Lee & Lyons team joins Clyde & Co

A team of five partners and 24 fee earners has joined international firm Clyde & Co from Lee & Lyons in Sydney. The team includes the Aussie firm’s two founding partners David Lee and Lucinda Lyons who set up their firm in 2002. David Amentas, Michelle Dunne and Christopher Smith are the other three partners who are now part of Clyde. Scott Castledine has also joined the firm in Sydney as a senior associate from Allens.  He is a commercial litigator who specialises in professional defence.
 
International firms expand in Singapore with senior hires
King & Wood Mallesons has added to the capabilities of its Singapore office with a disputes resolution practice alongside its existing M&A and investment funds and energy practices. Chau Ee Lee will lead the new team having joined from Drew & Napier where he was head of construction.
Meanwhile at Reed Smith, Richard Lovell joins the team in the city state as partner. He brings his experience of admiralty and casualty response to the firm from Ince & Co where he was head of shipping and managing partner of the Singapore office.
 
Slater & Gordon views debt restructuring in UK
Slater & Gordon is considering debt restructuring and has brought in FTI Consulting according to cityam.com. The Australian-listed law firm has lost 90 per cent of its share price in the past year especially following the UK government’s announcement of a proposed rule change that will lead to a cut in personal injury claims following road accidents.
 
Herbert Smith Freehills backs Brisbane’s MELT diversity festival
The MELT Festival which supports the LGBTI community in Brisbane has been given the support of Herbert Smith Freehills. The law firm has become the first corporate diversity partner to support the festival which runs from this Wednesday until Valentine’s Day. The firm is about to mark the third birthday of its own LGBTI Network in Australia and partner Peter Smith says that linking with the Festival is a fitting way to celebrate.
 
UK regulator reports strong response to consultation
The Solicitors Regulation Authority says it has received thousands of responses to one of the biggest surveys it has ever carried out. The UK regulator asked legal professionals and the public to share their views on what should happen to lawyers who fall below professional standards set out in the SRA Handbook. More than 2,350 responses have been received and the regulator will publish its findings in the summer.