Slaughters completes management shake-up
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm Slaughter and May has announced the election of eight practice stream heads, following the election of Chris Saul as senior partner earlier in 2008.

Counsel call for alternative billing
ALTERNATIVE BILLING methods is the best initiative law firms could implement to improve relationships with their clients’ legal departments, according to a new survey.

Dewey & LeBoeuf shuts up three shops
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is set to haveclosed three of its offices in the US by this time next year.

Campaigners slam ‘sexism’ in the City
VISITS TO strip clubs with clients and business colleagues are becoming an “increasingly normal” aspect of life at firms in the City of London, according to a new report.

Law Society and LSC reach civil legal aid agreement
THE LAW Society has agreed to drop judicial review proceedings against the Legal Services Commission (LSC) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) over an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal in relation to the civil legal aid contract.

K&L Gates secures second China base
KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART Preston Gates Ellis LLP (K&L Gates) has opened an office in the Chinese city of Shanghai – its fourth in Asia and second in China.

Bird & Bird launches legal glossary
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm Bird & Bird has unveiled a new online glossary to allow its lawyers to share knowledge of the latest legal terminology and trends.

Skadden unveils diversity drive
SKADDEN, ARPS, Slate, Meagher & Flom has unveiled plans to commit some $9.6m to a new scheme to encourage a greater diversity of entrants into the legal profession in the US.

Herbert Smith names managing partner
HERBERT SMITH has appointed corporate partner David Willis to the newly-created role of managing partner following a firm-wide management review.

EAPD announces new managing partner
US LAW firm Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge (EAPD) has elected corporate lawyer Walter G. D. Reed as the firm’s new managing partner.

Shepherd & Wedderburn lures Linklaters corporate partner
SHEPHERD & WEDDERBURN has successfully hired senior Linklaters London corporate partner Steven Turnbull.

Freshfields names new HR partner
MAGIC-CIRCLE law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed a new global HR partner.

Clifford Chance in Kiev launch
MAGIC-CIRCLE law firm Clifford Chance (CC) has announced plans to launch an office in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, becoming the latest in a line of firms to expand their Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) offerings.

Fulbright announces 11 new partners
FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI has announced the appointment of 11 new partners; nine across its US office network and two in London.

Dechert offers 13 practice transfer
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm Dechert LLP has told 13 associates in its US finance and real estate (FRE) group there is insufficient work for them in the current economic climate.

Law Society explores ‘values’
THE LAW Society is holding a series of debating events concerning its ethical values.

Lawyer wins discrimination case
A CITY lawyer is seeking a record ₤13m in damages after winning a series of sex discrimination and harassment claims brought against her former employer, F&C Asset Management.

Fees the biggest worry for finance directors
OVER TWO-THIRDS of law firm finance directors (FDs) believe competition over fees will be a “very significant” risk to profitability in 2008.

Reed Smith launches German IP practice
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm Reed Smith has hired an intellectual property partner from Gleiss Lutz to launch a new practice in Munich.

DLA Piper appoints Dubai corporate head
DLA PIPER has boosted its Middle East offering with the appointment of a new corporate head for Dubai.

Pannone named best law firm for employees
MANCHESTER-BASED law firm Pannone has emerged as the best UK law firm to work for, according to The Sunday Times annual ‘Top 100 Companies To Work For’.