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uk report UK firms re-introducing intellectual ability to the graduate recruitment process Top UK law firms are introducing more ‘intellectual ability’ tests and phone interviews aimed at testing communication skills into the graduate recruitment process, to help determine whether candidates are suited to a career in law. Other measures such as psychometric testing, which is commonly used in other professions to assess graduate candidates, are also being considered. Top 10 firm Herbert Smith has introduced an on-line situational judgment test, taken as soon as the application form is filled out. It has also added a logical reasoning test to its existing verbal reasoning exam. Head of resourcing Peter Chater said the measures will improve the objectivity of the process and reduce the length of the application, so the firm can reply to candidates more quickly. Pinsent Masons has also introduced a telephone interview for candidates to establish that they are right for the firm both on and off paper. “As an increasing number of people apply for a career in law, we’ll need more ways to distinguish between applicants other than the traditional application form,” said Pinsent Masons graduate recruitment manager Edward Walker. Linklaters comes bearing gifts In a move deemed appropriate for London’s gloomy weather, UK firm Linklaters is providing shelter from
the rain of the GFC for graduates with a return to levels of merchandising not seen since before the crisis began. The firm now offers Linklaters branded umbrellas at graduate recruitment fairs, encouraging students to share them around, mimicking the bike-sharing schemes now well established around Europe. In addition, Linklaters has promised to donate GBP20,000 to be divided between three educational charities. Franchising looking possible in UK firms As firms look for ways to decrease marketing and promotional costs, law firm franchise QualitySolicitors is said to be on the verge of signing 4 of the UK’s top 100 firms and is preparing to launch 50 branches within the next two years. While Quality Solicitors chief executive Craig Holt would not reveal the names of the firms, he said: “There’s more than one top 100 firm with whom we’re in discussions presently about taking on the QualitySolicitors branding alongside their own, but I can’t say more than that, I’m afraid.” All is set to be revealed once the firms have signed on the dotted line. Part of QualitySolicitors approach to growth is to take on more commercial work. Firms that sign up to QualitySolicitors pay an annual fee and their name is listed alongside the QualitySolicitors brand as part of the law firm’s title. The fee is used for marketing and advertising purposes.
ROUNDUP • London is preparing to welcome seven new partners from US legal giant White & Case. The firm appointed 35 new partners globally in October • Slaughter and May has set up its own outsourcing panel of three LPO providers it is willing to work with, caving to client pressure to keep fees down • Clifford Chance and Linklaters are two of only seven top firms leading the way by offering the accelerated LPC course to new recruits. Others include Slaughter and May, Norton Rose and Herbert Smith • Slaughter and May has been chosen as an advisor on the proposed takeover of Liverpool FC by the owner of the Boston Red Sox • Simmons & Simmons held its annual partner weekend on 12-13 October. Partners confirmed that a transAtlantic merger is still an option. China was also emphasised as a key part of the firm’s planned growth strategy • Herbert Smith has boosted its Singapore arm with the relocation of partner Adrian Cheng from the firm’s London office • Allen & Overy, Linklaters, Clifford Chance, Norton Rose and Herbert Smith were all among the firms chosen for Lloyd’s combined legal adviser roster
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Blake Dawson to B
lake Dawson will expand its Japan team significantly in the coming months, predicting strengthening outbound M&A deals and PPP partnerships between the two countries in the coming months. According to Blake Dawson M&A practice head Ian Williams, Japanese financial stalwarts such as Nomura, Bank of Tokyo and Mitsubishi are aggressively expanding their operations in Australia – in addition to a flood of acquisition deals coming to market between the
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Asia key driver in
U
S firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey and UK firm Hammonds have become the latest pair to discuss the possibility of a trans-Atlantic merger. The two firms said that much remains to be done before bringing the merger to a partnership vote, but it is anticipated that partners in both firms will be asked to vote before the end of this year. If a merger were to proceed, the combined firm would have 37 offices and around 1,300 lawyers across 17 countries, while global revenues would top US$625m. And in Asia, the combined firm would have around 80 lawyers across offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The emerging Asian markets, particularly the growing importance of China's economy to the world, lead many international lawyers in the region to believe that Asia is a key driver in recent UK-US law firm mergers. Rocky Lee, who recently left DLA Piper to become Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft's Asia managing partner, is one of the lawyers who hold this view. "I am led to believe that many of the mega US-UK law firm mergers are driven by the lure of Greater China," Lee said. "Many managing partners and legal consultants of these firms expect to see the Greater China legal market grow on a trajectory similar to that of China's GDP." Asian Legal Business ISSUE 10.11