The results of Shell’s panel review have been eagerly-awaited around the world, and the headline news on TheLawyer.com this week was that the company had slashed the number of firms on its global roster to just six.
The story was comfortably the most-read of the week, ahead of our in-depth cover feature looking at the success of Dentons’ internal integration following a year of mergers.
In the middle of partner promotions season, Clifford Chance and Linklaters announced their new partners this week. Both made up 24 worldwide, with Linklaters making up 10 in London and Clifford Chance nine.
Rival magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer was also in the news and in our top 10 stories last week as an all-party parliamentary group published its critical report into the firm’s handling of the ScottishPower ‘cashback warranty’ scandal.
Pinsent Masons also found itself in the eye of MPs after partner David Isaac was rejected as the new chair of the Equality Commission. Two select committees said Isaac would be conflicted as the firm acts for the Government.
Pinsents is also looking at its internal strategy and this week unveiled its first-ever chief operating officer. The firm has hired Alastair Mitchell from Holman Fenwick Willan.
Our popular ‘My career story’ strand this week profiled Brabners partner Richard Hough, who juggles being a lawyer and a pharmacist.
In lateral hire news, King & Wood Mallesons is losing real estate partners Darren Rogers and Patrick Williams to Ashurst. Meanwhile in Ireland there was a rare move between heavyweights A&L Goodbody and Arthur Cox, with the latter picking up its rival’s former New York head Cian McCourt.
The top 10 stories in full
1) Exclusive: Shell slashes global panel from 250 firms to six
2) Ghosts in Dentons’ machine: will the firm fall victim to its own acquisitions success?
3) Clifford Chance makes up nine City partners in 2016 round
4) Linklaters promotes just five women in 24-strong round
5) MPs’ report slams Freshfields and SRA over ScottishPower ‘cashback warranty’ scandal
6) My career story: “I’ve got two jobs – law firm partner and pharmacist”
7) Exits continue at KWM as real estate duo join Ashurst
8) Pinsents partner Isaac rejected as Equality Commission chair