A former DoJ deputy assistant attorney general who specialises in government investigations has returned to King & Spalding in the US capital.

A pair of lawyers has moved from Mishcon de Reya to Charles Russell Speechlys in Singapore, bringing litigation, arbitration and corporate crime experience.

The Palo Alto office of K&L Gates has added Michele Floyd as a partner in the firm’s commercial disputes practice.

Three partners are set to join DLA Piper’s specialist litigation team in London, all of whom join from Lawrence Graham.

Mergers and investment are less likely, but business development spend is increasing as a result of market changes prior to the UK Legal Services Act, says Ben Rigby.

London-based legal recruitment consultancy Cogence Search has hired Davies Arnold Cooper (DAC) insurance litigation partner Christian Kelly.
 

Rainer Hilli is to become the new managing partner of Roschier, as the firm celebrates its 75th year in the Nordic legal industry.

Steven Cohen, who was most recently secretary to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, is joining Zuckerman Spaeder as a partner.

Three-quarters of top 100 law firms are considering increasing their fees over the next year.

The UK’s largest law firm merger was announced last week, with partners at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert and Clyde & Co backing the tie-up between the insurance specialists.

The Law Society of England & Wales is urging action by the Colombian authorities as the murder of lawyers rises because killers act with impunity in the South American country.

Commercial law firms see pressure on fees from clients as the greatest threat to their profitability, according to research carried out among finance directors of the UK’s top 100 law firms. Ben Rigby asks market players for their take on the numbers.

With major UK law firms Herbert Smith and Allen & Overy opening Belfast offices, Ben Rigby assesses the prospect of near-shoring in Northern Ireland as a means for UK litigation departments to reduce client costs. But are they receiving a warm welcome?

[w]DLA Piper has enlarged its Munich office with the hire of two teams from Hogan Lovells under partners Thomas Gädtke (litigation and dispute resolution) and Thilo von Bodungen (commercial and trade law).