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* Osborne Clarke advised [[Grand Central Railway]] on its sale to transport operator Arriva plc.<ref name="Arriva purchases Grand Central Railway">{{cite web|title=Arriva in Grand Central Railway takeover|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15592125|publisher=BBC}}</ref>
* Osborne Clarke advised [[Grand Central Railway]] on its sale to transport operator Arriva plc.<ref name="Arriva purchases Grand Central Railway">{{cite web|title=Arriva in Grand Central Railway takeover|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15592125|publisher=BBC}}</ref>


* Osborne Clarke have been awarded with the TMT Law firm of the Year awarded at The Lawyer Awards, for their work in advising mobile provider Everything Everywhere on launching the first mobile payments product>{{cite web|title=The Lawyer Awards|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/the-lawyer-awards-mishcon-de-reya-brick-court-scoop-top-prizes/1013087.article}}</ref>
* Osborne Clarke have been awarded with the TMT Law firm of the Year awarded at The Lawyer Awards, for their work in advising mobile provider Everything Everywhere on launching the first mobile payments product<ref name="The Lawyer Awards">{{cite web|title=The Lawyer Awards|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/the-lawyer-awards-mishcon-de-reya-brick-court-scoop-top-prizes/1013087.article}}</ref>


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 09:55, 4 July 2012

Osborne Clarke
File:OsborneClarkeLogo.jpg
Osborne Clarke
Headquarters Bristol
No. of offices6
No. of lawyers450+
No. of employees700+
Major practice areasMedia, Technology, Digital, Automotive, Energy and Natural Resources, Financial Services, Life Sciences, Recruitment, Real Estate and, Infrastructure, Retail
Date founded1748
Company typePartnership
Websiteosborneclarke.com

Osborne Clarke is a law firm, with international offices in the UK, Germany and the US. The firm has 122 partners and 711 employees and is the 35th largest law firm in the UK by revenue, according to The Lawyer UK 200 2010.[1] Osborne Clarke is also a top 50 law firm in Germany.[2]

The firm has been described as distinctive, defying easy categorisation because it is a the same time both a leading international media and technology sector specialist and a major regional full service law firm.[3]

The firm played a significant role in the development of the railways in Southern England through its historic relationship with Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the Great Western Railway.[4] Today, the firm's high profile in the media and technology sector has made them the legal firm of choice for firms including Facebook, Dell, Nintendo, News International and Vodafone.[3]

History

Osborne Clarke was founded in Bristol, UK, in 1748 by Jeremiah Osborne. In 1987 Osborne Clarke opened their first London office. Offices opened in Reading, Cologne, Munich and Silicon Valley opening within a decade of the move to London. The Law Firm played a significant part in the development of the railways in the UK when it was appointed to represent the Great Western Railway Company, working closely with Isambard Kingdom Brunel on the establishment of the route from London Paddington to Bristol and the West Country.[5] The nature of the relationship between Osborne Clarke and Isambard Kingdom Brunel is best highlighted by one notable occasion when Jeremiah Osborne the third (grandson to the founder) is said to have personally rowed Isambard Kingdom Brunel down the River Avon to survey the bank for the route of the Great Western Railway.[6]

The partnership's recent history has been characterised by two strands of development. Firstly, they have undertaken significant international expansion, particularly into the United States and Germany where they are now one of the 50 largest law firms.[2] On 29 March 2012 the firm announced plans to merge with two European firms, SLA Studio Legale Associato in Italy and Spanish firm Osborne Clarke Spain.[7]

Secondly the firm has seen considerable expansion in the media and technology sectors, in which they are now considered a tier 1 firm.[3] Notable clients in this sector include Motorola, Nintendo and Facebook.[8]

Key dates in Company History

  • 1748 – Jeremiah Osborne starts practising law in Bristol.
  • 1833 - Firm works closely with Isambard Kingdom Brunel on the building of the Great Western Railway. The firm remains the company’s solicitor for many years.
  • 1968 – The modern firm is created by the merger of the Osborne and Clarke law firms.
  • 1987 – Firm opens its London office – the first regional law firm to do so.[9]
  • 1998 – Opens Thames Valley office in Reading.
  • 2000 – Opens Silicon Valley office in Palo Alto, CA.[10]
  • 2001 – Opens office in Cologne, Germany.[11]
  • 2012 - announces plans to merger with Italian and Spanish firms

Structure

After expanding significantly through the dot-com bubble of the late nineties and early 2000s, the firm has undergone a comprehensive restructure. The firm retains a comprehensive range of departments, however Osborne Clarke is considered a first tier firm in both the Media and Entertainment and Brand Management sectors.[8]

Key Industry Sectors

The firm has established a reputation for working in a number of sectors, but references the following list on their corporate website:

Offices

The Firm has offices in the following locations[8] :

On 29 March 2012 the firm announced plans to merge with two European firms, SLA Studio Legale Associato in Italy and Spanish firm Osborne Clarke Spain. The merger will give Osborne Clarke 6 additional offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Brescia and Padova.

Corporate Social responsibility

Osborne Clarke undertakes a number of corporate social responsibility activities including getting their workforce to undertake 25 hours a year of pro-bono activities and a commitment to environmental issues through extensive recycling and environmentally friendly travel.[12] They also involved in charitable giving [13] fundraising, volunteering and supporting young people, in particular through their award winning partnership with the Lighthouse Group.[14]

Clients

Notable Cases

  • Osborne Clarke advised London & Continental Railways and Eurostar on the development of St Pancras Station, London as an international rail terminal.[17]
  • Osborne Clarke advised Babcock Marine on £1 billion defence contracts, including the £560 million extension of the Warship Support Modernisation Initiative.[18][19]
  • Osborne Clarke have been awarded with the TMT Law firm of the Year awarded at The Lawyer Awards, for their work in advising mobile provider Everything Everywhere on launching the first mobile payments product[21]

External links

References

  1. ^ "The top 200 Law Firms in the UK".
  2. ^ a b "Juve Handbook of German Law Firms".
  3. ^ a b c "Legal Week - Osborne Clarke".
  4. ^ "Brunel 200 - Working With Visionaries" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Bristol Floating Harbour - Osborne Clarke's relationship with Isambard Kingdom Brunel".
  6. ^ "Clifton Rugby Football Club History".
  7. ^ "Chamber Student - The Osborne Identity".
  8. ^ "The Lawyer - OWA pan-Euro group opens in Silicon Valley".
  9. ^ "OC Dumps German Merger for mass lateral hiring". The Lawyer.
  10. ^ "Unified - Working For Osborne Clarke".
  11. ^ "The 2010 Charity Times Awards".
  12. ^ "The Lighthouse Group".
  13. ^ "The Lawyer - Osborne Clarke leads on Carphone Warehouse demerger".
  14. ^ "The Lawyer - Massive Regeneration Projects Dominate The Lawyer Awards".
  15. ^ "This is Cornwall - Law firm takes advisory role on waste energy plant contract".
  16. ^ "The Lawyer - Osborne Clarke Keeps Babcock Role On Devonport Extension".
  17. ^ "Arriva in Grand Central Railway takeover". BBC.
  18. ^ "The Lawyer Awards".
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