1 November 2010
The Lawyer
A Day in the strife
If ever there was a firm of two halves, it is SJ Berwin. Rarely has a schism between groups of partners been laid quite so bare.
A&O gives global integration an EPiC boost
Allen & Overy is preparing to launch a new approach to business development (BD) in an attempt to optimise its rapidly expanding international network.
Addleshaws sets out goals to boost diversity
Addleshaw Goddard has become the first major firm to establish a target for the proportion of female and ethnic minority partners it wants in its ranks, together with a timeframe in which it wants to achieve this.
Bircham takes on contentious trusts expert
Bircham Dyson Bell has named Nick Holland as head of its contentious trusts and estates practice.
BLG focuses on growth as partner exits continue
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert is preparing itself for another spate of partner exits as the firm restructures in a bid to kick-start a fresh phase of growth.
CC, Sullivan lead the pack on sale of Brit Insurance
Clifford Chance and Sullivan & Cromwell head a bevy of leading firms with roles on Brit Insurance’s £888m sale to private equity houses Apollo Management and CVC Capital Partners.
Dechert takes on ex-DLA Piper partner
Dechert has hired DLA Piper partner Igor Panshensky as a partner in its corporate and securities group in Moscow.
Disputed territory
Like all emerging jurisdictions, Africa comes with inherent risks, and with increasing inward investment the continent is seeing a rise in arbitration.
DLA Piper eyes exclusive link with Portugal’s ABBC
DLA Piper is in talks about entering an exclusive tie-up arrangement with Portuguese firm Azevedo Neves Benjamim Mendes Carvalho & Associados Sociedade de Advogados (ABBC).
Ex-Norton Rose duo reject international model as they establish Paris boutique
Two former Norton Rose lawyers, who left the firm’s Paris office earlier this year, have set up a boutique in the city.
Flint Bishop acquires Robotham & Co
East Midlands firm Flint Bishop has acquired niche Derby private client and property firm Robotham & Co.
Focus: Macfarlanes: Mac to the future
Macfarlanes is changing - slowly. Gavriel Hollander discovers how the blue-blood firm is meeting the challenge of falling profits, no overseas network and a perennially stuffy image
Fulbright insists London still ‘key’ as departures rock City practice
Texas energy giant’s transactional team has been called ’dead in the water’, reports Andrew Pugh
Gordon Bennett: the go-to tribal rights guy
MOST lawyerswill travel the globe as they move through their career, but few will go to the exotic and remote locations frequented by New Square Chambers barrister Gordon Bennett.
Hammonds promotes insolvency duo
Hammonds has promoted two partners in its business recovery and insolvency team.
Hammonds, Squire unite pre-merger
The corporate teams of prospective merger partners Hammonds and Squire Sanders & Dempsey are working on joint client pitches ahead of their proposed tie-up.
Head of estate: Gareth Williams, Countrywide
Gareth Williams, head of legal at the UK’s largest estate agency Countrywide, takes a no-nonsense approach to the legal function, says Andrew Pugh
Historic opportunity
Following the Spanish example, Portuguese firms are expanding into countries with a common language, which spells opportunity in Africa.
Hogan Lovells unveils disability network
Hogan Lovells is to be-come one of the first City firms to launch a network for its disabled employees.
Howard Kennedy, Maples Teesdale act on studio sale
Howard Kennedy and Maples Teesdale have acted on the sale of Merton Studios, the former home of TV police drama The Bill.
Infrastructure lawyers escape as fate of projects is decided
Rail and energy in, roads and waste management out. Luke McLeod-Roberts surveys the CSR fallout
Jones Day and Mishcons oversee Notting Hill retail property deal
Jones Day and Mishcon de Reya have advised on a prime retail deal in West London.
Kent legal chief faces axe in costs review
Kent County Council (KCC) legal chief Geoff Wild could face redundancy as part of a major restructuring intended to save £330m over the next four years.
Lawyers talk tactics in the battle for equality
Should those who face the glass ceiling seek change within their own organisations, or is it more effective to work from the outside?
Litigation partner joins A&O's NY office
Allen & Overy has boosted its litigation offering in New York with the arrival of WilmerHale partner Paul Keller. Keller is a patent litigation specialist with experience in financial data networks, accounting systems, medical devices, electronic futures exchanges and pharmaceuticals.
Milbank adds to London securities team
Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy has announced the arrival of Weil Gotshal & Manges partner Peter Schwartz as a partner in its global securities group in London.
New boss Day faces tough task uniting a divided SJ Berwin partnership
As the new managing partner at SJ Berwin, Rob Day today steps into what must be one of the most challenging jobs in the City.
Opinion: Killing off quangos is more complicated than it sounds
The so-called bonfire of the quangos has produced acres of press coverage and near-hysterical rhetoric from all sides.
People Moves
Sherrards has boosted its London corporate presence with the appointment of Keith Robinson as head of corporate finance. Robinson joins from DMH Stallard, where he was partner at the London office.
Portuguese firm CCA chooses Shanghai over Europe or Africa for new office
CCA Advogados has become the first Portuguese law firm to launch in China after opening an office in Shanghai.
Revamp for General Mills team as GC exits
Food company General Mills has restructured its legal team after veteran Europe legal director Roger Gardner announced he will be retiring next summer.
Simmons sets up committee to take nominations for top jobs
A committee at Simmons & Simmons has been established to take nominations for the roles of senior and managing partner.
SJ Berwin split as election exposes pre-merger rift
As dust settles after contested vote, Day prepares to steer firm to transatlantic tie-up
Top firms help as Qatar Holding takes stake in Santander Brazil
A host of firms, including Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira, Slaughter and May, Uría Menéndez and White & Case have acted on Qatar Holding’s $2.7bn acquisition of a 5 per cent stake in Banco Santander’s Brazil operation.
Tulkinghorn: Summit to read…
On a Monday morning Tulkinghorn likes to find a secluded spot to catch up on the latest goings-on in The Lawyer.
Wilson Browne
In 2010, after several years without any mergers, two came along at once for Wilson Browne.
Work Life Quiz: Andrew Wass, Withers
What was your first-ever job? Postman in Sydney.
