12 April 2010
The Lawyer
BLP water chief jumps ship to Bircham
The head of Berwin Leighton Paisner’s (BLP) water practice has left the firm as the City outfit prepares to take over Thames Water’s legal function.
Boekel De Nerée
No one is sure exactly when Dutch firm Boekel De Nerée was set up.
CC re-examines associate bonuses
Clifford Chance is set for a radical overhaul of its associate bonus system, with the maximum award now open only to senior associates and payments no longer based primarily on hours worked.
Centrica invites bids for places on first panel
Centrica is set to launch a tender for its first-ever legal panel.
City firms net main roles on sale of online fashion store
Olswang, Slaughter and May and Withers have won leading roles on the £350m sale of online fashion retailer Net-a-Porter to Swiss luxury goods group Richemont.
Cravath back from the brink with core clients and restructuring bolt-on
After a disastrous 2008, the ’Cravath Way’ has brought about a return to form. By Matt Byrne
Donations belie firms’ reticence on red or blue
With the growth of the cult of personality and a recognition of the value of social media and change-orientated soundbites, the UK general election is increasingly resembling that of the 2008 US presidential election.
Eversheds picks up twin Emea roles
Eversheds has been appointed to advise software company Polaris on Europe, Middle East and Africa (Emea) matters. Partner Simon Gamlin will lead a team instructed as sole adviser to the company, which services banks and insurance companies.
FFW protects new strategy moniker
Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) has revealed its three-year strategy, known as the ’Virtuous Triangle’, and has even gone as far as trademarking the term.
Focus: Top 30 us firms in London, Inner-City blues
Despite positive noises regarding London prospects, the past year has been just as tough on the big US players as it has on their domestic rivals
Freshfields beats Shearman to seal Daimler’s three-way merger
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has landed a lead role ahead of go-to adviser Shearman & Sterling on Daimler’s tie-up with Renault and Nissan.
Freshfields, Pinsents make the grade for NDA roster
The nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has appointed a streamlined panel, with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Pinsent Masons usurping Herbert Smith and Norton Rose for places on the roster, which has an annual legal spend of between £3m and £4m.
Freshfields’ competition team still sets the pace in spite of market shift
Magic circle firm’s ACT dept refuses to play second fiddle to corporate. By Gavriel Hollander
Hammonds cooks up British Gas meter deal
Hammonds has advised one of the world’s largest smart-meter companies in securing a contract agreement with British Gas.
In-house rules: Lee Greenbury, Enterprise
As group legal director at support services company Enterprise, Lee Greenbury’s strategy to build a mini-law firm in-house is also receiving a lot of support.
Khaitan drafts in specialists to reinforce infrastructure, banking and TMT
Indian firm Khaitan & Co has made three lateral partner hires to strengthen its banking, infrastructure and TMT practices.
Mace & Jones hit by £60m client action
North West firm Mace & Jones has been named as a defendant in a £60m professional negligence claim alongside Kings Chambers’ John Hoggett QC.
Macfarlanes leads on Hermes- Gartmore private equity tie-up
Macfarlanes, Simmons & Simmons and Travers Smith have bagged the mandates on the merger of the private equity arms of investment managers Gartmore and Hermes.
Mishcon partner stands up and sees the funny side of his abject failure with women
Mishcon de Reya partner Danny Davis is a self-confessed attention seeker who spends his evenings performing stand-up comedy across the pubs and clubs of the south.
North West housing association collective names panel of 10
Six housing associations in the North West of England have completed their first-ever joint legal panel, with 10 national and regional firms appointed.
Opinion: Dubai moves to establish insolvency legislation model
Dubai boasts some of the modern wonders of the world: the world’s tallest building, the world’s largest shopping mall, and the Palm and the World - two offshore island developments to which, until recently, was to be added the Universe.
Penningtons barrister joins partnership
Private client firm Penningtons has become one of the first firms to promote a barrister to its partnership.
People moves
Watson Burton senior partner Robert Langley has resigned from the firm’s partnership ahead of a move to North East rival Muckle.
Pre-merger Mourant focuses on India as economic development ‘moves east’
Offshore firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune is planning a new strategy to focus on IPOs and corporate structures emanating from India.
Quinn Group ruling proves catalyst for professional indemnity transformation
Ireland’s High Court will today (12 April) decide the fate of insurer Quinn Group and whether to confirm its administration formally.
Reed Smith lures Hammonds Munich trio
Reed Smith has boosted its TMT practice in Munich with the hire of a three-lawyer team from Hammonds.
Shepherds corporate chief elected chair
Scottish firm Shepherd and Wedderburn has elected corporate chief James Will as its new chairman.
States in the City
With the global economy showing signs of recovery, The Lawyer takes the temperature of US firms in London.
The name game
When it comes to naming rights deals, sponsors of sporting stadia need to think tactically or risk an own goal. By Kim Walker and Steven James
Thring Townsend bolts on City-based boutique
Bath-headquartered Thring Townsend Lee & Pembertons has expanded its London base with the acquisition of private client boutique Leach & Co.
Tulkinghorn: Storm trooper
Call it the luck of the top dog, but the stars appear to be aligned for Cravath these days.
US firms’ 2009 London financials highlight depth of market woes
Transatlantic behemoths remain resolute in spite of dramatic year-on-year reductions in City revenues
US firms’ Smoke signals
There was a palpable whiff of optimism in the air in New York last week, and it wasn’t just the unseasonably early hint of cherry blossom in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.
Work Life Quiz: James Furber, Farrer & Co
What do you do at weekends? Errands, cooking and golf.
