DWF CEO Sir Nigel Knowles says big pay rises are not a solution to legal sector’s recruitment crisis February 14, 2022 Sir Nigel Knowles, the former Co-CEO and co-chairman of DLA Piper, has said that offering young lawyers huge pay rises will not fix the legal sector’s recruitment crisis. In a letter to the Financial Times, Knowles said “offering more and more money to young people is only a sticking plaster” as he argued law firms [...]
DWF reaps rewards of business streamlining, as it eyes Middle Eastern expansion December 9, 2021 Legal group DWF has enjoyed a financial uplift after streamlining the business last year, as it looks to expand in the Middle East. Revenue inched 3.8 per cent higher to £203.5m in the six months to 31 October, while operating profit swung from an £8.9m loss in the same period last year to £13.6m. Net [...]
Exclusive: Third of law firms consider going public in search of funds for expansion November 30, 2021 Around a third of law firms are contemplating listing on the stock market in the next year to fund growth plans, according to new research shared exclusively with City A.M. The findings underpin a growing trend among law firms to explore alternative financing models beyond traditional partnerships. Gateley was the first law firm to float [...]
Exclusive: Businesses with poor ESG credentials struggle to attract workers November 29, 2021 Companies that are failing to improve their environmental credentials are struggling to attract talent, according to exclusive figures shared with City A.M. today. Research carried out by business services provider DWF found two in five businesses are failing to find staff due to their environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies being perceived as “weak”. The [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? September 8, 2021 City A.M.’s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Exclusive: Kin Fund Services poaches secretarial lead from Flutter Alternative investment fund manager and fund administrator Kin Fund Services, part of Kin Group, has poached Deirdre Quinn from FTSE 100’s Flutter Entertainment, City A.M. can reveal. [...]
City’s law firms navigate choppy pandemic seas with aplomb July 22, 2021 Despite the disruption caused by Covid-19, City law firms have continued to display strong financial results as senior partners head off on long-awaited summer breaks. Ashurst, currently advising Morrisons on a £6.3bn takeover, saw their revenue rise 10 per cent from £644 million to £711 million. Additionally, profit per equity partner rose 15 per cent [...]
Law firm DWF reports strong year with revenue over £400m July 21, 2021 DWF Group, the international legal firm, has reported a rise in its revenues to £400m, in its full year results released today. Revenue rose to £401m for the year ended 30 April 2021, representing a 12 per cent increase from £357m in the previous year. Net revenue also grew by 14 per cent to £338.1m. DWF’s [...]
“Some firms don’t get it” – Sir Nigel Knowles on innovation in the legal sector, staying ahead of global competitors & the UK’s competitive advantage June 28, 2021 What Sir Nigel Knowles doesn’t know about legal and business services probably isn’t worth knowing. After a glittering 38-year career at DLA Piper, he is now CEO at London-listed DWF Group. He took the job in May 2020, after three years as Chair. Since then, the firm’s share price has risen around 30 per cent, [...]
The City View with Sir Nigel Knowles June 28, 2021 This week City A.M.’s Andy Silvester sits down with DWF Group CEO Sir Nigel Knowles. What Sir Nigel doesn’t know about legal and business services probably isn’t worth knowing. In this podcast he opens up on what he thinks the industry needs to do to stay ahead of international competitors, the new skills that young [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? June 9, 2021 City A.M.‘s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Chairman trades The Restaurant Group for the FA The Restaurant Group (TRG), which host brands like Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s, has confirmed this week that its chairman will be stepping [...]