‘Magic Circle’ law firms trying to distance themselves from the prestigious phrase Legal 'Magic Circle' is a term that has long been used to describe the elite law firms; however, within the circle, the mood is shifting around this esteemed phrase
Motor finance: Close Brothers calls on magic circle law firm for court battle Legal Close Brothers has swapped in a top magic circle law firm for its Supreme Court battle to overturn the landmark motor finance test case.
Freshfields: Revenue passes £2bn at Magic Circle law firm but profit cut Legal Profit at Magic Circle law firm Freshfields was cut during its latest financial year despite its revenue passing £2bn for the first time. Freshfields has reported a pre-tax profit of £668.9m for the 12 months to 30 April, 2024, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. Profit before partners’ annuities increased from £497.8m to £675m. [...]
Hiring frenzy at London law firms as ‘apex predator’ disrupts market December 30, 2024 Partners at London law firms are switching companies at record pace as a surge of investment by American rivals ramps up competition for talent. According to data provided by legal recruiter, Edwards Gibson, there were 546 partner moves recorded over 2024. This figure is up seven from 510 moves in 2023, and up 14 per [...]
Football regulator advertises Head of Legal role that pays ‘less than most newly qualified lawyers’ August 30, 2024 The independent football regulator’s top lawyer will be paid the same as peers just starting out on their legal careers, prompting industry figures to fear the body could be “toothless”. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) posted an advert for the Head of Legal role earlier this week that will pay the successful [...]
Magic circle Clifford Chance equity partners pocket over £2m July 24, 2024 Clifford Chance's revenue had double-digit growth as it reports its highest rate of revenue increase since 2017, with the firm tipping this to its investment in the US
Magic circle law firm Freshfields ups NQ salary to £150,000 May 3, 2024 As the salary war in the legal market battles on, magic circle law firm Freshfields has just increased its NQ lawyers' salaries to £150,000
Monzo and Wise founders back £8.8m Robin AI robot lawyer project February 27, 2023 A City computing company has raised $10.5m (£8.8m) from backers including top execs from Magic Circle law firm Clifford Chance to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) driven, robot lawyer. The founders of fintech firms Monzo and Wise have also thrown their weight behind London’s Robin AI, which is seeking to disrupt the legal sector with [...]
Who’s winning the City’s talent war? The firms that paid the most in 2022 December 24, 2022 Where to find the best paid job? As strikes over pay have brought the country to a halt, it is notable that workers in one sector in particular have seen their pay packets bulge in 2022. Aside from criminal barristers, who carried out a month’s long strike this summer, those working in private sector legal [...]
Linklaters becomes second Magic Circle law firm to launch apprenticeship scheme December 11, 2022 Linklaters has become the second of the UK’s elite ‘Magic Circle’ law firms to offer aspiring solicitors an alternate route to becoming a high-flying lawyer, after launching its own apprenticeship scheme. The City law firm’s new scheme will see six school leavers undergo on-the-job training over a six-year period, following which they will become fully [...]