European independent firms are chasing their Anglo-Saxon rivals down the path to a highly leveraged business model – employi… read more
Our first issue of 2007 definitely has a large dose of the feel-good factor: firms we talked to in this edition, almost without exception, expressed an exceedingly positive outlook for the next … read more
'Client focus’ and ‘client service’ are phrases frequently used by law firms when describing the way they operate. But far less often is this concept genuinely integrated into the way the practice works, nor is it routinely delivered by its lawyers. This is not a bold state-ment. Any market research in the last five years will tell you the same thing. Clients want their lawyers to be as commercially focused as they them-selves are. Yet despite many firms’ best efforts, there still exists a significant gap between the client service level law firms should be offering and that which they actually attain.… read more
Settlements urged to ease cartel case clog
Nearly two years after newly appointed commissioner Neelie Kroes delivered her acclaimed ‘First Hundred Days’ speech on 7 April 2005, announcing her intention to shake up the Commission’s cartel enforcement system, concerns are emerging in the legal and business community that the reform programme is getting off track. At the time a huge case backlog had built up under the 2002 Leniency Notice, a situation aggravated by the confusing cat’s cradle of agencies all competent to entertain immunity applications for violations of article 81. Top of Ms Kroes’ bold reform agenda was a ‘one stop shop’ for leniency applications, but the package was also to include revised Fine Guidelines and a commitment to examine the introduction of a system of direct settlement of cartel cases – (the Commission studiously avoids using the term ‘plea bargaining’). Now that the 100 days have stretched to 700, hopes for a more effective system are receding and it is clear that what is most needed is an acceptable system of negotiated settlement. … read more
In a sharp reminder of the rise of China’s influence, US firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer Feld closed its Brussels office at the end of last year in perfect synch with its opening in Beijing. Jacques Bourgeois, the senior partner of the Brussels office, which consisted of five lawyers, said that he would continue practising and is considering several possibil-ities. The firm’s other foreign offices include London and Moscow, from which Brussels clients may continue to be serviced, according to Mr Bourgeois. Akin denied the Brussels closure – which goes against the grain of a number of US players opening in the European capital in the last couple of years – was effected to divert resources to the new China office. Fred Heller, the partner in charge of the firm’s London office, commented “we don’t take the approach with foreign offices that we should be there just for the sake of it”. He said that Akin’s main European focuses were private equity and oil and gas, for which its existing offices were well suited, and that the move to Beijing complemented the firm’s regulatory activities in Washington. Akin Gump had been based in Brussels since 1989 but, according to Mr Heller, has no plans to return. … read more
Bar elections tend not to be the most exciting events in the world. Yet, in France, the Paris Bar elections are usually something special. Unlike in most countries – where bar council members seek to secure personal repute through office, rather than having already gained it in the profession – the lawyers striving to become the batonnier (president) of the Paris Bar, or to win or retain seats on its Council, are often from the leading business firms or are top solo practitioners. … read more
Olswang’s brand new Berlin presence marks a cautious entry into Germany for the mid-market firm, at a time when several magic circle players have decided to close up shop in the capital. … read more
Of all the major European legal markets, Italy’s is the most dependent on the City of London for mid to high-level financings. This exposure to Anglo-Saxon clients and business culture has presented both challenges and opportunities for Italian banking lawyers, as a survey of borrowers, in-house counsel, fund managers and investment bankers published in the February issue of TopLegal confirms.… read more
Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw has appointed WTO and EU trade law partner Edward Borovikov from Hammonds. Mr Borovikov advises many Russian and Eastern European companies and authorities before the European Commission in relation … read more
Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati has advised the Austrian Airlines Group on its capital increase in which 51,680,000 shares at an offer price of €7.10 per share, amounting to a total volume of €366,928 million, were successfully placed with institutional and private investors in Austria and the rest of Europe. Managing partner Dr Edith Hlawati led the transaction, aided by partners Dr Volker Glas and Philipp Spatz.… read more
T he Gowers Review of Intellectual Property published on 6 December called not only for a revolution in one aspect of the national copyright regime but also for key changes to current European law. … read more
With all Top 25 respondents increasing their profits-per-partner and 30 per cent achieving hikes of over 20 per cent, our research confirms the well-documented boost in UK law firm profitability over the last year. … read more
The longer Government is in office, the more ineffective and corrupt it becomes on the one hand, and the more totalitarian on the other. A long-term government feels itself increasingly isolated and under siege; criticism coming from the courts and lawyers must be reduced and ultimately eliminated. This is the situation in which UK lawyers – whose government has been in office for over nine years – currently find themselves. … read more
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