Clifford Chance overtakes Eversheds; profits slide for US firm; Portuguese move for Kennedys
Clifford Chance overtakes Eversheds in firm rankings, another US firm sees sliding profits, a Portuguese move for one UK firm, and the UK silk appointments are announced, in a wrap of this
Clifford Chance overtakes Eversheds in firm rankings, another US firm sees sliding profits, a Portuguese move for one UK firm, and the UK silk appointments are announced, in a wrap of this week's international legal news.
Clifford Chance outranks Eversheds
Clifford Chance has overtaken Eversheds to become the top-ranked law firm in the annual Superbrands index of UK business brands, reports Legal Week. The firm placed 184th in the rankings, four places higher than magic circle rival Linklaters (188), and 16 places higher than last year's best-placed law firm, Eversheds (200). Although Eversheds dropped to third among the law firms included in the list, it improved on its 2010 ranking of 214th.
Howrey loses another Belgian
UK firm Howrey has lost yet another partner in Brussels with the departure of Tom McQuail to Morrison & Foerster (MoFo), reports The Lawyer. McQuail joins MoFo as a partner in the firm's antitrust and competition team. His departure follows the announcement that Shearman & Sterling poached a five-partner team from Howrey in Brussels in February.
Profits down for US firm Shearman & Sterling
US firm Shearman & Sterling reported a fall of 8 per cent in both revenue and partner profits for 2010, reports the Am Law Daily. The New York firm released figures showing that gross revenues slid from $US801 million ($791 million) in 2009 to $US737 million in 2010, while profits per equity partner fell from $US1.74 million to $US1.57 million.
Clifford Chance partner lands QC role
Clifford Chance's former senior partner Stuart Popham has been appointed an honorary QC in this year's silks appointments round, reports The Lawyer. A group of 118 barristers and two solicitor advocates have been appointed silk, including Verulam Buildings' Sonia Tolaney who was previously tipped as a star in the making in The Lawyer's Hot 100 2010.