10 October 2005

Crisp to quit as Freshfields chief; management race wide open

In a shock announcement, Hugh Crisp will step down as Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer chief executive soon after the senior partner election – a move which heralds a sweeping management shake-up at the magic circle firm. Crisp is understood to have felt unable to give a long-term commitment to the role because of family reasons. He […]

Sidley in Frankfurt raid on Lovells for Germany launch

Sidley Austin Brown & Wood has swooped on Lovells to launch its first office in Germany. The US firm has hired Lovells capital markets head Oliver Kessler and colleague Jens Rinze as its first foray into Frankfurt. Both Kesler and Rinze have worked extensively on transactions with the US firm’s London office and with clients […]

Bond Pearce appoints new managing partner

Commercial law firm Bond Pearce has appointed Bristol-based banking and restructuring partner Victor Tettmar as managing partner following the decision by Simon Richardson to step down after seven years in the post. Mr Tettmar, who has spent his professional career with the firm, has been a board member at Bond Pearce and was previously vice […]

Orrick to merge with Rambaud Martel

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe is set to merge with French corporate powerhouse Rambaud Martel. The merger, which is agreed in principle, will see the bulk of Rambaud Martel’s 70-strong team decamp to Orrick’s Paris office in January 2006. Around 20 partners are expected to join the US firm, including name partner Jean-Pierre Martel. Rambaud Martel […]

Bingham raids Bryan Cave for hedge funds team

Bingham McCutchen is continuing its aggressive expansion campaign by launching a nine-strong New York hedge fund practice following a raid on US rival Bryan Cave. A team of nine lawyers, including partners Robert Leonard and Michael Mavrides, have moved across from Bryan Cave’s New York office to launch Bingham’s local hedge fund practice. The team […]

Sandelson set to be crowned CC London head

Clifford Chance London litigation head Jeremy Sandelson has been confirmed as the only candidate for the key job of London managing partner as the voting email went out today (October 12) at 5.30pm GMT. Other nominated candidates, which are understood to have included finance partners David Bickerton and Mark Stewart, were reluctant to stand. The […]

Duane Morris acquires San Francisco boutique

Philadelphia law firm Duane Morris has merged with San Francisco firm Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft to significantly bolster its West Coast insurance and litigation practice. The merger, announced today, will see the addition of more than 60 Hancock lawyers to Duane Morris’ San Francisco office, bolstering its local team to 90 lawyers. It will also […]

M&A star Ashworth quits Ashurst ahead of new partnership deed

Ashurst corporate heavyweight Chris Ashworth is leaving the silver circle firm ahead of a new partnership agreement. The firm was informed by email this afternoon of his decision to resign after 23 years of practice. Ashworth stepped down from the post of head of corporate two years ago. During his time at the firm has […]

Kinsella freed to launch Sidley EU practice

Sidley Austin Brown & Wood is finally set to launch its new EU competition practice after star hire Stephen Kinsella’s notice period ended. Kinsella agreed to join Sidley in March but was held to his notice period by former firm Herbert Smith. Sidley will launch the new practice in Brussels and London. It also hired […]

Winston & Strawn raids Shearman Paris

Winston & Strawn has raided Shearman & Sterling to bring the number of partners in its 10-year old Paris office to 13. Robert Flanigan, formerly a European counsel at Shearman, joins Winston & Strawn as a partner in the corporate team. Flanigan specialises in international finance work, including capital markets, and is dual qualified in […]

BLG hires two barristers

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) is expanding its reinsurance expertise with the appointment of two barristers. Leigh Williams joins the firm this month from Slaughter and May, where he spent five years as a barrister. Prior to that he practised from leading insurance set 7 King’s Bench Walk. Tim Kenefick will arrive at BLG in […]

LSC appoints Matrix tenant

Matrix Chambers tenant David Wolfe has been appointed as the latest non-executive member of the Legal Services Commission (LSC). Wolfe will be an advocacy specialist at the LSC and his role will help the commission improve its understanding of advocacy and the Bar. The role will take up approximately 20 days a year, and Wolfe […]