Lawyers begin to feel Brexit pain

Law firms in London are tightening their belts following the Brexit vote. As well as many firms considering moves to Dublin or mainland Europe, others have frozen wages and at least one international firm is making redundancies.
It’s reported in the UK legal press that Simmons & Simmons is cutting around 10 roles believed to be real estate lawyers working across practices. Meanwhile, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Addleshaw Goddard and Gowling WLG have postponed August pay reviews until later in the year when the impact of Brexit may be clearer.
 
Lawyer unexpectedly qualifies for the Olympics
A Greek lawyer will run in the marathon at the Rio Olympics this month having qualified without realising. Michalis Kalomiris only discovered that finishing in the top 10 of the Rome Marathon on 2015 would send him to Rio when he saw his name listed on an athletics website.
Kalomiris works at an Athens law firm and told ekathimerini.com that when he appears in court he often takes his running shoes with him: “When you really like something a lot, you find a way of fitting it into your life,” he said.
The lawyer knows he isn’t at the level of professional runners, having qualified with a time of 2 hours 29 minutes when some of the pros manage just over 2 hours; but he says it’s all about the “dream of participation.” He will race on August 21^st.
 
KWM rebuilding in Paris
King & Wood Mallesons has hired a former senior associate from White & Case as part of its plans to rebuild its Paris office following a 6-lawyer departure to Goodwin Procter earlier in the year. Private equity specialist Guilain Hippolyte has a strong China-focused practice.
 
Korean firm expands to Myanmar
Bae, Kim & Lee has opened its seventh international office, in Myanmar. The Yangon office, led by Eric Eunyong Yang, will advise on a wide range of issues including SOC projects, real estate and M&A.
The Korean firm now has international offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Dubai.