Linklaters LLP is a global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom and a member of the 'Magic Circle' of leading UK law firms.[2] Linklaters is the world's fourth largest global law firm by revenue.[3] In 2009/10 it received total revenues of £1.18 billion and profits per equity partner of £1.2 million.[2] As of April 2009, it employed approximately 2,260 legal advisers and 2,830 other staff across 26 offices in 19 countries.[1]
Simon Davies has been the firm's managing partner since January 2008.[4]
[edit] History
Linklaters was founded in 1838 as Dods & Linklater. In 1920, the firm merged with Paine, Blyth & Huxtable, creating Linklaters & Paines. For most of its existence Linklaters was predominantly an English law firm with small domestic operations in a small number of overseas jurisdictions. In 1996, the firm adopted a strategy of global expansion to meet what it perceived as an increasing demand for multi-jurisdictional legal advice. In 1998, the firm formed Linklaters & Alliance with four other European law firms: De Bandt, van Hecke, Lagae & Loesch; De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek; Lagerlöf & Leman, and Oppenhoff & Rädler.[5] Over the next five years Linklaters merged with three of these firms in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and Sweden, merged with other firms in the Czech Republic and Poland, and opened offices in Amsterdam, Bangkok, Beijing, Budapest, Bucharest, Bratislava, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Rome, São Paulo, and Shanghai. During this period, Linklaters also formed a joint venture with the Singaporean law firm, Allen & Gledhill, to create Linklaters Allen & Gledhill, and a co-operation with Brazilian firm Lefosse Advogados.
On April 1, 2005, when new laws came into effect in Japan permitting multi-national partnerships, Linklaters created Japan’s first fully merged law firm practising Japanese, English, and US law. Linklaters closed its offices in Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague in 2007. Linklaters opened an office in Dubai in February 2006, as its 30th office worldwide.[6] Linklaters cut 270 jobs in London, January 2008, in the aftermath of the credit crunch; consisting of around 120 lawyers and 150 business services providers.[7] This was claimed to be part of Simon Davies, Managing Partner's plan to become a smaller, profitable organisation.[8] In 2008 Linklaters was appointed to handle the insolvency of Lehman Brothers.[9] The court appointed auditor's report on Lehman revealed in March 2010 that Lehman, with no U.S. law firm willing to approve aggressive accounting practices used to hide debt, took advantage of a difference in treatment between English and New York law, and then found Linklaters willing to sign off on the practice so long as the "Repo 105" transactions moved through London.[10] There is no suggestion Linklaters acted unethically or improperly.[11]
[edit] Main practice areas
- Banking
- Capital Markets
- Competition / Antitrust
- Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions
- Employment & Incentives
- Environment & Climate Change
- Financial Regulation
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property
- Investment Management
- Litigation & Arbitration
- Pensions
- Private Equity
- Projects
- Real Estate & Construction
- Tax
- Technology, Media & Telecommunications
[edit] Offices
Linklaters has its headquarters in London[12] and has offices in another 26 cities in 20 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America.[13]
[edit] References
[edit] Sources
[edit] External links
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1Measured by 2009/10 worldwide revenues 2Co-headquartered in the United States
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