Legal technology: India's largest law firm implements Elite 3E
AMARCHAND MANGALDAS (Amarchand), India’s largest law firm, has completed its implementation of Elite 3E – the practice and financial management system from Elite.

People and places: Freshfields to open in Abu Dhabi
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is to open an office in Abu Dhabi, with the aim of further strengthening the firm’s well-established presence in the Middle East.

People and places: Slaughters completes management shake-up
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm Slaughter and May has announced the election of eight practice stream heads, following the election of Chris Saul as senior partner earlier in 2008.

Partnership structures: Freshfields and Hammonds move to LLP
MAGIC-CIRCLE law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and international firm Hammonds are the latest to adopt the limited liability partnership (LLP) structure.

Dechert offers 13 practice transfer
INTERNATIONAL LAW firm Dechert LLP has told 13 associates in its US finance and real estate (FRE) group there is insufficient work for them in the current economic climate.

Clifford Chance in Kiev launch
MAGIC-CIRCLE law firm Clifford Chance (CC) has announced plans to launch an office in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, becoming the latest in a line of firms to expand their Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) offerings.

Fees for 2008 biggest fear for finance directors
OVER TWO-THIRDS of law firm finance directors (FDs) believe competition over fees will be a “very significant” risk to profitability in 2008.

Partner promotions underline A&O expansion plans
ALLEN & Overy LLP has announced 28 promotions to partner across 15 offices in 13 countries, confirming its ambitions for further global expansion.

Addleshaw Goddard promotes ten to legal-director role
ADDLESHAW GODDARD has promoted ten of its lawyers to the position of legal director, a role first introduced in the firm in 2002.