Management changes begin at Clifford Chance; PwC enters Singapore market with local alliance

New management structure changes begin at Clifford Chance… PwC does deal with local firm to enter Singapore market… Dentons announces retention rate for NQs… and NZ lawyers prove their ‘giving’ nature…

Clifford Chance begins management changes
Following last month’s decision to reform the global management structure of Clifford Chance, there have already been some changes. Some of the firm’s previous practice heads have stepped down a few months earlier than planned as the structure moves away from practice areas in favour of global business units. Mark Campbell (finance head) and David Dunnigan (capital markets) are among those to stand down early. Peter Charlton, CC’s Asia-Pacific head will not be replaced and will retain his seat on the new management group which replaces the previous committee.
 
PwC enters Singapore market with local alliance
Global services company PwC is expanding its Asia-Pacific legal services by entering into an alliance with local firm Camford Law. The Singapore market has many global law firms operating there including Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy and Norton Rose Fulbright but this new deal gives PwC access to the market without the costs of a new office.
 
Dentons hold onto 85 per cent of trainees
Dentons is the latest big London-based firm to reveal its retention rate for newly qualified lawyers. The firm made offers to 22 of its 26 NQs; of the remainder 2 did not apply and 2 were not made offers. That means a retention rate of 85 per cent.
 
New Zealand lawyers among top volunteers
Lawyers are far more likely to be involved in voluntary work than the average employed New Zealander according to Statistics New Zealand figures from last year’s census. The stats show that in the four weeks before the March 2013 census, 27% of lawyers had been involved in voluntary work through any organisation, group or marae. That was well ahead of the 14.6% of all working New Zealanders who said they were involved in such activity. New Zealand Law Society President Chris Moore says it is not really surprising: “Because of their inherent knowledge, experience and skills, lawyers are naturally drawn to work on boards and community organisations. I have been a lawyer for over 35 years and I know that the vast majority of lawyers are people who want to participate and give something back to the community.”