Hello and welcome to the Fides Weekly Update, your digest of this week’s key legal trends, moves and developments from across the globe.
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This week:
1). Law firms embrace tech portal to drive applications from disadvantaged backgrounds
A group of ten law firms have signed up to use Vantage, a web portal launched by contextual recruitment company Rare, to match firms with talented students from low-participation schools.
The portal targets the UK’s 100 ‘high low schools’, where only one in 40 students achieving an A at English A-level go on to apply to the legal profession.
This compares to one in three students with the same grade who apply to become a lawyer from elite schools, a 12-fold increase in applicants.
Vantage allows firms to see candidates’ achievements on the portal within the context of how they gained those achievements, taking into consideration aspects of their background including postcode, school quality, eligibility for free school meals, refugee status, and any time spent in care.
The portal aims to double the number of applicants from this pool in the next three years, and was launched in collaboration with the following firms: Baker McKenzie, Clifford Chance, Eversheds Sutherland, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters, Macfarlanes, Pinsent Masons, Slaughter and May and Travers Smith.
2). Movers & Shakers
Appointments
White & Case Creates New Role, Improves Gender Split In Leadership Committee
Clydes Senior Partner to Step Down Two Years Early
Thomas Cook GC moves over to FTSE 100 developer
Moves
Dechert Hires Sidley City Partner Duo
Funds partner John McGrath and litigation partner Simon Fawell are set to join Dechert next week
Stephenson Harwood Hits US Firm For Rare City Hire
Litigation and investigations partner Justin McCelland joins the London office of Stephenson Harwood after seven years as a partner at Winston & Straw
Former Kaye Scholer City Head Quits Merged Firm to Lead Rival Practice
The former London head of legacy firm Kaye Scholer Andrew Harris, is leaving the firm’s London office to lead the European corporate and private equity arm at Vedder Price
London Disputes Partner Exits King & Spalding For Kobre & Kim
King & Spalding City partner Nick Cherryman has left the firm to take up a post at a fast-growing litigation U.S. rival
US Firm Cuts London Partner Loose After 18 Years’ Service
Well known Duane Morris litigator Jonathan Cohen is understood to be leaving the firm
Simmons revives PE ambitions in Paris with Gowling WLG trio
Partner Jérôme Patenotte, who was at Gowling WLG for nine years, will lead Simmons’ new private equity practice. He joins the firm along with of counsel Sophie Mesnier-Teissedre and senior associate Savina Jouan
Mergers & Alliances
Top Australia-Listed Plaintiffs Law Firms Discussed Merger, Report Says
Penningtons Manches is to merge with Thomas Cooper
Office Openings & Closings
UK Firms’ Seoul Offices Safe as Britain Signs Trade Deal With Korea
DWF Adds 40 Partners Via Latest European Association
Andersen Global Bolts on German Law Firm
Dentons continues Africa push with Zimbabwean tie-up
Partner Promotions
Morgan Lewis promotes London lawyer in US-heavy round
Financials
Eversheds Sutherland PEP Hits Record High
Kennedys Revenues Smash £200M Barrier for First Time
White & Case Boosts Trainee Salaries as Pay War Intensifies
CC Boosts NQ Pay to £100,000 Amid Associate Pay War
Skadden NQs get £15,000 pay rise
Inclusion and Diversity
Slaughters, CC Among Firms Supporting New Student Social Mobility Drive
Ashurst Global Board Member Dismissed Over Conduct
HSF faces SRA scrutiny after claims of aggressive behaviour
Technology and Innovation
Linklaters Launches Free ‘Digital’ Internships for UK Students
Stephenson Harwood associates told to innovate under new scheme