Lovells is overhauling the way in which it pays salaried partners in preparation for its merger with Hogan & Hartson, reports The Lawyer. Salaried partners will receive a fixed annual sum and a variable, undetermined performance-based amount. This replaces the usual share in equity profits, but the blow will be softened by opportunities for a bonus.

A US judge has declared the death penalty as unconstitutional, reports law.com. Houston District Judge Kevin Fine granted a motion declaring the impossibility of fairly implementing the death penalty in Texas. Defence lawyer John Kiernan said: "Fine has taken a courageous stance, finally. This is the beginning of the end of the death penalty in Texas."

Donald Rumsfeld still has a lawsuit on his hands after an American judge refused to throw out a case of two men allegedly detained in Iraq, reports law.com. The men, who were working at a security firm in Iraq in 2005, claim they were interrogated with "physically and mentally coercive tactics" before being released. Judge Wayne Anderson stated there was enough evidence to implicate Rumsfeld and as such he should answer the claims in court.

Linklaters is setting up a structured finance practice in Amsterdam with the help of a partner poached from Clifford Chance, reports The Lawyer. Kees Westerman will join eight partners already based in the Amsterdam office and will focus on broadening the general finance practice.

Eleven UK firms are being sued for under-settling compensation owed to sick miners, reports legalweek.com. The firms, which include Pannone and Beresfords, face 25 civil claims valued at around £450,000 ($744,000) for allegedly failing to maximize claims under the Coal Health Compensation Scheme.