Latham & Watkins has announced that it has transfered a partner to its Doha office to satisfy the increasing number of finance and restructuring deals in the Middle East. Philip von Randow has moved from the firm’s Frankfurt office to the Doha office. Latham & Watkins hopes that this will aid in their desire to increase cross-border finance deals in the Middle East and Europe regions.
Source: www.asia.legalbusiness.com
Tags: Latham & Watkins LLP
This is Robert again following up on last week’s introduction to the sort of people who become partners in firms in Asia. Before breaking down the specific categories of people who make partner as promised, it may be helpful to provide the common threads that connect all the people we have gotten to know in Asia who are successful partners in their firms. In the first place, whether you are a US/UK native, Chinese, Japanese, or some other nationality, there is no one we know in Asia who is a partner in a major law firm who does not have above average people and cultural skills. When we meet partners who may be candidates at law firm clients for lateral partner, we rate them on several criteria: language skill, legal skill (as evidenced by the type of work, clients, and our gut), client following, and people/cultural skill, each on a scale of one to five. If we can’t rate a person a four or five in each of these categories, we don’t view them as viable candidates for partner placement. Our experience at this sort of rating has been pretty successful. I can think of one candidate off of the top of my head whom we rated a five on the language and legal skills categories, but only a 3 and a 1, respectively, on the other two categories: client following and people/cultural skill. We did not work with him but he was hired as a junior partner by a firm that is a rung or two down on the league tables and does not get first grab at the better candidates. He did not work out in that position so far.
Clearly the client following and people/cultural skills are intertwined: people who are nerds normally don’t have many clients. The fact is that in Asia there are very few clients who do not expect to have personal relationships with their attorneys. Even the most high end firms have to work hard to maintain client relationships. So, if you’re a dork and can’t stomach the concept of selling your services every day, don’t expect to make partner in Asia on the basis of working for institutional clients.
Tags: Asia | Hong Kong
Yesterday, White & Case let go of 400 people. 200 associates were laid off, and if you can’t do the math, 200 staff were also given the boot. But the firm will play it fair and will actually be evaluating and later dumping partners as well. And, the firm has stated that about 60 percent of incoming associates will be asked to wait until 2010 to officially join the firm.
Source: www.nylj.com
Tags: White & Case LLP
It is obvious that Haynes & Boone has been devoted to expanding their Labor & Employment group. The firm knew that the changes produced by Obama’s administration would significantly change labor & employment law, as well as increase cases. For instance, Haynes & Boone added Aaron Epstein to its Dallas office. Epstein has had considerable experience with the subject, as he is a formal field attorney for the National Labor Relations Board. This foresight of change and growth did not come only in the months before Obama took office, but actually began two years ago. Haynes & Boone has made significant additions to all offices in the field of labor & employment. These associates include: Barbara-Ellen Gaffney, John Farrell, Janet Avyad and Haley DeVault in Dallas; Chris Barnes and Paige Woodard in Houston; and, Lawrence Morales and Brenna Nava in San Antonio.
Source: www.lawfuel.com
Tags: Haynes and Boone, LLP
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has decided against former plans to launch an office in the Middle East. The firm had explored the possibility to open in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but now neither will come to fruition. The firm explained that this decision is based on the economic downturn in the region.
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Tags: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP | Dubai
Robert here. Loyal readers of our blog will have noticed that I tend to remain in the background here. The truth is that Robert really is an outstanding recruiter, and I prefer to have him out in front of our associate recruitment efforts in Asia. After seven years of recruiting, four years in Asia, my recruiting interest is primarily in assisting partners. My practice dovetails with that of Robert and our other recruiters since satisfied partners continue to have needs at the associate level for many years after we place them and they tend to hire us to fill those needs. Luckily for us, we’ve been involved in more than our share of partner recruitment successes. I’m very proud of what we have done in Asia but I’m happy to have Robert doing most of the direct work with associates.
It seems to me that as a sort of diversion from our usual intense focus in this column on matters that pertain to associate candidates’ immediate interests, some of you actually still want to be partner in a law firm and might benefit from knowing a few things about the process before arriving. Who makes partner at firms in Asia compared to US counterparts, for example? Are your chances better or worse as a result of moving to Asia? And what will the future be for those who succumb to the allure of an Asian career and actually “succeed” in a law firm by becoming partner?
Tags: Asia | Hong Kong
Foley & Lardner announced that its 2008 revenues had actually increased by 1.5 percent. They made it to $732 million dollars. Sadly, the firm also announced a drop in profits per equity partner to $882,000, down 3.7 percent. The practices that can share in taking credit for the rise in revenue are: IP, bankruptcy, and litigation. Those that were the weakest links include: real estate, M&A, and capital markets.
Source: www.amlawdaily.typepad.com
Tags: Foley & Lardner LLP
Nick Eastwell, the managing partner of Emerging Europe, Middle East and North Africa (EEMENA) at Linklaters is calling it quits. Eastwell has been with Linklaters for 27 years, 20 of which as partner. During this time, the attorney has held many titles, such as: global capital markets head, chief of Central and Eastern Europe and head of international finance, and lastly head of EEMENA. Stuart Salt is to take over the latter position after Eastwell departs at the end of April.
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Tags: Linklaters
Vedder Price is proud to announce the lateral arrival of Mitchell D. Cohen who joins from Arent Fox. The attorney will be a Shareholder in the firm’s Litigation and Bankruptcy group. Cohen will be based in New York.
Source: www.lessors.com
Tags: Vedder Price | New York
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has just laid off 300 people from its firm. 100 (12 percent of the total) lawyers and 200 (14 percent of the total) staff were laid off yesterday. The breakdown of numbers laid off per office was not released.
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Tags: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP
