Linklaters has increased the salaries of its London lawyers, but, not by much.  The pay increased between 2% and 4%.  Associates will also be eligible for performance related bonuses.  No other top 10 City firm has announced pay rises. 

Source:  www.nylj.com

Lately, most firms have asked or forced their incoming first-year associates to postpone their start dates.  Many students interviewed by The Am Law Daily said that they felt pressured to take the time off even if it was optional. For the most part, firms that are delaying start dates until January are seeing about half of their incoming associates opting for the year-long internship at a non-profit.  The firms that are forcing all new hires to delay start-dates are seeing almost 100 percent are taking the stipend for non-profit work.  

Source:  www.law.com

Nixon Peabody’s Albany office has recently received the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certification.  The Siler is the second highest ranking available.  The Albany office is built environmentally friendly, utilizing techniques that minimize energy and water usage.  All furniture used in previous office were donated or re-used.  

Source:  www.bizjournals.com

DLA Piper has snagged Pattie Walsh from Minter Ellison.  Walsh currently holds the position of head of employment for the Greater China region at Minster Ellison.  She will join DLA to head its Asia employment practice in August and will be based Associate Alison Smith joins Pattie Walsh.

Source:  www.nylj.com

The American Lawyer has posted the 2008’s AmLaw 200.  Here are the basic facts:  Gross revenue grew by 4.1 percent while profits per partner (PPP) decreased by 4.3 percent with an average of $1.26 million.  Revenue per lawyer (RPL) dropped 1.2 percent, perhaps affected by the increase of the number lawyers to 81,992.

Source:  www.blogs.wjs.com

Herbert Smith has plans to open an office in Madrid and has convinced three partners from Linklaters in Madrid to help.  Alvaro Sainz, an M&A restructuring partner, Miguel Riaño, an energy and infrastructure specialist, and Ignacio Paz a specialist in Administration Law will all be moving from Linklaters to Herbies.  Finance partner David Wyles, will relocate to Madrid from Herbert Smith’s London office to help launch the new office.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

Simmons & Simmons is considering a plan to outsource legal work to lawyers in India, South Africa or Australia. Partners will vote this week on this issue and the firm, as the world, will soon know the outcome. Simmons & Simmons is the first major firm to consider using lawyers abroad. Other firms, such as Clifford Chance and Lovells, have only outsourced paralegal and support work. The firm would most likely save 50 percent on each position that is outsourced. What would not be saved are the people who currently have those positions.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com