11 January 2010
The Lawyer
‘Unacceptable misconduct’ mars Hengeler partner’s Milbank switch
Hengeler Mueller, Slaughter and May’s best friend in Germany, has taken the unprecedented step of admitting that the firm was forced to part company with one of its partners.
13 Old Square’s Warren Lee: 50 years at Lincoln’s Inn and still going strong
When 13 Old Square Chambers clerk Warren Lee celebrated 50 years at Lincoln’s Inn last year, Lord Justice Munby, who Lee clerked for when both were at 1 New Square, hailed the occasion as “splendid and memorable”.
A&O Dubai leads Libya through £190m acquisition of Verenex
Allen & Overy’s (A&O) Dubai office has bagged a mandate acting for the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) on its Can$317m (£190m) acquisition of Canadian-listed oil and gas exploration company Verenex.
ACC rating index unnerves firms
Association of Corporate Counsel’s online scorecard puts advisers on tenterhooks
Appleby raids rival for Guernsey gambit
Offshore firm Appleby is to open an office in Guernsey by the spring after poaching a team of four lawyers from rival firm Ozannes.
Bakers puts Ma’aden’s Saudi aluminium venture in the can
Baker & McKenzie has advised Saudi mining firm Ma’aden on a $10.8bn (£6.7bn) joint venture (JV) to develop an aluminium complex in Saudi Arabia.
BPP steals a march on rivals with launch of January GDL
BPP Law School is shoring up its place in an increasingly competitive legal education market by introducing the first GDL that can be studied from January.
Can Scott attain Herbies’ Gold standard?
When incoming Herbert Smith senior partner Jonathan Scott was an undergraduate at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, he was known for his affability and thoughtfulness rather than his rowdiness.
Cleaning up the act
The Third Party (Rights Against Insurers) Act 1930 is due a facelift. But the means to do so could well be held up by the general election and the willingness of the next government to tackle the issue.
Consultancy model is the clever way to cut costs for firms
The past few years and the downward pressure on legal costs sparked by this recession have resulted in law firms re-examining ways of providing competitive legal services that match client expectations.
Dentons buddies up with Tumi in Libya
Denton Wilde Sapte has expanded its African network into Libya through an exclusive association with local outfit Tumi Law Firm.
Ex-Hengeler partner quits Milbank after just ten days
Wolfgang Grobecker, a corporate M&A partner in the Munich office of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy, has parted company with his new firm.
Harbottle names new litigation chief
Harbottle & Lewis has appointed Andy Millmore as head of litigation, succeeding senior partner Gerrard Tyrrell.
Harrison Clark
Worcester-based Harrison Clark extended its reach significantly last year by opening a primarily family law-orientated office in Cheltenham.
Hempsons furthers association with NHS
Healthcare boutique Hempsons has won a place on two major NHS buying consortiums alongside Beachcroft and Ward Hadaway.
Kings’ new chambers head vows to grow Leeds base
Manchester-based Kings Chambers has appointed Nicholas Braslavsky QC as head of the set.
Kraft’s dogged pursuit of Cadbury gives rise to transatlantic mêlée
Despite competition clearance and a fair valuation, the deal could still go either way, says Gavriel Hollander
Latham salary thaw meets with hot and cold reception
Associates at Latham & Watkins were celebrating last week after the US firm confirmed it would be reversing the salary freeze it introduced in December 2008.
Legal costs emerge as defining issue of 2010’s biggest cases
As profession awaits Jackson LJ’s civil justice costs review, the cases set to shape this year’s litigation get underway
Lovells aids Pearl Group on £4.5bn Palal revamp
Lovells has been drafted in by Pearl Group to advise on the £4.5bn restructuring of subsidiary Phoenix & London Assurance Limited’s (Palal) with-profits fund.
Making the leap
Traditionally known as a cautious market, Portugal is now awash with changes, with Spanish firm launches, major partner moves and new boutiques. James Swift reports
North West authorities to set up database of adviser information
A group of North West local authorities is going to set up an online database to provide information on pricing and contacts for the firms and chambers they instruct jointly.
Osborne Clarke arrivals add RPO nous
Osborne Clarke has strengthened its employment practice group with the hire of two recruitment outsourcing specialists.
Paying by the rules
With HMRC standing firm when it comes to being paid by insolvent football clubs, it could be back to jumpers for goalposts for an unlucky few.
People moves
Reed Smith has bolstered its Beijing office with the hire of corporate partner Michael Fosh from Herbert Smith.
Pinsents makes the grade with Birkbeck role
Pinsent Masons has won a role as the go-to adviser for the University of London’s Birkbeck College.
RJW swoops for FFW partner
Russell Jones & Walker (RJW) has appointed Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) partner Rosemary Rollason to head its new regulation and professional discipline team.
SJ Berwin helps Arques offload car purchases
SJ Berwin has advised existing client Arques Industries on the sale of two British motoring businesses, both of which were acquired in the previous 14 months.
Speechly brings in Farrers partner
Speechly Bircham has hired Farrer & Co’s financial services senior partner Jonathan Bayliss.
Structural shift: Mohaimin Chowdhury, European Islamic Investment Bank (EIIB)
EIIB legal chief Mohaimin Chowdhury says Islamic finance will emerge from the downturn in rude health.
The future of litigation
If 2008 was the year of Buncefield and 2009 the year of professional negligence, then 2010 is the year of bank-on-bank litigation.
Top 10 cases of 2010: The battles commence
The next 12 months promise to be a barnstormer for litigation. These are the cases to watch
Tulkinghorn: For those about to rock
Crucial dates for the diaries of all those rockers out there (and Tulkinghorn knows just how many there are of you): Thursday 29 April and Thursday 24 June.
Withers to create global network
Withers is looking to formalise its international contacts in an effort to win more multijurisdictional work.
