Revenue at the top 25 firm for the year to 30 April, announced today (13 September), was £236m, up from £199m last year. The firm also said profit per equity partner (PEP) increased, without specifying a figure, but this year’s LB100 estimates it rose 9% to £327,000.

DWF announced in June it was eyeing up an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange. Eyebrows were raised at the reported £1bn price tag, with a more realistic valuation seen to be in the £400m-£600m range.

Chief executive Andrew Leaitherland (pictured) commented: ‘We are already positioned positively for the next phase of our development, but we believe an IPO would be one of the options that would allow us to achieve our strategic objectives, notably by further increasing our capacity to invest in IT and Connected Services, while also enhancing our ability to attract and retain the best talent.’

DWF’s recent history has been marked by a spate of office openings in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, as well as the acquisitions of legal cost business NeoLaw last June and claims management firm Triton Global. It also brought in the man who spearheaded DLA Piper’s meteoric rise from regional upstart to global giant, Sir Nigel Knowles, as chair in September last year.

More recently, it hired the brains behind Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Manchester services hub, Anup Kollanethu, to head a new managed services role. Former DLA chief information officer (CIO) Daniel Pollick also came in to a newly created CIO role.

DWF said it had recruited more than 35 partners, although overall partner numbers have only increased from 279 to 289. The firm also formally launched its Connected Services arm, a division of independent businesses which work alongside the firm’s legal teams to help clients manage risk, reputation, cost, time and resources.

‘This has been another very strong year for DWF, with growth across all of our businesses,’ Leaitherland said. ‘We have prioritised making significant investments which will drive the long-term success of our business and enable us to transform the way legal services are delivered.’

[email protected]

Topping the list was a permanent restriction on Green drawing on any privileged information seen during his six-year SFO stint.

There were also conditions stating that he must not deal with the SFO on behalf of Slaughters, advise Slaughters on any work related to the SFO or be involved in lobbying the government or the SFO on behalf of the Magic Circle firm for two years.

The letter was published on Wednesday 12 September by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACoBA), the government body which delayed Green’s hire over the summer to complete its process of vetting ministers and civil servants for conflicts when they move into commercial roles.

There had been concerns over a conflict of interest, as Slaughters advised the SFO on a dispute triggered by a botched raid against the Tchenguiz brothers, in addition to representing Rolls-Royce on its deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the SFO. Notably, the letter stated that Slaughters received ‘circa £15m’ for the instruction on the Tchenguiz matter.

It seems the SFO had a number of options available to them for the mandate, with the letter revealing: ‘The SFO also confirmed that 4 City firms were approached but that Slaughters were selected… as they had no conflicts preventing them from acting; and they offered a lower rate.’

To prevent any conflicts of interest, the Magic Circle firm has agreed to form what it termed an ‘information barrier’ to prevent Green from accessing any information on matters relating to the SFO. However, Slaughters noted that Green would be free to work on SFO cases which were ‘completely new after 21 April 2018’, the date Green left the agency.

Green is set to join Slaughters on 22 October, six months after he stepped down from the SFO. Former FBI general counsel Lisa Osofsky was named as Green’s permanent replacement on 4 June.

[email protected]

A merger would be good for a partner headcount of 80, while overall staff numbers would be 404. A combined revenue of about £52m would put the merged firm close to the UK’s top 60 by revenue. A vote is set for 27 September.

BDB recorded a 3% revenue drop last year to £33.7m, while profit per equity partner (PEP) fell by 10% to £222,000. Its revenue has only increased 8% since 2013. Pitmans, similarly, saw its revenue fall 3% in the year to 30 April 2017, down to £18.7m from £19.2m.

A merger would look to reverse the flagging revenue figures at both firms. Thames Valley-based Pitmans is no stranger to mergers, with the firm completing a tie-up with City-based Calverts Solicitors in 2015.

BDB, for its part, has been eager to expand, last year absorbing the nine-lawyer office of King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) in Cambridge, with the office looking to extend its reach beyond its real estate focus.

Core practice areas for Pitmans are pensions and disputes, while BDB counts private wealth, infrastructure and corporate as its key offerings.

The firms said: ‘We have decided to make this announcement now so that we can be transparent with our staff and clients throughout the process. As the discussions progress we will make further announcements.’

[email protected]

1. Morrisons faces employment tribunal claim over equal pay [via The Guardian]

2. Jamie Oliver teams up with Tesco [via BBC News]

3. Waterstones buys Foyles ‘in face of Amazon’s siren call’ [via The Guardian]

4. Co-op prescribes pharmacy comeback with Dimec deal [via Sky News]

5. Network Rail sells railway arches to Blackstone and Telereal for £1.5bn [via Sky News]

Green will join the firm as a senior consultant on 22 October, six months after leaving the SFO. The firm says Green, who led the SFO for six years, will not work on any matters at the firm that he was involved with while at the SFO.

Slaughters was after the highly-coveted Green for months but his appointment was held up by regulatory approvals , particularly in the form of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA). Its clearance was required before Green could swap public office for work in the private sector.

Green (pictured) has considerable expertise following his stint at the SFO and his move to Slaughters was seen as potentially problematic, given its role advising the SFO on a legal wrangle triggered by a botched raid against the Tchenguiz brothers, as well as advising Rolls-Royce on its deferred prosecution agreement with the SFO – viewed as one of Green’s key wins during his term heading the agency.

ACOBA was set up to vet moves by ministers and civil servants into commercial roles for conflicts. The maximum job restriction period it can apply on future employment is two years, although such restrictions are very rare.

Green will be advising companies and individuals facing investigations brought by criminal and regulatory agencies in the UK and internationally. His hire follows Slaughters’ third-ever lateral hire in April this year, when it brought in former Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission director of enforcement, Wynne Mok, to its Hong Kong office.

Green commented: ‘I am delighted to be joining a firm which has such a deep understanding of the interests and needs of companies and individuals facing criminal investigations across the world. Slaughter and May is a natural fit for me and I look forward to being a part of the firm’s global investigations practice, which rightly enjoys a pre-eminent reputation.’

Richard Swallow, co-head of Slaughter and May’s global investigations group, said: ‘David will give us a unique perspective and his arrival at the firm is great news for our clients. The appointment of David, and Wynne in Hong Kong, reinforce the firm’s commitment to, and existing expertise in, this very significant area.’

[email protected]

SPG Law is a partnership of top-drawer UK and US lawyers who all have expertise in group litigation related to consumer, pharmaceutical and environmental cases.

The firm is one of the largest claimant firms in the North West. The Merseyside office currently has 28 fee earners and intends to have more than 50 employees by the end of the year. SPG will be offering training contracts and pupillages to local law school graduates so watch this space.

Founding Partner Harris Pogust, who has practised in the US for over 30 years, said: “We want to bring the ‘US approach’ to group litigation to our UK clients and marry that with the talents of some of the top barristers and lawyers in the UK. We see a great opportunity to assist UK citizens who seek recompense for serious wrongs brought upon them by major multi-national corporations”

“We have chosen Liverpool as our UK base because we’re big believers in utilising the talent and resource of the region as well as the strong belief that Liverpool is a great place to start a major law firm such as ours.”

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, Jake Berry MP said: “It is fantastic to see Liverpool attracting overseas investment, in turn bringing more jobs to the North West. As a lawyer myself, I have long believed that you do not need to be in London to enjoy a successful legal career.”

SPG Law joins Taylor Wessing which also recently opened an office in Liverpool.

The company announced today (10 September) that it planned to issue £70m of new shares and sell part of the shares held by existing shareholders in a float expected to take place in October.

Morley, who retired as A&O’s senior partner in 2016 after a 36-year stint at the Magic Circle firm, has taken over from Vannin’s co-founder Dan Craddock, who has assumed the role of deputy chair and will continue as chair of the funding committee. Morley’s appointment comes at a time of rapid growth for the funder and follows the hire of Fountain Court Chambers’ Paul Martenstyn as managing director in July. So far in its 2018 financial year, which ends on 30 September it has signed £62m of new funding commitments and has a £90m pipeline of potential new funding commitments.

Between 2015 and 2017 total income increased by 42% to £36.5m, operating profit increased by 32% to £28.1m and profit after tax increased by 22% to £21.2m. Vannin expects to end the 2018 financial year with roughly double the £42m funding committed in 2017. Part of the proceeds from the float will be used to repay a £27.2m shareholder loan provided by Craddock.

Morley enjoyed an illustrious career at A&O, having been elected managing partner in 2003 for five years and then global senior partner until 2016. Under his leadership, the firm’s revenues doubled from £652m to £1.31bn, resulting in 175% profit growth from 2004 to 2016.

He told Legal Business: ‘Vannin Capital approached me about five or six months ago. At the time, I didn’t know much about litigation finance, but the more research I did and the more people I spoke to, the more I realised this was exactly what I wanted to do. What attracted me was the fact that this is a business focused on the high-end side of the market. I knew I could add my insights on the way lawyers think about global business.’

Since his retirement, Morley has headed a leadership and consulting business and has acted as chair of private equity fund Elaghmore, chair of A&O’s newly established leadership centre and an Honorary Visiting Professor at Cass Business School at City, University of London. He is also a Meyler Campbell-trained business coach.

On the IPO, Morley added: ‘Litigation finance is here to stay. It’s about rapid change as well as rapid growth. It’s going to be part of the legal landscape. Every law firm will have to have a strategy around it. These ambitious global growth plans need access to large amounts of capital, but it’s also about raising the profile.’

Within the last year, Vannin Capital has also hired Richard Hextall from global insurer MS Amlin as its CEO and David Collins from Prudential as CFO. It intends to drive growth in its core areas and also plans to expand into Singapore, Hong Kong and the US.

It also expected to invest in commercial arbitration and investment treaty with additional hires, and to increase its headcount generally with targeted hires.

Craddock commented: ‘David is known and respected the world over as a proven business leader and legal services innovator. His appointment underscores Vannin’s strategic intent and continues the strengthening of the senior team’s ability to deliver its ambitious, sustainable growth strategy.’

[email protected]

Stephanie King, a solicitor at law firm Aaron & Partners in Chester will be leaving her day job behind as she jets off to Australia’s Gold Coast to take part in the World Triathlon Grand Final.

The triathlon takes place between 12-16 September and the twenty-six-year old lawyer will be participating as part of the GB team, alongside Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, Vicki Holland and Jodie Stimpson.

Alongside her legal career in commercial property, King spends over 20 hours a week training for triathlons. Her schedule includes training before and after work, as well as occasionally at lunchtimes, six days a week.

“I absolutely love my job as a real estate solicitor and I’ve worked really hard to get my career off the ground, but I’m really passionate about triathlon too.”

King has taken part in several events in preparation for the event, including the London marathon, the Chester Deva Triathlon and the Ironman Challenge. She qualified for the World Triathlon Finals after coming 14^th in the European Triathlon Union qualifier in Estonia earlier this year. The young solicitor will be expected to undertake a 1.5km swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run in warm conditions (the temperature on the Australian Gold Coast is expected to be around 29 degrees Celsius).

“I’m relishing the challenge but I’m under no illusions that it’s going to be tough. The bike is probably my strongest discipline in the triathlon and that’s because I’ve been doing it longer than the other two – I’ve only really been doing triathlons for the last three years.’

“Everyone at Aaron & Partners has been really supportive and although it can be tough juggling my training schedule with work commitments, I’ve found that exercise really helps me to focus when I’m in the office.”

Farrer & Co trainees will now earn £38,000 in their first year whilst colleagues in the year above will earn £41,000. This equates to an uptick of 3% on previous salary levels. NQs at the independent firm have also been rewarded with a pay boost of 7%, taking their remuneration to £64,000 a year.

At Forsters, trainee pay has been boosted by 5% to £40,000 in the first year and £42,000 in the second year. The firm has also upped its NQ salary by 2% to a not-to-be-sniffed-at £62,000. Good news all round.

The University of Law Open Days

What: Gain insight into university’s Legal Practice Course (LPC), Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), and MA Law degree, and find out how they are taught and assessed. Attendees can also meet tutors and the employability team.

When: 12 September, 17:30 – 19:30 and 13 September 17:30 – 19:30

Where: London Bloomsbury campus (12) and Reading campus (13)

WCAN Conference hosted by White & Case

What: Women in the City Afro-Caribbean Network (WCAN) focuses on connecting high-achieving black women with successful women in the City. This year’s conference will focus on careers in commercial law. The one day event will see attendees hear from black female law graduates and professionals and get advice on CVs and application writing. There will also be commercial awareness sessions and networking opportunities with individuals from Ashurst, Baker & McKenzie, DWF, Eversheds Sutherland, Hogan Lovells, Norton Rose Fulbright, Slaughter and May and White & Case.

When: 13th September

Where: White & Case’s London office

For more information and to book tickets, click here

Jones Day Question Time

What: Jones Day’s Question Times are interactive Q&As and networking events (not recruitment presentations) so are fantastic opportunities to meet a panel of trainees, associates and partners. Attendees are able to quiz the panel directly about their first-hand experiences of working in a global law firm and training in the firm’s distinctive, non-rotational system, and get to know them better over networking canapés afterwards. Attendees will also learn more about the firm’s placement schemes, what the recruitment team look for in candidates, and when and how to apply.

When: Various dates beginning 26 September

Where: Various locations

For more information and to register, click here

Urban Lawyers Careers Conference

What: The Urban Lawyers Careers Conference is an all-day interactive event that provides key information and support to those from diverse backgrounds who are considering a career in law and those who are actively pursuing a career as a solicitor or barrister.

When: 17th November, 8:30 – 17:00

Where: Herbert Smith Freehills’ London office

For more information and to book tickets, click here

Taylor Vinters Open Evening

What: If you’re looking for an insight into the work Taylor Vinters does and the types of clients they work with, along with some hints and tips on completing your application form, then join them at their open evening. This event is aimed at students who are in the process of applying for vacation schemes and training contracts.

When: 22 November, 16:00 – 19:00

Where: The firm’s London office (Tower 42)

For more information and to apply for a place, click here. (Successful applicants will hear back from the firm by 12 November)

Clifford Chance ACCEPT

What: ACCEPT is CC’s Diversity and Inclusion conference that aims to provide an opportunity for LGBT students interested in a career in law to hear from senior role models and understand why it’s important to bring your full and authentic self to work each day. The day will conclude with an evening panel event with keynote speakers celebrating Trans Awareness month. You will:

• Understand what it’s like to be LGBT in the City and how this can complement your career
• Hear from external speakers and external partners including MyGWork and National Student Pride
• Network with likeminded individuals and hear about the recruitment process at Clifford Chance

When: 22nd November 2018, 11:00 – 21:00

Where: CC’s London office

Applications close on 9 November. For more information and to apply, click here

Clifford Chance INTERFACE

What: Interface is an exclusive event for students studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees. This event will provide an opportunity to understand the ways in which a STEM degree can lay the foundations for a successful career as a lawyer. Through a series of interactive workshops, presentations and networking sessions, attendees can discover:

• The transferable skills between STEM degrees and the law
• How to secure a training contract as a STEM student
• How technology is changing the law

When: 29 November 2018, 9:00 – 19:00

Where: CC’s London office

Applications close on 15 November. For more information and to apply, click here

Junior Lawyers Division forum: helping you to secure a training position

What: Free one-day skills event to assist LPC students and LPC graduates with their search for a training position. The event will consist of presentations, activities and discussion with speakers who are highly regarded and experienced in their field. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

When: 6 October, 10:00 – 16:30 followed by a networking drinks reception until about 17:30

Where: Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

For more information, click here

Shearman & Sterling Open Day

What: Open days at Shearman & Sterling are great for candidates who are still researching their legal careers. These one day programmes provide an insight into the life of trainees and give you the chance to find out what the firm is like from the inside. Open days are perfect for candidates who cannot yet apply to other programmes (Head Start or Vacation Schemes) and can really help you show your dedication to the legal profession and the research you are doing outside of your studies. Open day sessions include:

• An overview of the firm and our place in the legal market;

• An introduction to our core trainee practice areas – M&A, Finance and Project Development & Finance;

• A panel Q&A session with our trainees so you can ask your burning questions regarding overseas seats, support throughout your training contract and what the work is really like;

• An interactive workshop from the graduate recruitment team providing hints and tips on application forms and interviews; and

• A chance to network with partners, associates, trainees and graduate recruitment and get a real feel for our culture.

When: 24 October (apply by 10 October); 5 December (apply by 21 November)

Where: The firm’s London office

For more information and to apply, click here

Baker McKenzie Open Day

What: Baker McKenzie open days give you the chance to find out more about the kind of lawyers they are and the work they do. You’ll take part in workshops on topics such as negotiation, commercial awareness and application skills. You’ll also get the opportunity to meet and learn from the experiences of some of their partners, associates and trainees over lunch.

When: 25th October; 6th December; 10th December (apply from 1 October)

Where: Baker McKenzie London