UK legal sector post record turnovers on back of M&A boom February 13, 2022 The UK’s legal sector has posted its largest turnovers ever, on the back of booming demand for legal services, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In 2021, the UK’s law firms generated £41.58bn in revenues, compared to annual turnovers of £36.78bn in 2020, figures from the UK government’s ONS show. The [...]
Inside Farrer & Co – the blue-blooded law firm that serves Britain’s aristocracy February 10, 2022 Throughout its 300-year history, Farrer & Co has gained a reputation for being London’s poshest law firm. First established in 1701, the firm is famous for serving the elite and acting on behalf of Britain’s aristocracy. The London firm also has longstanding links to the Royal Family, and currently acts as the Queen’s go-to lawyers. [...]
Addleshaw Goddard to merge with Irish law firm, in line with fast-paced EU expansion February 10, 2022 London law firm Addleshaw Goddard is set to merge with Dublin headquartered firm Eugene F Collins (EFC), as it pushes forwards with plans for a fast-paced European expansion. Addleshaw’s merger with EFC comes as the London firm’s first expansion into Ireland as it pushes forwards with plans to double in size over the next three [...]
Law Society’s pay gap has gotten wider through Covid as men fill higher paying jobs and take home bigger bonuses February 9, 2022 The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA’s) gender pay gap has widened since the start of the pandemic, according to new figures from the trade body. On average, men were paid 11.5 per cent more than women in 2021, and received 23.2 per cent larger bonuses. By comparison, men only received 10.6 per [...]
Lewis Silkin set to leave its City HQ for £2.5bn Southbank development February 9, 2022 London law firm Lewis Silkin is set to leave its City of London headquarters and move south of the River Thames, as it seeks to sharpen its focus on its media and tech clients. The commercial law firm, which first started operating out of offices on Rye Lane, Peckham in 1950, said it will move [...]
Solicitor suspended for a year after overcharging client with bill for £2.9m February 8, 2022 A solicitor has been banned from practicing for a year and ordered to pay costs amounting to £41,400, after a tribunal said he had tried to overcharge his client after asking more than £2.9m for his services. The tribunal said Nabeel Amer Sheikh had failed to act with “integrity” as it claimed the solicitor had [...]
Clifford Chance undecided on plans to ditch Canary Wharf HQ and slash size of offices February 8, 2022 Clifford Chance is weighing up plans to slash the size of its London offices, with a view to leaving its Canary Wharf headquarters and moving back into the City. However, City A.M. understands the London law firm has not yet come to a decision on whether to leave its docklands HQ or get rid of [...]
DLA Piper hikes pay for newly qualified lawyers in its London offices to £95k February 8, 2022 DLA Piper has said it will give its London lawyers an eight per cent pay rise in upping salaries paid to its newly qualified solicitors from £88,000 to £95,000. The law firm also said it will hike pay for freshly qualified lawyers by 35 per cent, by upping salaries for solicitors in its Birmingham, Leeds, [...]
Royal family’s law firm hires first apprentice solicitors February 8, 2022 Farrer & Co, the London law firm that represents the Queen on legal matters, has said it will hire its first apprentice solicitors to start in Autumn this year. The law firm told City A.M. that it will be taking on two apprentice solicitors to start in September this year. Apprentice solicitors hired by the [...]
Freshfields to support staff through the menopause with paid-for benefits February 7, 2022 Magic Circle law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has adopted a new policy to support employees through the menopause. The City of London law firm is also offering specialist care to any employees experiencing symptoms of the menopause, through its private healthcare provider. Employees working in Freshfields UK offices will be able to book appointments with [...]