York within the next year. Herbert Smith will focus its practice there on international arbitration, international investigations and cross-border disputes, Legal Week reports. Although the firm expects to bring in some American…

Dec 7, 2011 8:24 PM CST

Ex-Mishcon de Reya Partner Convicted in $28M Loan Scheme

A former partner of a well-known British law firm was found guilty by a jury today in a $28 million loan scheme involving a former client. Kevin James Steele, 51, will be sentenced in January following his conviction in Southwark Crown Court on forgery and fraud counts, according to the…

Dec 5, 2011 5:39 PM CST

Bar Group Wins Court Takedown Order re ‘Solicitors from Hell’ Blog

A bar group in the United Kingdom has won a ban on a disgruntled ex-client’s Solicitors from Hell blog. The site had featured a devil in a red suit surrounded by flames on its homepage and purported to “expose these shameless, corrupt, money-grabbing, incompetent specimens of humanity.” However, it now…

Nov 16, 2011 5:59 PM CST

Ex-Mishcon Partner on Trial for His Alleged Role in Helping Perpetrate $28M Fraud on Swiss Bank

A former partner at a well-known British law firm is on trial in Southwark Crown Court, accused of helping two men defraud a Swiss bank of some $28 million. Solicitor Kevin Steele, 51, says he did nothing wrong, the Telegraph reports. The former Mishcon de Reya partner is accused of…

Nov 10, 2011 9:36 PM CST

Both Sides Proclaim Victory re $1.3M Award Against 3M in MRSA Test Case

Both sides proclaimed victory today after a British judge ordered 3M Corp. to pay $1.3 million for failing to fulfill a promise to market a test for MRSA, a dangerous bacteria in hospitals. The award to the Porton Group and its partners was far less than the $40 million they…

Nov 7, 2011 8:12 PM CST

Survey Finds Many Top UK Law Firms Are De-Equitizing Partners

Many of the United Kingdom’s top law firms are either considering a plan to strip some so-called partners of their equity role or already implementing one. Of the 34 law firms that responded among the top 50, a total of 20 were at least considering the option, reports Legal Week.…

Nov 3, 2011 7:15 PM CDT

Australia’s Slater & Gordon Snaps Up UK Personal Injury Firm, Russell Jones & Walker, for $84M

Ousted BigLaw Partner Gets 5 Years for Helping Client Trick Swiss Bank Into Making $28M Loan

Ex-BigLaw Partner Accused of Faking Kidnap to Avoid DUI Case Gets 12 Months, Loses Driver’s License

Public Company to Buy UK Law Firm for $30M to Enhance Insurance Claims-Management Business

British Juror Gets 3 Months for Researching Defendant Online, Resulting in Mistrial

Davis Polk to Expand London Office Practice with Freshfields Partner, Perhaps Others

Ex-BigLaw Partner Collapses in Court as Judge Warns of Likely Jail Time for Drunk-Driving Case Lies

Feel Free to Tweet and Text, UK Lord Chief Justice Tells Journalists There

Top UK Linklaters Firm Plans to Restructure Again; Up to 35 Partners Could Exit or Be De-equitized

Top 10 UK Law Firm Herbert Smith to Open New York Office

Ex-Mishcon de Reya Partner Convicted in $28M Loan Scheme

Bar Group Wins Court Takedown Order re ‘Solicitors from Hell’ Blog

Ex-Mishcon Partner on Trial for His Alleged Role in Helping Perpetrate $28M Fraud on Swiss Bank

Both Sides Proclaim Victory re $1.3M Award Against 3M in MRSA Test Case

Survey Finds Many Top UK Law Firms Are De-Equitizing Partners

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