Study reveals narrow window to make partner

Fieldfisher brand launched in China through merger… Expansion of Sydney real estate team at Squire Patton Boggs… International firm awarded for family friendly practices…

Study reveals narrow window to make partner
Between 9 and 13 years – that’s the window of opportunity for a lawyer hoping to make partner according to a study by industry recruiter Origin Legal.

Its research looked at 111 new partners in the top 20 firms in London and discovered that 9 to 13 years was when 80 per cent joined the partnership, with an average of 10 years.

However, the study found that once the window is in the distant past, lawyers are less likely to move up the ladder.

For Magic Circle firms, 60 per cent of new partners were in the corporate finance/banking practice with corporate litigation accounting for 20 per cent.
 
Fieldfisher brand launched in China through merger
European law firm Fieldfisher is now operating in China through a merger with local law firm JS Partners.

The merger is effective 15th November and is a Swiss Verein structure. JS Partners will use the Fieldfisher brand but will be known as FeiShi. Although Fieldfisher operates a Japan practice, it is London-based, making the merger its first major move into Asia Pacific.

Fieldfisher’s network is gaining momentum with a merger last week in the UK and a tie-up through a Swiss Verein in Italy earlier in the year. The firm is expecting further Asia Pacific activity with Dr Zhaofeng Zhou, managing partner of JS Partners commenting that the firm is looking for further growth in the coming months.
 
Expansion of Sydney real estate team at Squire Patton Boggs
Squire Patton Boggs has added former Allen & Overy counsel Dannelle Howley to its real estate practice in Sydney.

Widely regarded as a leading real estate law specialist in Australia, her practice focuses on complex, structured and large-scale transactions. She has previously acted on deals including the acquisitions of the Australia Postal headquarters, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney and the Victorian Police Complex.
 
International firm awarded for family friendly practices
The Hong Kong office of international law firm Latham & Watkins has been awarded four awards by the government’s Family Council including its Distinguished Family-Friendly Employers Award.

It has been recognised for its family friendly policies and practices; for demonstrating innovative ideas in formulating family-friendly policies and practices; for providing an appropriate and friendly environment for breastfeeding employees; and a special mention award for being a previous winner of the Distinguished Family-Friendly Employers Award.