Hello and welcome to the Fides Weekly Update. Take a look at this week’s key trends, moves and developments in legal and compliance.
Tweet us @Fides_Search to let us know your thoughts.
This week:
1). Supporting Mental Health Awareness
With this week marking Mental Health Awareness Week, the press has been awash with blogs, stories and articles as to how the legal profession has struggled with issues of mental health.
Lawyers are known to be at higher risk of mental health problems and substance abuse. They’re perfectionists whose job it is to worry, anticipate and act on other people’s problems. This combined with a high-pressure work environment, billable hour’s targets and demands from clients creates a melting pot of potential issues – exacerbated by the stigma attached to admitting you are struggling.
To celebrate this week, and encourage people in the legal profession and beyond to continue the conversation about mental health, we share our most recent survey findings into Inclusion and Wellbeing in City Law firms.
We undertook this research to better understand how lawyers feel at work, the obstacles to greater inclusion and wellbeing in law firms, and the changes that can be made to achieve more inclusive workplace cultures.
For more information on mental health problems in the law, see our guest blog with Richard Martin, former lawyer and Head of Mental Health Training at Byrne Dean HERE.
Enjoy!
P.S. Keep your eyes out for our latest publication ‘How to make your law firm more inclusive – a ten step guide’ due for release in a few weeks.
2). Movers & Shakers
Panel Watch
Seven firms land roles on Co-op new restructured panel
Appointments
Weetabix hires new General Counsel
Moves
Kirkland hires A&O global IP head Nicola Dagg in London
Kirkland halts A&O’s IP expansion with hire of global practice head
Paul Hastings launches dedicated City PE practice with DLA hire
Partner Anu Balasubramanian joins to head up the PE practice
Jones Day London exits mount with Travers set to make rare lateral hire
Real Estate partner Alex Millar makes a move to Travers Smith
DLA Piper confirms Dublin launch plan with corporate partner hire
DLA Piper is set to open an office in Dublin with the hire of corporate partner David Carthy from Irish firm William Fry
CMS Poland hires nine-strong Dentons banking team in Warsaw
The one-partner team includes Michal Mezykowski, who has been appointed as head of the banking and finance practice in Poland
Mergers & Alliances
CMS agrees Hong Kong tie-up with local firm
Office Openings & Closings
HSF follows Clifford Chance and Skadden with Canary Wharf move
Partner Promotions
Travers Smith promotes female trio to partner in largest round since 2012