London’s elite Magic Circle law firms promote record number of partners as talent war rages on May 9, 2022 London’s prestigious Magic Circle law firms have promoted a record number of partners this year, in a sign the battle for talent is raging on at the most senior levels of the UK’s top firms. London’s five Magic Circle law firms – Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Slaughter and May, Linklaters, and Allen & Overy – promoted [...]
‘Appalling’ war prompts Linklaters to pull out of Russia and close down its entire Moscow office after 30 years March 7, 2022 Legal giant Linklaters confirmed to City A.M. it is closing down its entire Russian operations, after a presence of more than three decades. In an email, the Magic Circle law firm said that, after careful consideration and “as the appalling war in Ukraine continues, we will wind down our operations in Russia and close our [...]
Linklaters changes pay structure to reward ‘exceptional’ partners as bidding war for talent rages on December 16, 2021 Linklaters plans to shift its traditional pay model for partners so “exceptional” individuals can be held on to with larger salaries. Senior partner Aedamar Comiskey confirmed in a statement that the move, which will apply globally, was backed by Linklaters’ 500 partners through a vote. The main changes include the ability to offer more money [...]
Magic Circle: Slaughter & May poaches first COO from Freshfields amid executive reshuffle December 1, 2021 Slaughter & May have nabbed Jill Hoseason, the global chief operating officer of their magic circle rival Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, as their first ever COO, in a leadership shakeup. Earlier this year Slaughter and May, which boasts more FTSE 350 clients than any other law firm, announced plans to restructure its management team, a move it said [...]
Slaughter & May adopts different working rules for junior and senior staff May 30, 2021 Law firm Slaughter & May is planning separate rules for its junior and senior lawyers that will see those in higher positions able to work from home more often. Trainee lawyers, newly qualified associates and new recruits will be required to work from the office four days a week on average from September, the Telegraph [...]
Freshfields tries to distance itself from ‘Magic Circle’ label April 22, 2021 Top brass at elite London law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer would prefer it not to be labelled a ‘Magic Circle’ firm, after it aggressively expanded into the US in recent years. “I don’t think the Magic Circle is a correct reference, and, at the same time, we do more than our US competitors as well,” [...]
Freshfields to take on students from racially diverse and poorer backgrounds February 4, 2021 Magic circle law firm Freshfields will take on hundreds of students from lower socio-economic and racially diverse backgrounds, in a push to promote social mobility and racial equality in professional careers. For the next three years Freshfields will take on 100 students per year, aged 16 – 17, as part of a UK-wide programme to [...]
Clifford Chance appoints new executive partner and general counsel January 8, 2021 Clifford Chance has made Robin Abraham its next executive partner and general counsel after a 16 year career at the law firm. Abraham will succeed Chris Perrin, who has been in the position since 2003. Abraham will formally take up his new role at the magic circle firm on 1 May, and is already working [...]
Clifford Chance bids farewell to gendered language December 11, 2020 You may have missed it between Brexit drama and more Covid-19 news, but this week Clifford Chance announced it had ditched traditional gendered language like “Dears Sir” in its communications. The move aligns it with a growing trend in the legal sector to make language less gendered. The magic circle law firm is making efforts [...]
‘We aren’t what people expect’ – Linklaters on the firm’s virtual internship and social mobility November 23, 2020 Last year Linklaters launched a virtual internship - the first of its kind among the legal profession. The magic circle firm believes launching such a programme has facilitated greater social mobility, by opening up the business to those who may not see themselves as a natural fit.