http://www.legalweek.com/Marketing, media, new media, advertising and design jobs, news and information.© Copyright and database rights Incisive Media PLC 2008en-gbFri, 16 May 2008 17:11:54 GMT60http://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1125831/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1125831/Article.htmlBarlow Lyde & Gilbert senior partner Richard Dedman is to step down from his post this autumn after seven years in the role. Dedman confirmed that he will be returning to work as a full-time fee earner after choosing to step down just two years into his second five-year term. The news comes as it emerges that the top 50 UK law firm has overhauled the terms for the senior partner role — reducing the term from five years down to a maximum of three, with each post-holder able to serve no more thamonikaThu, 15 May 2008 04:15:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1125655/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1125655/Article.htmlStaff turnover of once-mobile junior lawyers is set to fall in response to the leaner commercial environment but associates aiming to stay put are likely to face tougher performance reviews. That is the message coming from the latest Legal Week Big Question survey, which found that nearly two thirds of respondents (62%) believe that current market conditions will see staff turnover fall, while a further 5% said it would fall ‘drastically’. In contrast, only 13% thought that staff turnover was selauraThu, 15 May 2008 01:05:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1125582/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1125582/Article.htmlHerbert Smith has unveiled a record-breaking financial year, with profits per equity partner (PEP) smashing the £1m barrier on the back of a 25% surge in turnover. Revenue at the City heavyweight jumped by a quarter, from £334m in 2006-07 to £417.5m for the most recent financial year.charlie.wright@legalweek.comTue, 13 May 2008 16:28:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1124327/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1124327/Article.htmlAllen & Overy (A&O) has frozen its associate salaries for 2008 – becoming the first magic circle firm to hold back from handing pay-rises to its junior lawyers. Newly-qualified lawyers (NQs) at the City giant will again bank £65,000, the same as last year, while associates with one year post-qualification experience (PQE) will continue to pocket £71,500. Lawyers with two and three years’ PQE will again earn £84,000 and £92,500 respectively.charlie.wright@legalweek.comFri, 09 May 2008 14:05:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1123420/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1123420/Article.htmlCleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has been crowned as the US’s most ethnically-diverse major law firm, according to research that shows US firms drawing on a wider pool of talent. The research, conducted by Legal Week sister title Minority Law Journal, puts Cleary at the head of an extensive ranking based on diversity of workforce.Ben WhewayThu, 08 May 2008 05:45:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1121024/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1121024/Article.htmlThe US’s top 100 law firms have capped off a record-breaking five-year run that has seen partner profits soar and combined fees last year hit $64.5bn (£32.4bn), according to the definitive snapshot of the world’s largest legal market. The American Lawyer’s eagerly-awaited top 100 rankings confirm that the M&A boom of the first half of 2007 has driven the US’s top law firms to record financial results.lauraThu, 01 May 2008 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1120939/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1120939/Article.htmlJunior City lawyers — especially in property and banking — should not expect large salary hikes this year but the best mid-level associates remain in demand, according to new research. Those are the key findings of the latest Big Question survey, which underlines widespread expectations that the current slowdown in commercial activity has ended the upward pressure on salaries for most levels of assistants.Ben WhewayThu, 01 May 2008 00:46:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1121025/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1121025/Article.htmlLinklaters has announced rises of nearly 4% for junior lawyers, Legal Week can reveal, in what will be seen as a confident move from the City giant. A newly-qualified solicitor (NQ) at the magic circle law firm is now set to earn £66,600, up from £64,000 in 2007.charlie.wright@legalweek.comWed, 30 Apr 2008 15:40:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1119278/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1119278/Article.htmlLinklaters is assessing the future of its network of offices in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), it has emerged. Partners within the firm today (24 April) confirmed that senior management has been scrutinising Linklaters’ six offices across the region – reviewing the profitability, client relationships and viability of each.charlie.wright@legalweek.comThu, 24 Apr 2008 15:37:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1118634/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1118634/Article.htmlAssociates are in line for slim pay increases this year as top City firms try to avoid making the first move. Partners with City giants including Linklaters and Clifford Chance (CC) - normally early movers - told Legal Week they are not expecting to see significant increases this year, as they feel the impact of the credit crunch.lauraThu, 24 Apr 2008 05:59:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1117147/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1117147/Article.htmlAllen & Overy (A&O) has been criticised by a High Court judge after the firm was deemed to have generated excessive costs in a five-day trial over BlackBerry patents. A&O notched up fees totalling £5.18m representing Research in Motion (RIM) in its patent dispute with US technology company Visto, represented by Taylor Wessing.charlie.wright@legalweek.comFri, 18 Apr 2008 12:22:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1116567/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1116567/Article.htmlMore than 90% of leading lawyers believe the profession has improved its record on supporting gay staff, as highlighted by a number of law firms recently launching their own lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups. Emma Sadowski reportsjohn malpasThu, 17 Apr 2008 01:52:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1114149/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1114149/Article.htmlThe Bloody Sunday inquiry faced its 10-year anniversary this month with a scathing verdict from the profession after senior lawyers strongly criticised the inquiry for waste, having swallowed nearly £100m in legal costs. The Saville Inquiry, which this month marked the 10th anniversary of its 1998 opening statement by Lord Saville, has generated mounting disquiet in the profession, including from many who have worked on the process.Ben WhewayThu, 10 Apr 2008 14:45:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1112225/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1112225/Article.htmlThe Law Society has resolved a long-running dispute with the Legal Services Commission (LSC) over the new unified contract for legal aid after the LSC dropped a threat to usher in an entirely new contract. The deal was announced yesterday (2 April), effectively ending the long-running dispute between the profession and the Government over the contract, which had already seen Chancery Lane successfully challenge the contract in the courts.charlie.wright@legalweek.comThu, 03 Apr 2008 16:40:00 GMThttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1111661/Article.htmlhttp://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1111661/Article.htmlSJ Berwin has overhauled its partner appraisal system, with the firm’s top names set to be rated by both their peers and associates for the first time. The new ‘360-degree’ system is being used for the current appraisal round and sees partners graded by both those of the same rank and those below them against set criteria, including the way they work, their leadership skills and people management abilities.Ben WhewayThu, 03 Apr 2008 15:45:00 GMT