Ben Rigby is a freelance legal journalist

Ben Rigby

Profile

Ben Rigby is a freelance legal journalist

BIG STORIES | COVID-19 TEST CASE

'Much-needed clarity' - lawyers reflect on the landmark UK Covid-19 insurance test case

While the claimant lawyers are celebrating, advisers on both sides have welcomed the Supreme Court's judgment....

BIG STORIES | COVID-19 TEST CASE

Herbert Smith Freehills celebrates as UK Supreme Court backs businesses in Covid-19 insurance ruling

FCA wins fast-tracked appeal unlocking payments to 1,000s of businesses....

BIG STORIES | OFFICE LAUNCH

Clyde & Co hires three-partner team from Norton Rose Fulbright to open in Munich

Eight fee earners move across to top international insurance firm to set up its third German base....

BIG STORIES | ARBITRATION

Allen & Overy's co-head of arbitration leaves for the Bar in London and Hong Kong.

Matthew Gearing amongst 'leading arbitration advocates of his generation', according to fellow partner....

BIG STORIES | ARBITRATION

ICC celebrates record year for arbitration and mediation caseloads

Records fall as Paris body hails 9% increase in arbitration cases while its ADR centre registers its 400th case....

BIG STORIES | BOUTIQUE LAUNCH

Ex-Linklaters arbitration co-head launches Paris boutique

Pierre Duprey sets up ADF Avocats becoming latest senior arbitrator to go it alone....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRE

McDermott boosts Brussels team with senior Deloitte Legal hire

US firm bolsters its EU law capability with addition of Hendrik Viaene....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRE

Hausfeld hires Trowers & Hamlins arbitration head to boost London disputes team

Investment in US firm's London office continues with arrival of Ned Beale and an of counsel....

BIG STORIES | HONG KONG

American lawyer arrested in Hong Kong crackdown

John Clancey believed to be first foreign national detained under new security law....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRES

King & Spalding hires pair of construction partners from Reed Smith in London

US firm builds on earlier hires in Dubai as it bids to be 'global firm of choice' for complex disputes....

BIG STORIES | BREXIT

UK lawyers count the cost of Brexit deal for legal services

National UK law societies cautiously welcome limited reference to cross-border legal services in Brexit agreement....

BIG STORIES | ADVOCACY

Trio of US law firms celebrate after annual award of UK Queen's Counsel

Lawyers from Skadden, Gibson Dunn and Quinn Emanuel join first-ever Big Four advocate on roster....

COMMENTARY | CLASS ACTIONS

'A difficult task ahead' - the UK Supreme Court revives Mastercard class action

While a historic claim on behalf of 46 million citizens can now proceed the final outcome is by no means certain....

BIG STORIES | CLASS ACTIONS

Quinn Emanuel celebrates landmark Supreme Court victory over Mastercard class action 

Claim on behalf of 46 million UK consumers can proceed, but Freshfields points to split judgment....

BIG STORIES | ARBITRATION

Singapore International Arbitration Centre opens in New York

First representative office outside Asia reflects clout of US and Americas in international arbitration....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRES

Fieldfisher strengthens Spanish practice with double partner hire

Two regulatory specialists join Fieldfisher's associated Spanish arm in Madrid and Barcelona....

BIG STORIES | ARBITRATION

Hong Kong seeks to bolster disputes reputation with updated China deal

New agreement will make it easier to enforce arbitral awards in both jurisdictions....

BIG STORIES | ARBITRATION

Leading judge appointed next chair of the Scottish Arbitration Centre

Lord Glennie to assume role after retirement from bench as SAC ushers in more diverse board....

BIG STORIES | TEAM HIRE

Mayer Brown hires five-strong German competition team from Baker McKenzie

Two partners and three associates will join US firm's Düsseldorf arm in January....

BIG STORIES | ARBITRATION

Law firms team up to launch protocol for legaltech adoption in arbitrations

Latham, HSF and DLA Piper among firms co-operating to outline 'must have' functionality....

BIG STORIES | ARBITRATION

'A great victory for common sense' - UK Supreme Court defends impartiality of arbitrators

London arbitrators breathe sigh of relief after court dismisses Halliburton's appeal in Chubb v Halliburton....

BIG STORIES | OFFICE OPENING

Leading Australian class action law firm opens in London

Firm promises to 'hold the powerful to account' as it sets out to recruit 'a vibrant and diverse team of brilliant lawyers'....

BIG STORIES | NATIONAL SECURITY LAW

UK judiciary reviews historic role sitting in Hong Kong's highest court

'Chilling effect' of new security law prompts UK foreign secretary to moot court boycott....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRES

King & Spalding boosts Dubai disputes team with double partner hire from CMS

Arrival of construction specialists follows on from hire of two energy partners in Singapore....

BIG STORIES | DISPUTES

Dubai arbitration cases jump to fresh record as construction disputes predominate

DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre posts 18% increase in caseload in 2019; 2020 poised for another record year....

BIG STORIES | INVESTIGATIONS

Slaughter and May bolsters investigations team with rare London partner hire

Senior litigation lawyer to join top London firm from Danske Bank....

BIG STORIES | LAW FIRM LEADERSHIP

Taylor Wessing's UK senior partner secures second term

Private equity veteran Dominic FitzPatrick looks to post-pandemic future....

BIG STORIES | LAW FIRM LEADERSHIP

Travers Smith appoints leading private equity specialist as next managing partner

Edmund Reed stresses importance of culture after being elected to succeed David Patient....

BIG STORIES | RIGHTS OF ACCESS

'Huge disappointment' as Irish law society blocks bid by English lawyers to preserve EU access

Law Society of Ireland announces that dual-qualified lawyers must be based in Ireland to gain practising certificates....

BIG STORIES | HONG KONG

Hong Kong's representative for legal profession disqualified from Legislative Council

Ejection of barrister Dennis Kwok and three other high profile law makers sparks resignation of pro-democracy caucus....

BIG STORIES | TEAM HIRE

Five-strong finance team joins S&R in New Delhi from JSA

Team leader Divyanshu Pandey to become head of banking at new firm....

BIG STORIES | TEAM HIRE

Heuking hires eight-strong employment team from Dentons in Berlin

Healthcare group climbs on board leading German independent....

BIG STORIES | LITIGATION FUNDING

Lawyers team up with litigation funding industry to create model documents

Project aims to produce best-in-class documentation, helping to promote a credible and established asset class....

BIG STORIES | LEADERSHIP CHANGE

CMS appoints CEE corporate head as Romania managing partner

Horea Popescu to take over from Gabriel Sidere as head of Bucharest office in November....

BIG STORIES | TEAM HIRE

HFW hires Colin Biggers & Paisley co-senior partner in Sydney

Antony Riordan leads five-strong construction disputes team joining London-headquartered firm....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRE

Cahill hires third London leveraged finance partner from Allen & Overy

Newly made-up partner Joydeep Choudhuri jumps ship to join former colleagues at high-yield specialist....

BIG STORIES | DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Linklaters sets out race action plan to increase black diversity across firm

Magic Circle UK Firm pledges to increase number of black partners globally five fold by 2027....

BIG STORIES | TEAM HIRE

Clyde & Co hires four-lawyer arbitration team from Foley Hoag in Paris

Hery Ranjeva and Ivan Urzhumov join as partners with focus on francophone Africa and Eastern Europe....

BIG STORIES | LITIGATION FUNDING

Burford Capital launches on New York Stock Exchange

Litigation funder says dual listing will deepen investor pool and raise profile in the US....

BIG STORIES | DE-MERGER

Historic Simpson & Marwick brand revived after Clyde & Co sheds Scottish property arm

Amicable de-merger sees longstanding name return to Scotland five years after it was sacrificed in merger....

BIG STORIES | ARBITRATION

ICCA Edinburgh congress is postponed for a second time due to Covid-19

Flagship arbitration conference rescheduled to later in 2021 as Scotland manages second wave of coronavirus....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRES

Squire Patton Boggs boosts arbitration practice with senior hires in Paris and Brussels

US law firm adds two partners in Paris from DWF, while a consultant joins as a partner in Brussels from Wilmer Hale....

BIG STORIES | ARBITRATION

White & Case teams up with University of London to launch arbitration survey

Fifth study seeks to understand how Covid-19 pandemic is impacting sector....

BIG STORIES | REGULATION

Seventeen lawyers make history as Ireland's first solicitors to become Senior Counsel

Top Irish firms are represented as the SC rank is opened up to the solicitors' branch of the profession....

BIG STORIES | CORPORATE CRIME

Quinn Emanuel claims France first as it hires leading state prosecutor

Paris-based financial prosecutor Eric Russo makes ground-breaking switch to private practice....

BIG STORIES | TEAM MOVES

Noerr secures four-partner German corporate team from Latham

Former Shearman partners move again; DWF also secures team, from DLA Piper....

BIG STORIES | TEAM MOVE

Brown Rudnick's London head of arbitration joins Beirut's Alem & Associates

Nicholas Tse to set up Abu Dhabi branch for new firm with team of two associates....

BIG STORIES | TEAM HIRE

DAC Beachcroft builds in Belfast with five-partner hire from BLM

Insurance firm nearly doubles office partner count as it also secures a London fraud specialist....

BIG STORIES | BOUTIQUE LAUNCH

Seasoned Linklaters duo set up international finance boutique

Practice to focus on emerging markets and commodity trade finance....

BIG STORIES

Linklaters mourns loss of 'true European' and former regional head Blumberg

Allen & Overy senior partner Wim Dejonghe among array of senior figures paying tribute to Belgian dealmaker....

BIG STORIES | MERGER

Baltic market shake-up continues with tripartite merger to create 100-lawyer practice

Lithuania's WALLESS joins forces with firms in Estonia and Latvia to create a pan-Baltic practice....

BIG STORIES | OFFICE LAUNCH

Kennedys snaps up insurance boutique to launch in Tel Aviv

UK insurance specialist takes on four-partner practice to offer local law advice....

BIG STORIES | BOUTIQUE LAUNCH

Madrid employment team leaves DWF to set up five-partner boutique

Split with listed UK firm comes less than a year after its acquisition of Spain independent RCD....

BIG STORIES | LAW AND POLITICS

Withers hires former UK attorney general and leading Brexiteer Geoffrey Cox

Barrister to advise on disputes; Travers Smith boosts IT practice by hiring former ministerial colleague Nicky Morgan....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRE

Skadden celebrates hire of Freshfields London M&A heavyweight Bruce Embley

Arrival of global client group co-head comes three years after retirement of renowned City dealmaker Michael Hatchard....

BIG STORIES | TEAM MOVE

Goodwin Procter's London arm secures five-partner Sidley private equity team

Partner duo credited with kick-starting Sidley's European practice lead defection to rival....

BIG STORIES | DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Mishcon makes first Singapore partner-level lateral since office launch

Dispute resolution specialist exits Singapore boutique less than a year after joining....

BIG STORIES | SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Doing business in a better world: law firms back sustainable development

Host of law firm leaders pledge to steer world onto a “more equitable, inclusive and sustainable path”....

BIG STORIES | LITIGATION FUNDING

Liverpool boutique launches £50m fund backed by Therium Capital Management

Former DLA Piper partners reignite relationship with Therium in latest law firm portfolio deal....

BIG STORIES | RULE OF LAW

'The best of the best' - lawyers pay tribute to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Supreme Court judge was a trailblazer for gender equality and an outstanding jurist, say her many admirers....

BIG STORIES | TEAM HIRE

Thomson Geer completes hire of top M&A team from DLA Piper in Perth

Independent firm welcomes four partners in Western Australia, one of three recent team hires across its national network....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRE

EXCLUSIVE: Genevieve Quierin to join Stephenson Harwood

Experienced litigator to leave Mishcon de Reya after three-and-a-half years....

BIG STORIES | TEAM MOVE

King & Spalding makes double energy hire in Asia from Shearman

Senior duo switch firms in Singapore as both US rivals underline international ambitions....

BIG STORIES | INSURANCE LAW

Host of top law firms advise as Commercial Court makes landmark Covid-19 insurance ruling

Financial Conduct Authority proclaims 'significant step' in ending pandemic business interruption claims uncertainty....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRE

EXCLUSIVE: Ben Giaretta to join Fox Williams

Leading London disputes partner exits Mishcon de Reya to join respected independent firm....

BIG STORIES | FLEXIBLE WORKING

Herbert Smith Freehills sets 60 per cent baseline for office work under flexible working revamp

CEO Justin D'Agostino puts move down to recognition employees have 'greatly valued' flexibility during pandemic....

BIG STORIES | M&A

Former Eversheds Sutherland senior partner joins RCA to open Dutch arm

Rob Faasen to tap into demand for M&A risk insurance; Omni secures services of a senior Morgan Lewis partner in New York....

BIG STORIES | LITIGATION FUNDING

Litigation funders with $10bn firepower form global association

Washington DC-based body pledges to promote efficient, ethical and professional provision of capital....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRES

Shearman & Sterling and Greenberg Traurig expand London finance practices

Gary Hamp exits Latham in Hong Kong to join Shearman in London, while Helena Nathanson leaves BCLP to join Greenberg Traurig....

BIG STORIES | TEAM HIRE

Cooley hires cybersecurity team from DLA Piper in Brussels

Data privacy co-chair Patrick Van Eecke is switching firms with a three-strong team....

BIG STORIES | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Singapore signs IP agreements with multiple countries to strengthen regional hub ambitions

City-state marks IP Week with global partnerships including Laos, Brazil and China....

BIG STORIES | LATERAL HIRES

ECIJA bolsters Central America team with hires in El Salvador and Costa Rica

Hires follow Spanish independent's Brazil and Ecuador launches; Ontier and DAC Beachcroft also make regional hires....

BIG STORIES | SHIPPING LAW

Hill Dickinson mourns loss of Piraeus office head Patrick Hawkins

Colleagues and clients pay tribute to 'much loved' and 'trusted' Greek office managing partner....

BIG STORIES | LAW FIRM OUTLOOK

Cash flow and employee wellbeing among top law firm concerns in post-Covid world, surveys find

Studies by LexisNexis and Byfield illustrate the challenges of the 'new normal' facing UK managing partners....

BIG STORIES | LITIGATION FUNDING

LCM signs latest in series of portfolio funding deals

Funder agrees construction sector portfolio deal for Norton Rose Fulbright client....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRE

Paul Hastings keeps up partner hiring pace with third London arrival in as many months

US firm hires Derwin Jenkinson from Ashurst to bolster capital's finance team....

BIG STORIES | FLEXIBLE WORKING

Linklaters launches permanent agile working policy built on Covid-19 lessons

Employees able to work away from the office up to half of the time by prior agreement....

BIG STORIES | LITIGATION FUNDING

Litigation funder Therium Capital Management inks deal with data analytics firm Solomonic

Collaboration will give Therium greater insights into potential litigation funding investments....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRES

Paul Hastings, DLA Piper and EY Law gear up for autumn deals with late summer hires

London lateral moves show market is heating up following pandemic lull....

BIG STORIES | REMOTE HEARINGS

Business courts bolstered by pandemic pragmatism as remote hearings rise

Judicial statistics show England & Wales's business courts weathered the pandemic well....

BIG STORIES | ACCOUNTING DISPUTE

Quinn Emanuel and Omni Bridgeway enter Folli Follie accounting fray

Leading US commercial claimant firm acts against UBS following Greek jeweller's bond collapse....

BIG STORIES | IN-HOUSE MOVES

Around the house: new general counsel at National Grid and FRC

Justine Campbell swaps Centrica for National Grid, while UK regulator gets a new GC....

BIG STORIES | LITIGATION FUNDING

DLA Piper enters disputes funding market with Litigation Capital Management deal

Partnership is latest in a series of law firm alliances for the litigation funder....

BIG STORIES | IN-HOUSE MOVES

Around the house: appointments at Vivo Energy, exits from Barclays

Our latest in-house round-up also sees Nature Energy hire a leading Danish energy GC....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRES

Australian firms snap up corporate talent amid first recession in almost three decades

Gilbert + Tobin, Thomson Geer, and KHQ Lawyers among firms bolstering their deal teams....

BIG STORIES | SHIPPING DISPUTES

London rules the waves in maritime arbitration cases

More than 80% of all shipping arbitrations are heard in London, according to HFW, dwarfing Asian rivals....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRES

Trio of firms shrug off Covid-19 uncertainty to make London corporate partner hires

HSF, Simpson Thacher and Gibson Dunn press ahead with strategic appointments....

BIG STORIES | LONDON LISTINGS

Ince falls inches short of revenue target, DWF hires new chairman amid leadership shakeup

London-listed firm Ince posts first full year financial results for whole group, while Jonathan Bloomer is named DWF chairman....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRES

Paul Weiss hires partner duo from Boies Schiller to bolster litigation practice

Meredith Dearborn and Jessica Phillips join the firm amid plans for West Coast expansion....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRE

Latham & Watkins expands infrastructure practice with hire of experienced in-house lawyer

Former OMERS Infrastructure legal managing director John Guccione joins firm's London office....

BIG STORIES | PARTNER HIRE

Quinn Emanuel brings in experienced City litigator in first London hire of 2020

Justin Michaelson arrives from Fried Frank to further expand Quinn's London disputes offering....

BIG STORIES | TRADE HIRES

McDermott boosts Washington DC practice with arrival of seven-strong trade disputes team

Firm seeks to enhance its offering amid US government's 'fast and furious' trade policy....

BIG STORIES | TEAM HIRE

Withers hires in Singapore as firm posts bumper financial growth

Chenthil Kumarasingam added to disputes roster as profit per equity partner rises 40%....

BIG STORIES | LITIGATION FUNDING

LCM makes Australian insolvency hire as firm eyes rise in pandemic-related disputes

Helene Roins joins AIM-listed funder in Sydney as country's new litigation financing rules loom....

BIG STORIES | FINANCIAL RESULTS

HSF sees profit fall but new CEO says 'underlying strengths' are encouraging

Justin D'Agostino highlights regional successes, says pandemic curbed revenue....

BIG STORIES | DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Bar aims to increase diversity through new mentoring scheme

Six of the biggest sets from London's commercial Bar team up to help mentor underrepresented groups....

BIG STORIES | DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Allen & Overy sets new targets to help boost diversity

Magic Circle firm addresses the need for greater diversity with new targets and a renewed approach....

BIG STORIES | GC HIRES

Coca-Cola hires former Ford GC as its new top lawyer

Bradley Gayton will join the soft drinks giant at the end of August, with John Mellen lined up to replace him....

BIG STORIES | FINANCIAL RESULTS

Taylor Wessing's global growth continues as revenue climbs for third straight year

Firm's profit per equity partner declines but still clocks in at second highest on record....

BIG STORIES | LITIGATION FUNDING

Quinn Emanuel joins forces with Omni Bridgeway for Wirecard litigation

Litigation funder teams up with US litigation powerhouse to act on behalf of investors following alleged accounting fraud....