The $3bn club: Kirkland & Ellis overhauls Latham & Watkins as world’s richest law firm March 22, 2018 US law firm Kirkland & Ellis has overhauled Latham & Watkins as the world's richest law firm, data from US legal media company ALM shows. The firm, which has its City headquarters in the Gherkin, grew its revenue by 19 per cent last year to $3.165bn (£2.24bn). This puts it ahead of rival Latham, currently [...]
Claimants up the stakes against Clydesdale Bank over Tailored Business Loans with second legal letter March 22, 2018 The stakes have been raised in a £1bn dispute against Clydesdale Bank and National Australia Bank (NAB) after lawyers for a group of small businesses sent a second letter threatening legal action. Claim management group RGL Management, which acts for the group, has accused Clydesdale Bank and NAB of acting fraudulently and dishonestly in their [...]
Former Deutsche Bank trader charged with Euribor rigging in SFO probe pleads guilty March 16, 2018 A former star trader who was once considered one of Deutsche Bank’s most successful bankers has pleaded guilty in a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) probe into Euribor manipulation. Christian Bittar, who was among six traders charged in the first SFO case that focused on the Brussels-based benchmark, pleaded guilty to the offence on 2 March. News [...]
Ex-Barclays trader Alex Pabon loses appeal against conviction for Libor rigging March 13, 2018 Former Barclays trader Alex Pabon has lost an appeal against his Libor rigging sentence after a court found that doubts surrounding the credibility of an expert witness did not merit his conviction being overturned. Pabon was among three traders to be convicted by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in 2016 for their roles in [...]
City law firm Rosenblatt mulling a London IPO March 6, 2018 City law firm Rosenblatt is understood to be contemplating an IPO on the London Stock Exchange. The commercial firm had a reported revenue of £16m in 2017 and advises clients on areas such as corporate, disputes and finance. It was founded in 1986 by current senior partner Ian Rosenblatt who received an OBE for services [...]
Houlihan Lokey commits to London as it acquires corporate finance data and analytics specialist Quayle Munro January 16, 2018 New York-listed investment bank Houlihan Lokey has today acquired Quayle Munro, a UK advisory firm which has worked on some of the biggest recent fintech deals in the country. The boutique firm also specialises in data and analytics, to help advise businesses on their commercial and general management decisions. Houlihan believes that, with the addition [...]
Challenger accountant CogitalGroup announces first acquisition for Blick Rothenberg December 1, 2017 Blick Rothenberg, the accountancy firm owned by CogitalGroup, has today made it first acquisition as its parent pursues plans to challenge the Big Four accountants. Shelley Stock Hutter, based in Marylebone, has been scooped up by Blick Rothenberg to strengthen its presence in the “owner-managed business” sector. With a team of more than 60 people, [...]
UK’s second listed law firm Gordon Dadds doubles profit in first results since IPO November 28, 2017 Gordon Dadds, which became the second law firm to list on London's public markets in August, has more than doubled its profit in the last year as it revealed its first results since the stock market float. The Aim-listed firm saw its revenue increase by 14.5 per cent to £12.89m, as adjusted profit before tax [...]
Disruptive law firm Keystone reveals £50m float plans November 16, 2017 Disruptive law firm Keystone today announced plans for a £50m float to boost its brand and enhance growth prospects. Founded in 2002, Keystone was one of the first so-called "platform" firms. The company sits as an umbrella, allowing smaller firms to operate out of their own offices but under Keystone's brand. Lawyers do not receive [...]
BT and Rolls-Royce investigations: Auditors are not there to find fraud, says accounting body boss July 13, 2017 Accounting investigations into audit sign-offs of two British stalwarts are not a sign the profession is in crisis, a senior figure at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) said today. But Vernon Soare, the ICAEW's chief operating officer, admitted there is an "expectation gap" over the role of the auditor. KPMG [...]