05 October 2009
The Lawyer
20 Essex Street sees return of key barrister
Barrister Colleen Hanley has returned to London set 20 Essex Street after only a year at energy watchdog Ofgem.
A&O in bid to dominate US work in London
Allen & Overy (A&O) has moved to bulk up its US capability in London with the hire of an equity capital markets partner from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.
Appleby merger creates offshore giant
Appleby has completed its merger with Isle of Man firm Dickinson Cruickshank, creating the world’s largest offshore firm.
Blackstone chiefs set to stand again
Blackstone Chambers barristers will decide on Friday (9 October) whether Ian Mill QC and Thomas Beazley QC have the support to stand for another term as joint heads of chambers.
BLP, Shearman lose ORR panel places
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has dropped Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Shearman & Sterling from its new-look panel.
Cash back
Civil recovery actions have been identified as a powerful tool in the fight against financial crime. Nicholas Cox examines their progress to date and whether criticisms of them being used as an alternative to prosecutions hold any water
CHSH ties knot with Hungarian outfit to take Central and Eastern Europe by storm
Austrian firm Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati (CHSH) has merged with Hungarian firm Dezsö & Partners.
Commercial litigators finally embrace alternative funding
Demand for alternative funding arrangements in commercial litigation is on the rise, with clients looking for ways to tighten their legal spend.
Control returns to HQ as CC duo square up for global litigation head battle
Clifford Chance London managing partner Jeremy Sandelson and former Asian litigation head Denis Brock are going head-to-head to win the title of global head of litigation, in what is sure to be one the most hotly-contested elections the firm has seen for years.
Crowell & Moring boosts London office
Washington DC-headquartered Crowell & Moring has bolstered its London office with a hire from fellow US firm Debevoise & Plimpton.
Dechert’s game of Russian roulette
Laura Brank reveals why she quit Chadbourne to launch Dechert’s Moscow office, and defends her new firm’s strategy in the region. Matt Byrne reports
Focus: David Gold: As good as Gold
Is there anyone at Herbert Smith capable of filling David Gold’s shoes if he steps down as senior partner at the end of the year? Or will he make the shock decision to stand again?
Former Fox-Pitt counsel targets China
The former general counsel of boutique investment bank Fox-Pitt Kelton has launched a UK law firm focused on the Chinese market.
Forsters bolsters tax team numbers
Mayfair firm Forsters has bolstered its tax team with the hire of Halliwells partner Elizabeth Small.
Hot Eire?
With investment from overseas and companies returning to Ireland, there are signs of growth that are surprising everyone. By Tom Phillips and Margaret Taylor
House call: Thomas Werlen, Novartis
Leaving private practice to go in-house at Novartis was a tough call to make, but one that has worked out well for both Thomas Werlen and his former firm, Allen & Overy. By Kit Chellel
Hunt report to back City firms on regulation
Regulation of City law firms should be reformed, a report commissioned by the Law Society will conclude today (5 October).
Lovells pilots female mentoring scheme
Lovells is piloting a female mentoring scheme that is aimed at bolstering partner and employee engagement at the firm.
Lovells, Akin score lead roles on Lukoil facility
Lovells and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld have scored lead roles advising on a $1.2bn (£760m) Lukoil loan facility.
Magic circle trio win BBVA sale and leaseback work
A trio of magic circle firms along with Slaughter and May best friend Uría Menéndez have advised on the e1.2bn (£1.1bn) sale and leaseback of a Spanish property portfolio.
Magisters finds new chief for Kiev office
CIS law firm Magisters has elected Andrew Mac as managing partner of its Kiev office.
Martineau opens on Saturdays for convenient, covert divorces
The family team at Birmingham-based Martineau has established a Saturday-morning practice so that rich potential divorcés can get a more discreet service.
Mayo Wynne Baxter
?Mayo Wynne Baxter is the product of a 2007 merger between Brighton-based Wynne Baxter and Eastbourne-headquartered Mayo & Perkins.
New chief for Ashfords as hiring plans kick off
Exeter-headquartered Ashfords has appointed Andrew Betteridge as managing partner of its Bristol office.
Opinion: Merkel remains, but the policies have changed
?Photographs of Angela Merkel back behind her desk on Monday seem to expound the idea that nothing has changed in the Bundestag.
Out, out damn source
One of the great truisms of our age is that the modern law firm is client-driven. ? This occasionally sounds more like a wish than a verifiable assertion, and certainly so when it comes to legal process outsourcing (LPO).
People moves
Reed Smith has announced the appointment of litigation partner Robert Falkner to its Europe and Middle East commercial disputes group in London.
Permira calls on CC for spinoff Avalon’s first investment
Clifford Chance has underscored its relationship with Permira, advising the private equity house on a £225m deal to take life insurer Just Retirement off of AIM.
Peters & Peters duo prepare to fight extradition of Russian billionaire
Russian oligarch Yvegeny Chichvarkin has instructed Peters & Peters head of fraud Michael O’Kane and partner Anand Doobay to fight an extradition order issued by the Russian government.
Private equity phoenix set to rise from ashes in New Year bonanza
UK law firms anticipate a much-needed resurgence in the industry. By Kit Chellel
SJ Berwin associates demand recognition for non-legal work
SJ Berwin’s Associate Solicitors Forum (ASF) is debating how to reward and motivate junior lawyers for doing non-legal work.
Slaughters in talks over outsourcing plans
Move hailed as ‘watershed moment’ as LPO trend spreads to City elite
Smooth operator: Schoenherr
Schoenherr managing partner Christoph Lindinger seems laid back. But his firm is quietly ambitious to dominate in Central Europe
The O-word
Outsourcing. The word conjures up images of Indian call centres and protestors waving placards saying: “British jobs for British workers.”
Travers Smith splashes a million on green venture
Travers Smith has founded a not-for-profit organisation that will enable the firm’s lawyers to work pro bono to help reduce carbon emissions.
Tulkinghorn: Gorilla tactics
Sharp-eyed watchers of this page over the years will have spotted that it occasionally features photographic evidence of readers of The Lawyer in far-flung locations.
TwoBirds hits back at promotion hiatus claims
Bird & Bird chief executive David Kerr has rebuffed criticism levelled at the firm in the wake of the departure of IT specialist Toby Crick.
Vinson & Elkins eyes Saudi Arabia launch
Vinson & Elkins is in discussions to open in Saudi Arabia, with an office launch mooted for the first quarter of 2010.
Work Life Quiz: Nicola Mumford, Wragge & Co
What’s your favourite film? Pretty Woman.
