Talkback

A band of City law firms look set to tough out the gloomy market with Lovells, Norton Rose, Trowers & Hamlins and CMS Cameron McKenna all expecting double-digit revenue growth for the first six months of the year. Norton Rose has said that it expects to... more 06 November 2008 15:50

Who are the Inns of Court A-listers of the future? Dominic Carman meets 10 up-and-coming young barristers who are being tipped for the top more 06 November 2008 02:30

Fee earners at Slaughter and May are set to see their pay packets boosted, with the elite City firm announcing that its lawyers are in line for a bonus of 10% of salary. The magic circle firm has unveiled a new firmwide bonus package, with all fee... more 03 November 2008 12:43

It seems increasingly apparent that the post-Clementi overhaul of solicitor regulation put in place several years back is under serious strain. True, the Law Society’s regulatory division was transferred to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) with... more 30 October 2008 05:56

Business confidence at top commercial law firms has been further battered by gloomy economic news in the current quarter — but nearly one in two partners still expect their firms to achieve revenue growth this year. Conducted a month after the... more 30 October 2008 03:59

More mergers predicted as market confidence drops

Confidence in the future of the legal sector has fallen sharply over the past 12 months, new research has revealed. According to an independent study, compiled on behalf of accountancy firm Smith & Williamson, just 50% of the UK’s leading firms are... more 27 October 2008 15:40

Law students are increasingly seeking out work abroad, with 70% of students likely to take on an overseas post, according to new research. The annual survey, completed by The College of Law and The Times, canvassed the opinions of students taking... more 20 October 2008 13:01

City partners have shrugged off their free market principles to support the UK Government’s historic £400bn bank rescue package that will see the state partially nationalise swathes of the UK financial system. The latest Legal Week Big Question... more 16 October 2008 08:00

Long hours and barriers to flexible working could cause a drain on the legal profession with young mothers and fathers struggling to find a balance between family and career, new research has found. Legal Lives: Retaining Talent through a Balanced... more 14 October 2008 14:23

Almost half of partners believe lawyer redundancy programmes have a major negative impact on law firms’ reputations, according to new research. The latest Legal Week/Big Question survey findings follow several City firms — including Freshfields... more 02 October 2008 04:00

Halliwells has launched its second redundancy consultation in the space of year in a move which is set to affect 40 staff in the firm's real estate practice, Legal Week can reveal. The consultation, which was launched yesterday (22 September) is... more 24 September 2008 15:46

Leading City lawyers believe strong management has helped drive law firms’ success in recent years, with new research showing partners are now ascribing far more value to effective leadership than in the past. The latest Legal Week/Big Question... more 13 September 2008 01:05

Olswang has cancelled its staff Christmas bonus, citing current tough market conditions. The City firm has announced to all of its employees that it has also cancelled staff weekend trips as part of the cost-cutting drive. An Olswang... more 12 September 2008 14:31

The Mayor of London’s decision to not appoint an active legal professional to a new business advisory body has been met with disappointment by the legal community. Boris Johnson’s International Business Advisory Council for London (IBAC London)... more 09 September 2008 13:23

The Black Solicitors Network (BSN) is to launch a new City arm, as leading law firms continue their drive to attract a more diverse selection of new recruits. The BSN, which has more than 5,500 members across England and Wales, is setting up a new... more 04 September 2008 06:00

Norton Rose is considering scrapping binding academic restrictions for graduate recruits as the firm aims to increase diversity and boost applications from non-traditional backgrounds. The move comes as a number of leading City law firms move away... more 07 August 2008 12:00

Shearman & Sterling has dismissed an associate in its London office after a vacation scheme student made a formal complaint about his behaviour during a night out. The student, who has subsequently accepted a training contract position with another... more 07 August 2008 04:38

The UK’s top judges have backed away from proposals that would have seen them appraised by court users, despite strong support from senior City litigators. An ongoing working group set up by the Judges’ Council, overseen by Commercial Court head Mr... more 31 July 2008 06:00

The House of Lords has ruled that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was right to drop its investigation into BAE Systems’ Saudi arms deal. In a judgment this morning the Lords backed the SFO’s appeal against April’s High Court ruling that said the SFO... more 30 July 2008 13:25

Some of the City’s leading legal names have called for more options to be made available to partners as they approach retirement age. Figures including Linklaters senior partner David Cheyne and Slaughter and May corporate partner Nigel Boardman... more 24 July 2008 05:50