Clifford Chance

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Clifford Chance LLP
Clifford Chance
Headquarters 10 Upper Bank Street
London, United Kingdom
No. of offices 34 in 24 countries
No. of lawyers 3,200
Major practice areas

Banking and finance

Capital markets

Corporate and M&A

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Real estate

Tax, pensions and employment
Key people David Childs (Managing Partner)
Revenue £1.303 billion
Date founded 1987
Company type Limited liability partnership
Website
www.cliffordchance.com

Clifford Chance LLP is a multinational law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom and a member of the Magic Circle of leading UK law firms. It is one of the ten largest law firms in the world measured by both number of lawyers and revenue.[1] In 2011–12 Clifford Chance had revenues of £1.303 billion and profits per equity partner of £1.1 million.[2] Both figures being a 7% rise on the equivalent numbers from 2010-11.[3] David Childs has been Managing Partner since 2006.[4]

Contents

History [edit]

10 Upper Bank Street, Clifford Chance's headquarters in Canary Wharf, London

Clifford Chance's name comes from two firms. The first was Coward Chance, which derived from a firm established in 1802 by Anthony Brown, a fishmonger's son, started a firm, which became embroiled in the Panic of 1825, caused by speculation in South American investments, including the non-existent country of Poyais, invented by Scottish soldier Gregor MacGregor. One of the firm's longest clients was Cecil Rhodes. The firm advised him on his diamond mining business in South Africa, administered his estate after his death and helped set up the famous Rhodes Scholarships. Another client was Guglielmo Marconi. It also helped Midland Bank recover assets in Russia after the 1917 revolution, and advised the state government of Hyderabad on the preparation for Indian independence. The second firm was Clifford Turner, founded in 1900, with offices on Gresham Street, EC2. Its clients included Dunlop Rubber Company and Imperial Airways. In 1929, Clifford Turner advised and witnessed the creation of John Lewis Partnership. After the Second World War it advised the Labour government on the nationalisation of several privately owned industries. It opened an office in Paris in 1961, Amsterdam in 1972 and New York in 1986.[5]

The merger of London-based law firms Clifford Turner and Coward Chance in 1987 led to the formation of Clifford Chance. Neither Clifford Turner or Coward Chance were first-rank London law firms, but their merger has since been said to have changed the shape and profile of law firms in London and globally.[6] Over the next decade the firm expanded its practices across Europe and Asia and more than doubled in size. In 1992 Clifford Chance became the first major non-US firm to practice US law.[7]

In 1999 Clifford Chance merged with Frankfurt-based law firm Pünder, Volhard, Weber & Axster and with the 1871-established US-based firm Rogers & Wells (the use of the Pünder, Volhard, Weber & Axster and Rogers & Wells branding for their respective European and United States regional offices was discontinued in 2003). In 2002, Clifford Chance launched in California, setting up a branch with nearly 50 attorneys from the disbanding dot-com firm Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison in Los Angeles, Palo Alto, San Diego and San Francisco. With California's downturn, the firm closed its Pacific Coast operations in 2007.[8]

Because of falling revenues during the recent global recession, Clifford Chance reduced the number of partners by around 15%.[9]

The firm in recent years has moved back office tasks to its 350-employee Global Shared Service Centre, including a 60-employee Knowledge Centre in New Delhi, India as an efficiency measure.[10]

In May 2011, Clifford Chance opened offices in Australia by merging with two M&A boutique law firms, Sydney-based Chang, Pistilli & Simmons and Perth-based Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe.[11][12] In February 2012, Clifford Chance opened a new office in Casablanca, giving the firm's Africa practice its first permanent on the ground presence in the continent.[13] In July 2012, Clifford Chance became the first UK firm to receive permission from South Korea’s Ministry of Justice to open an office in the country.[14]

In November 2011 it was identified as the largest supplier to the City of London Corporation having received over £9m in fees between January and September of that year.[15]

Main practice areas [edit]

  • Banking and finance
  • Capital markets
  • Corporate & M&A
  • Real estate
  • Litigation & Dispute resolution
  • Tax, pensions and employment

References [edit]

  1. ^ "The Global 100: Most Revenue 2009". American Lawyer. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
  2. ^ http://www.thelawyer.com/freshfields-and-links-reveal-figures-to-confirm-ccs-magic-circle-lead/1013292.article
  3. ^ "Clifford Chance posts turnover hike on back of strong Asia-Pacific growth". The Lawyer. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. 
  4. ^ "David Childs". Times Online. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2010. 
  5. ^ See J Slinn, Clifford Chance: Its origins and development (1993), partially summarised by A brief history of Clifford Chance
  6. ^ Fennel, Edward (30 January 2007). "Driving ambition of mega CC - Why the merger of Coward Chance and Clifford Turner changed the way City firms work". The Times (London: News Corporation). Retrieved 2007-11-18. 
  7. ^ Dillon, Karen (May 1993), "The British Empire Strikes Back", American Lawyer: 52–56 
  8. ^ Eric Young, "Giant UK firm to quit West Coast", San Francisco Business Times, 2 May 2007. http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2007/03/05/story8.html
  9. ^ "Clifford Chance". Thelawyer.com. Retrieved 2011-08-08. 
  10. ^ Mark Ford (Director of the Clifford Chance Knowledge Centre): Clifford Chance's knowledge centre in India: the story so far, Practical Law Company, 28 April 2011, http://plc.practicallaw.com/8-505-7501
  11. ^ "Clifford Chance Merges With Two Law Firms to Open in Australia". Bloomberg. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011. 
  12. ^ Ring, Suzi (16 February 2011). "CC makes Australia debut with local mergers as Asia growth gathers pace". Legal Week. 
  13. ^ http://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2012/02/clifford_chance_opensitsofficeincasablanca.html
  14. ^ http://www.thelawyer.com/clifford-chance-sheppard-mullin-and-ropes-gain-seoul-approval/1013471.article
  15. ^ "City of London spending and income: where does the money come from, and where does it go?". Guardian. 1 November 2011. 

Further reading [edit]

  • Scott, John (1980). Clifford-Turner. Legibus.
  • Slinn, Judy (1993). Clifford Chance: Its Origins and Development. Granta Editions.
  • Bose, Mihir, 'Clifford Chance: A Very Peculiar Practice?', Director, March 1990, pp. 65–66, 68, 70.
  • 'Playing for Stakes: The Game of Clifford Chance', Legal Business, June 1993, pp. 28–31.
  • 'London Braces for the Big Six Invasion', American Lawyer, December 1996, pp. 5–6.
  • Rose, Craig, 'Clifford Chance: The Merger That Worked', Commercial Lawyer, Issue 15, 1997, pp. 32–34.
  • Morris, John E., 'The New World Order', American Lawyer, August 1999, pp. 92–99.
  • 'Merger in the First Degree: British Law Firms Are Forging New Relationships That Could Transform the Style of Global Legal Practice', Time International, 9 August 1999, p. 41.
  • Steinberger, Mike, 'Is Clifford Chance/Rogers & Wells the Next Wave, or Simply Overkill?', Investment Dealers' Digest, 9 August 1999, pp. 12–13.

Coordinates: 51°30′10″N 0°01′01″W / 51.5027°N 0.017°W / 51.5027; -0.017

External links [edit]

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clifford_Chance&oldid=555182413"