09 November 2009
The Lawyer
Geneva invention
Switzerland is riding out the recession in style. Marcus Staff reports on the country’s innovative blend of the old and the new
Aegis Media relocates entire legal team to City
Aegis Media is revamping its in-house legal function so as to base all of its lawyers in London at the same time as its parent, communications company Aegis Group, ditches the general counsel role.
Al Tamimi eyes Jeddah as base for Saudi expansion
Gulf-based firm Al Tamimi & Company is aiming to expand into Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city and commercial hub.
Amarchand acts on competition goldrush with Irish appointment
India’s largest firm Amarchand Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co has dipped into the Irish legal market to hire one of the republic’s leading competition specialists.
Amlin arms itself with new senior solicitor
Specialist insurer Amlin has appointed a new senior solicitor as a former member of the syndicate compliance team leaves for Lloyds Market Association (LMA).
Archon Solicitors
Employment boutique Archon Solicitors has made a space for itself in the employment market.
Ashurst streamlines US strategy with six-firm list
Referral network created to work alongside UK firm’s US practices
BAE counsel urges in-housers to address reputational risk
BAE Systems chief counsel Roger Wiltshire has urged in-house lawyers to take a proactive approach to reframing their ethical and compliance programmes.
Cahill on European bond red alert
As high-yield dealflow returns, US boutique remains opaque over reports of City arrivals
Camerons, DLA Piper brought in on Lloyds’ £400m bid forCPA
CMS Cameron McKenna and DLA Piper have scored lead roles advising Lloyds TSB’s private equity arm Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) on its £400m bid for outsourcing company CPA Global.
Cisco to use BLP’s Lawyers on Demand
CISCO Europe has indicated that it will start using Berwin Leighton Paisner’s (BLP) interim lawyer service Lawyers on Demand to cope with spikes in work.
Cravath bonuses plummet as US season kicks off
The US bonus season began last week when elite New York firm Cravath Swaine & Moore revealed the level of additional pay it would be offering its junior lawyers on top of their annual salaries this year.
Dechert closes in on Dublin launch
Dechert is close to securing an office launch in Dublin after circling the market for a number of years.
Earning trusts
As the global financial situation improves, so too is interest in trust-based structures in the Gulf region. By Paul Perris
EIB’s legal function gains double vision
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has split its in-house legal team in two, with one group now focusing on operations and the other on corporate.
Fountain Ct faces One Essex Ct in Russian showdown
Fountain Court Chambers’ Michael Brindle QC went to the High Court last week (2 November) in a bid to strike out a $5bn (£3.05bn) claim against his client, Russian billionaire and Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.
Fraud accord
On the whole offshore jurisdictions have not been backward in coming forward when it comes to sharing details of tax evaders. By Stephen Baker
Hackney legal teams merged into two sections
The Legal chief at the London Borough of Hackney has restructured her legal department to create better-defined career paths for her lawyers.
Herbies, Lovells, Maples bag US Embassy sale
The US State Department has signed a deal to sell its UK Embassy at Grosvenor Square, with Herbert Smith, Lovells and Maples Teesdale scoring key roles.
In-house lawyers push for closer ties with advisers
In-house lawyers have called for greater and more creative collaboration with external counsel for the benefit of all parties.
Lack of contracts fails to halt increase in law students
University admissions statistics have revealed that more students than ever before have been accepted onto law courses.
Linklaters mulls ditching recruitment brochures
Linklaters is planning to scrap its graduate recruitment brochures in a bid to become more environmentally friendly.
Links sees through Goldshield purchase for HgCapital-led MBO
Linklaters has guided private equity client HgCapital to success in a convoluted battle to buy generic drugs company Goldshield Group.
LSA poses threat to watertight regulation
Entity-based regulation provisions that will come in with the Legal Services Act could lead to a serious dumbing down of the regulatory landscape, Greg Treverton-Jones QC of 39 Essex Street warned at The Lawyer Summit 2009.
Lux variant
Luxembourg company law is due for a swing towards a liberalised regime for those basing their operations in the country. Stef Oostvogels provides the lowdown
Offshore finances afoot
Another month, another government-commissioned report examining the offshore world.
Opinion: Lessons learnt from the fall of the Berlin Wall
Twenty years ago this week, images that defined a generation were recorded on unsteady handycams in Berlin.
Opposing forces
With offshore centres under fire from their onshore counterparts, Michael Adkins identifies the difficult balancing act that falls to OFC regulators
Outer Temple Middle East success prompts NY launch
London’s Outer Temple Chambers is opening an annexe in New York’s financial district. The move comes as part of a wider expansion strategy that began when the set launched in Abu Dhabi in 2007.
Partners no more
It is likely that many law firms will reshape their business models under the Legal Services Act. Steve Georgala looks at the challenges they may face
People moves
Edinburgh-headquartered firm Shepherd and Wedderburn has appointed Neil Maclean as a partner and head of its UK employment team.
Pro bono work flourishes in spite of economic downturn
As National Pro Bono Week kicks off today, legal advice centres up and down the country – supported by private practice and law schools – will seek to showcase their work and bring on much needed new recruits.
Pro bono work flourishes in spite of economic downturn
As National Pro Bono Week kicks off today, legal advice centres up and down the country – supported by private practice and law schools – will seek to showcase their work and bring on much needed new recruits.
Reinsure allure
Guernsey is a renowned leader in the captive insurance world and has also been attracting reinsurance companies to its shores. Christopher Anderson considers the suitability of the island as a jurisdiction for the establishment of reinsurers
Reprieve appeals to lawyers’ sense of justice by asking for one hour’s pay
Reprieve, the charity that gives legal help to prisoners in Guantánamo Bay or on death row, is calling on lawyers to donate the monetary equivalent of their time.
Simmons hardest hit in mixed interims
Early indications are that law firms are bearing up reasonably well at the half-year stage after firms across the board suffered heavy turnover and profit drops in the 2008-09 financial year.
Smaller is better for ex-2Birds associate
A former Bird & Bird associate has turned his back on the large-firm model and launched a dispute resolution boutique in Stockholm.
Standards bearer
The British Virgin Islands have long been at the forefront of offshore financial services. Sherri Ortiz explains why the territory is also ahead of the game when it comes to regulation
Tax discredit
The UK Government’s response to Cayman’s borrowing is hypocritical, asserts Gray Smith
The In-house Interview: Local hero
With huge changes underway at the London Borough of Hackney, legal chief Gifty Edila is working hard to help improve the outlook for residents.
The mouse that roared
As a financial services provider Liechtenstein is fully regulated in Europe and can offer big benefits for such a small country. Andrew Watters highlights the latest developments
Trust justice
The bitter and long-running Alhamrani dispute has put Jersey’s trusts law under the spotlight. Philip Sinel reports on its effect on the island’s reputation as a financial centre
Tulkinghorn: Horns of plenty
Meanwhile - and staying with the charity theme - a quintet of brass enthusiasts from the legal world will tonight (Monday 9 November) join forces with five professional musicians for a special charity concert in the Great Hall of Lincoln’s Inn to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
UK firms eye opportunities down under as Aussie quartet muscle in
The region has been pushed into the spotlight with a host of UK related deals. By Margaret Taylor
UK still wants bite of American pie
For a while there it looked as if the passion had gone from the UK legal world’s love affair with the US. After years of outrageous flirting, punctuated by the odd failed romance, it seemed as if the Brits had begun shifting their affections towards Australia.
Virgin territories
Investment is flowing in and out of the British Virgin Islands, with Asia and India benefiting. John Greenwood and Philip Munro report
Work Life Quiz: David Stewart, Olswang
What was your first-ever job? An usher at the Putney ABC Cinema.
