Freshfields boosts PEP to £1m
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer made jaws drop as the firm managed to boost its average profit per equity partner (PEP) by nearly 25% to more than £1m.

The firm is now on a par with Magic Circle rivals, such as Clifford Chance and Linklaters. Freshfields has achieved the jump in PEP despite a major restructuring, which saw the departure of nearly 100 equity partners.

At the end of the 2006 financial year, Freshfields had 521 equity partners. Turnover came in at £987m - an increase of 12% compared with the year before.

DMH to merge again
The merger between DMH and Stallard took place only two years ago, but a new union is already on the horizon. DMH Stallard is thought to team up with 18-partner London-based KSB Law, which practises commercial, real estate and private client law.

The combined entity will consist of 48 partners, with offices in London, Brighton and Gatwick.

The firm has ambitious growth plans and seeks to double its turnover to £50m within five years.

Last public law specialist leaves BRM
Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw (MBRM) has shut down its public law department, after its last partner Anna Forge said 'sayaonara' and joined McGrigors.

Recently, Tony Childs, who set up MBRM's public law department in 1995, left the firm to join Beachcroft, taking two assistants and one legal executive with him.

MBRM made the decision to close its public law practice because it was not a strategic fit. The firm wants to focus on its London litigation practice, which has 28 lawyers and covers areas such as corporate disputes and construction.

DLA Piper starts international secondments
DLA Piper will launch an international trainee secondment program in September this year. It is understood that the firm was one of only two UK firms that did not offer overseas secondments - the other being Ince & Co.

DLA Piper, which has a presence in 24 countries, will offer secondments to Hong Kong, Moscow, Singapore and Dubai.