Morning Briefing: Personal injury firm reports profit decline

The personal injury market in the UK is one of the key areas for Slater & Gordon but some other players in the sector are finding it hard going. Parabis, which is owned by a private equity firm, is reportedly in talks with law firms with the aim of a sale of its Plexus Law division. The Sunday Times reported that Parabis has received around AU$400 million from Duke Street Capital since it took over the alternative business structure in 2012 but that its latest revenue and profits report showed decline, and the firm has been cutting costs in the past 12 months.

International firm boosts Singapore insurance practice
The Singapore office of international law firm Kennedys has added a new partner to its insurance practice. Ben Nicholson joins from DAC Beachcroft where he set up the firm’s presence in the Asia-Pacific market in 2011. Kennedys has recently launched a joint venture in the city state with Legal Solutions LLC which operates as Kennedys Legal Solutions.
 
Gibson Dunn appoints new co-head in London
The London office of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has a new co-Partner in Charge. Jeffrey Trinklein succeeds Thomas Budd in the role and will work alongside co-Partner in Charge James Cox. Budd will continue in practice and in his role as co-chair of the firm’s global finance group.
 
Hogan Lovells adds Dubai partner
There’s a new partner in the Dubai office of Hogan Lovells as Sohail Barkatali joins the infrastructure, energy, resources and projects practice from Chadbourne & Parke. He specializes in project finance, focusing on power projects in electricity, oil and gas, water, waste-water and infrastructure. He has also advised on privatizations, sector restructuring and regulatory matters.