Rowlands and Kirk Jackson finalise merger

Manchester firm Rowlands and Kirk Jackson are in the final stages of merger talks to create a 26-partner practice under the name 'Rowlands incorporating Kirk Jackson Solicitors'.

The firm will have six offices and 150 staff of whom 50 will be lawyers.

Donns celebrates award Donns Solicitors is celebrating its success in the Duke of Westminster Awards, which recognise business excellence in the North West.

Donns took on competition from a wide range of companies and organisations and was rewarded with a highly commended rating in its category.

Cloisters wins government grant

A grant to help improve staff work/life balance has been awarded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to Cloisters '“ the barristers' chambers headed by Laura Cox QC.

Cloisters is the only legal practice among 233 winners in the latest round of the DTI's Work Life Balance Challenge. Law firms have been under-represented in each of the previous grant rounds, according to the DTI.

Linklaters moves in on rival...

Linklaters is to lease 95,000 sq ft of City office space in a move that will put it next door to magic circle rival Slaughter and May.

Linklaters has already signed the long-term lease and expects the building, which is

currently under construction, to be completed and fully fitted by late 2003 or early 2004.

White & Case consider move to Canary Wharf

Finance-focused law firm, White and Case could be moving their London office to Canary Wharf so as to be best placed to meet the requirements of the banking and financial institutions already there.

Barclays Capital and Morgan Stanley are some of the banks with offices in Canary Wharf. The only other firm to have its entire office in Canary Wharf is US firm Skadden Arps late Meagher and Flom.