Attorney Michael Jahnke has laterally jumped from Allen & Overy to Howrey. After spending seven years with the former, Jahnke joins the latter as a partner in the competition practice group. He focuses on aiding corporations that deal mostly with tobacco, food, energy and telecommunications.
Source: www.legalweek.com
Tags: Allen & Overy LLP | New York
Blake Lapthorn has backed away from the lockstep system towards a merit-based model. The driving reason for this move is the major drop in its average profit per equity partner (PEP). It fell 68 percent, from £204,000 to £65,000. The new number is low that even some associates are earning more than the partners.
Source: www.thelawyer.com
The Law Society has decided to address the disparity between the number of graduating legal students and the number of training contracts available. Law Society will launch a campaign to educate students at universities and secondary school about this disparity and the cost of legal schooling. On one hand, this appears to be an act of kindness: spreading the facts of the hardship of becoming a lawyer at this moment. On the other hand, some say this is an elitist act: discouraging students from poorer families who would not be able to support them if the legal world does not.
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Less than a month has passed since three notable lawyers left for Dewey & LeBoeuf and Cooley Godward Kronish is losing yet another partner. James Donato is joining Shearman & Sterling in San Francisco as a partner. Donato focuses his practice on antitrust.
Source: www.law.com
Shearman & Sterling is focusing on expanding its practice in Abu Dhabi. The firm transferred three partners and seven associates to the office late last year. Two more were sent this year, with a plan to send partner Ian Nisse in 2010. This brings the office to 30 attorneys, up from last year’s 16. Shearman & Sterling has been in Abu Dhabi for the last 25 years.
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Tags: Shearman & Sterling LLP
Perkins Coie has decided to renew its lease making it clear where the firm will remain in Seattle for the next 17 years. While Perkins Coie ignored building owners’ attempts to sway the firm into moving, Frost Brown Todd did the opposite. Frost Brown has decided to move its office headquarters to another building in 2011. The firm has spent the last 30 years at its old location.
Source: www.law.com
Kutak Rock has launched an office in Philadelphia. This branch will be led by Jeffrey Blymenfeld. Blymenfeld was previously a partner at Wolf Block up until it dissolved. Before joining Wolf Block he worked from Blank Rome for 24 years. Kutak’s Philadelphia office has three attorneys and one paralegal thus far.
Source: www.bizjournals.com
Tags: Kutak Rock LLP
Geoffrey Grice has taken a partner position with Freehills in Singapore. Grice was most recently the deputy state solicitor in the State Solicitor’s office of Western Australia. This is a big feat for Freehills as Grice has had more than 20 years of experience with projects and energy work.
Source: www.asia.legalbusinessonline.com
Tags: Singapore
Akerman Senterfitt has announced the firm’s need to cut associate pay by 10 percent. Akerman contests that it was either this or cut jobs. It is also in the works to switch from lockstep compensation increases to raises based on merit.
Source: www.nylj.com
Tags: Akerman LLP
Troutman Sanders has announced that it is hiring an Intellectual Property group from Dreier. Five IP attorneys will join Troutman in New York. Senior Patent attorney Albert Jacobs Jr. first brought the group from Greenberg Traurig to Dreier in 2007. Only a year and half later, the namesake of the firm, Marc S. Dreier was arrested for fraud and later sentenced for up to 20 years. In addition to Jacobs, Gerard Diebner and Daniel Ladow join the firm as of counsel bringing along two associates.
Source: www.law.com
Tags: Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP | New York