Jury discharged due to coronavirus in fraud trial of ex-Locke Lord partner Jonathan Denton April 23, 2020 The jury in the fraud trial of Jonathan Denton – a former partner in the London office of US law firm Locke Lord – has been discharged because of fears of coronavirus. Denton, 60, was on trial alongside four other defendants facing charges of fraud by false representation. However, the 16-week trial at Birmingham Crown [...]
Law firms face ‘bloodbath’ in upcoming coronavirus recession April 23, 2020 Advisers who worked on some of the largest UK law firm collapses predict a “bloodbath” for the legal industry as a result of the coronavirus economic crisis. Andy Hosking of Quantuma, who acted as administrator to King & Wood Mallesons Europe (KWM) and Ince & Co, said: “You are going to see a bloodbath in [...]
Law and accountancy firm coronavirus partner promotions: a poisoned chalice? April 22, 2020 Law and accountancy firms have promoted swathes of new partners in recent days with many firms hailing the strong rounds as a signal of confidence in the future. But with new partners typically required to stump up £50,000 to £100,000 to join partnerships, it is a potentially risky step up for the individual during the [...]
RSM elects new chief executive as Grant Thornton cuts wages April 21, 2020 Challenger accountancy firm RSM last night elected a new chief executive after a marathon virtual general meeting while rival Grant Thornton slashed wages to help survive the coronavirus crisis. RSM announced last night shortly before midnight that former corporate finance head Rob Donaldson had claimed the top job. The Telegraph reported that Donaldson saw off [...]
Ex-EY partner wins $11m gold smuggling cover-up case against firm April 17, 2020 An ex-EY partner today triumphed in an $11m (£8.8m) claim against the Big Four firm which he accused of conniving in the cover up of gold smuggling and money laundering. Ex-EY partner Amjad Rihan sued EY after he said he was forced to flee Dubai after alleging the firm helped cover up the smuggling of [...]
EY UK to cut partner profit 20 per cent in coronavirus response April 15, 2020 EY UK said today it will cut partner profit 20 per cent in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The firm said in a statement that “its partners will do everything possible to navigate through the covid-19 situation with no redundancies amongst its 17,000 UK employees, no people furloughed and no reduction in employee salaries.” The [...]
Tilney and Smith & Williamson merger delayed by coronavirus crisis April 15, 2020 The merger between Tilney and Smith & Williamson has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic with significant doubts remaining as to whether it will go ahead. Smith & Williamson shareholder AGF Management told the Toronto Stock Exchange today that the deal would continue with a revised structure with the targeted closing date pushed back until [...]
Deloitte UK cuts partner profits 20 per cent and freezes salaries in response to coronavirus slowdown April 15, 2020 Deloitte UK will cut partner profits 20 per cent profit this year and staff across the business will have their salaries frozen in response to the coronavirus slowdown, the firm’s senior partner said today. The firm is also delaying the distribution of profits to partners to try and conserve cash. Senior partner and chief executive [...]
Debenhams administration could provide blueprint for ‘freezing’ companies during coronavirus crisis April 6, 2020 Debenhams today gave notice to appoint administrators for what it said would be a “light touch” administration with the management remaining on board. This approach accords with ideas being floated by City insolvency lawyers who have proposed using the administration regime to mothball companies during the crisis and reviving them when economic conditions improve. Luke [...]
Freshfields suspends partner profit distribution and freezes pay April 6, 2020 Magic Circle law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has suspended partner profit share for the fourth quarter and frozen pay across the firm to help weather the economic crisis triggered by coronavirus. The firm has also deferred decisions on staff bonuses until later in the year. A Freshfields spokesperson said: “We are focused on supporting our [...]