12 June 2006
The Lawyer
A&O advises on landmark funding source for charities
Allen & Overy (A&O) has advised on a landmark capital markets deal that the firm says provides a "big step" in creating a funding source for charitable organisations that does not rely on receiving donations.
A&O and Orrick swoop for domestic talent as corporate takes off in Italy
International firms have had mixed success in Italy, especially when it comes to approaching corporate clients with long-established links to traditional domestic firms.
A&O rebuilds corporate with Gianni capture
Allen & Overy (A&O) has made its first lateral step to rebuild its Italian corporate practice with the hire of M&A specialist Giovanni Gazzaniga from Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners.
Addleshaws puts BPP on a pedestal
In a rebuff to providers boasting firm-exclusive LPCs and technology-based learning, Addleshaw Goddard is to insist that all its trainees study the LPC exclusively at BPP Law School.
Alec Latimer: Selfridges
It may be one of the UK's most famous retailers, but Selfridges company secretary Alec Latimer says his organisation is actually in the business of entertainment. By Jon Parker
Ashurst results: profits rocket 23 per cent on 7 per cent turnover rise
Ashurst has posted strong profit figures for the financial year-end, with average profit per equity partner (PEP) up 23 per cent to £701,000 compared to last year’s £567,000.
Australasia
An increasing number of UK, US and international law firms are swarming around Australia's and New Zealand's shores in search of highly skilled, hard-working partners, associates, paralegals and trainees.
Australian lawyers in drinking beer shocker
Forget 1966, yesterday was the greatest performance in a World Cup since 1974. Tulkinghorn went green and gold mad yesterday for the Socceroos, joining the party that rocked the rafters of bars and boardrooms around the country.
Bakers downs tools to lead Fantasy Football
As for that fantasy football, Tulkinghorn is pleased to reveal the leaders following completion of the first round of games. Gavin McPherson, an avid reader of The Lawyer from Welsh firm George & D’Ambra Solicitors, is leading the pack with 38 points so far.
Bates Wells takes legal secretary's disability fight to European Court
Charity specialist Bates Wells & Braithwaite is heading to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) after a Croydon employment tribunal ruled that a legal secretary's disability discrimination case must be heard in Luxembourg.
Beachcroft sets up focused international advice group
Beachcroft is launching a practice group dedicated to providing international advice to the firm's expanding number of multinational clients.
Big Nigel gives Brazil a taste of Boardmania
Friday afternoon and Tulkinghorn is itching to get out and amongst the World Cup fever! There’s nothing like a World Cup to keep the bars full for weeks on end and put a smile on everyone’s face. Well, at least until England meets Germany in the second round anyway.
BLG, Gateley wareing take on TM LEwin MBO
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) and HBJ Gateley Wareing advised on the £50m management buyout of shirtmaker TM Lewin. TM Lewin, which makes and sells business and dress shirts, has 37 outlets and an annual turnover of £40m. BLG advised both the vendors and management. London-based corporate partner John Cadman led the team advising the vendors and London corporate partner Peter Allen and senior associate Helen Johnson advised the management. The management team was backed by the Bank of ...
BLP snares Slaughters big-hitter
Slaughter and May Paris corporate finance partner Antoine-Audoin Maggiar is to join Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) in a surprise move, ending months of speculation about his destination.
Bob a job
Clifford Chance's risk management director Chris Andrews, once again settled into the routine of corporate life a couple of months after returning from his adventure rowing across the Atlantic, happened across one of Tulkinghorn's scribes the other day.
Bond Pearce hires clinical negligence head
Bond Pearce has appointed a new clinical negligence head.
Bonelli's revenue tops e100m
Slaughter and May's best friend in Italy Bonelli Erede Pappalardo became the first Italian firm to break through the €100m (£68.57m) mark this month, posting a record revenue of €101m (£69.25m).
Briefs' moment in time
Tulkinghorn was relaxing in Café 80s the other evening (what do you mean you don't know what it is?) and caught a rerun of that great cinematic masterpiece Back to the Future Part II.Intrigued by Robert Zemeckis's grand vision of 2015 Hilldale, Tulkinghorn's ears pricked up at the following line: "The justice system moves incredibly fast ever since they banned all lawyers."Utopia? There's only nine years to go…
Camerons' workforce reaps bonus benefits
CMS Cameron McKenna has handed all employees, from partners to mailroom staff, a 6.05 per cent bonus on their annual salary.
Cartwright King doubles in size as Nelsons gives up practices
In one of the East Midlands' largest-ever law firm mergers, criminal and business defence firm Cartwright King has taken the entire business defence and criminal law teams of former rival Nelsons.
Cauliflower jeers
What message was Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) trying to send out at its press party last week?The venue, the St Martins Lane Hotel, was upmarket enough. But the canapés are already heading the race for the worst of the year award. Top of the list was a new (at least to Tulkinghorn) innovation: cauliflower cheese on a teaspoon. One spy was heard to mutter: "That's not a canapé, it's working class food." Shock horror! The great unwashed at a law firm party?Other morsels included ...
CC maintains preferred adviser status for Tier 1 issues
Clifford Chance has bagged a role as the sole adviser on Generali's €4bn (£2.74bn) Tier 1 issue, the first ever from an insurer in Italy.
CC scoops Macquarie mandate in £2.6bn APB bid war
Clifford Chance has landed the mandate to advise the Macquarie-led consortium on its £2.58 billion bid for the UK's biggest port operator Associated British Ports.
CC wins historic independence vote mandate for Montenegro
Clifford Chance won a historic mandate to help the Balkan state of Montenegro secure its independence from Serbia.
CC wins Rugby World Cup
Clifford Chance has been appointed as legal advisor to the International Rugby Board (IRB) for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
CC, DWS, Nabarros, Norton Rose win bid roles for super-casino
Nabarros, Norton Rose win bid roles for super-casino" /Clifford Chance, Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS), Nabarro Nathanson and Norton Rose ...
Chiomenti advises borsa over merger
Not to be outdone by the New York Stock Exchange, which has agreed to merge with pan-European exchange Euronext, Borsa Italiana has started to court merger partners, meeting with Euronext this week. Although often thought of as more low key than its rivals in the Italian market, Chiomenti Studio Legale has bagged the role of sole legal adviser to Borsa Italiana. Borsa Italiana chairman Angelo Tantazzi and chief executive officer Massimo Capuano had their first meeting with Euronext chef ...
Cravath and Herbies score lead roles on AOL UK sale
Cravath Swaine & Moore and Herbert Smith have scooped lead roles advising AOL UK on its potential £1bn sale.
Din time
With World Cup fever gripping the nation, it's only natural that lawyers are getting involved too.
DLA Piper raids Orrick Italy for six-lawyer team
DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary has raided Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe’s Milan office, scooping a six-lawyer team as part of a nation-wide recruitment push.
Dundas rebuilds competition team with Taylor Wessing hire
Dundas & Wilson has raided Taylor Wessing’s EU and competition group to hire partner Peter Willis as head of its national team.
Eady J rules against hefty costs claim by Schilling
High-profile media lawyer Keith Schilling found that his reputation carried no weight with a High Court judge as he lost an appeal over the costs awarded in DJ Sara Cox's privacy case.
Eaga brings Shaw & Co lawyer in-house
Energy efficiency solutions group Eaga Group has appointed Chris Judd as group solicitor from Newcastle's Shaw & Co. Judd has worked in private practice in the North East for 13 years and qualified as a solicitor in 1989 in London. Judd said he was delighted to join Eaga Group after working for the firm in an advisory capacity for around 12 years.
Employee power: how to use it wisely
Law firms are currently battling against a high staff turnover. Employees, particularly at associate level, are beginning to question the advantages of loyalty to one firm. Increasingly, they realise that working for a top law firm may not always be as satisfying as they had expected. But how can associates ensure they are reaching their full career potential? Should they remain at one firm while they wait interminably for promotion? Or should they move on quickly to the next career opportunity?
Eversheds IP head quits for Bird & Bird
Bird & Bird has plundered Eversheds' IP and life sciences head Sally Shorthose.
Female barrister count fails to live up to predictions
Women are failing to make any significant ground in terms of their overall representation at the bar, despite accounting for almost half of new barristers.
Firms' Leeds offices embark on international charm offensive
Leeds lawyers are conducting a tour of EU business capitals in an attempt to drum up work.
Footy makes me sick
The World Cup is officially the new Christmas, thanks to Kendall Freeman.
Former Andersen group Taxand expands
Taxand Global Alliance, the network of independent tax firms born from the ashes of Andersen Legal, has signed up eight new firms.
Fraud focus
The extreme length of the SFO's unsuccessful investigation into TransTec's payments to Ford highlight the need for fraud prosecutors to review their own cases on an ongoing basis - and to be held accountable for their own failures to do so, says Stephen Parkinson
Freshfields and Simmons handed RBS securitisation
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Simmons & Simmons have won the mandate to advise Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on the latest in a series of chunky collateralised loan obligations (CLOs) by the big banks as they clear up their balance ...
Freshfields beats Ashurst on BAA bid
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has won the battle to take over UK airports operator BAA. Spanish construction group Ferrovial, advised by Freshfields, emerged as the winning bidder last week after the BAA board recommended its 950p-per-share cash offer. The offer values BAA at £10.11bn. The Goldman Sachs-led consortium, which includes AIG, Canada's Borealis and Australia's Commonwealth ...
Freshfields pips SJ Berwin to lead role on British Land's first REIT
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has handed a hefty blow to SJ Berwin’s corporate and tax teams, scooping the much sought-after mandate to advise British Land on its conversion to a real estate investment trust (REIT).
Fried Frank cements Lantourne tie-up
Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson has finalised a merger between the firm's Paris office and niche bankruptcy litigation firm Lantourne.
FTSE rankings trigger Lovells-Freshfields row
A bitter row has broken out between Lovells and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer over the firms' relationship with ITV, as the latest statistics from Hemscott Group reveal that Lovells has just four FTSE100 clients.
Fuller figures
The string of mega profit increases raises questions about whether firms are being consistent with reporting results. The truth is, they're probably not
Good neighbours
Australia's growing interest in the New Zealand marketplace is an opportunity for growth and prosperity for both parties, says Stephen Macliver
Grande Stevens considers court action over Juventus scandal
Pity poor Grande Stevens. Far from reaping the rewards of its long association with Turin's powerful Agnelli family, the Italian law firm is embroiled in the match-fixing allegations levelled at one of its biggest clients, Juventus Football Club.
Halliwells' top brass vows to grow
Halliwells managing partner Ian Austin has declared his intention to drive his firm into the UK's top 25 in the wake of his re-election.
Hammonds' lock-in "no longer needed", Crossley
Hammonds will not renew the 14-month lock-in of its equity partners when it ends on 30 June, it emerged today (12 June).
Hammonds partners reaffirm Crossley strategy
Hammonds partners have returned from their biennial partners’ conference optimistic for continued improvement.
Herbert Smith creates new career structure for associates
Herbert Smith has become the latest City firm to radically overhaul its career path for associates in a bid to slash attrition rates.
Herbies closes £4bn Swiss Re deal
A raft of City firms led by Herbert Smith have completed the $7.4bn (£4bn) takeover of GE Insurance Solutions by Swiss Re, creating the world’s largest insurer.
Howes lures Ofcom exec for East Anglia
East Midlands firm Howes Percival is planning to ramp up its corporate and commercial capabilities in East Anglia following the hire of former WilmerHale partner and non-executive director ...
Hunt urges law firms to shape legal landscape
Lord Hunt of Wirral has called on law firms to respond to the draft Legal Services Bill or risk missing their chance to contribute to the future of the profession.
InBev lines up CC, Linklaters and Sullivan for panel
InBev, the world's largest brewing company, finalised its first-ever global panel review last month. Clifford Chance, Linklaters and Sullivan & Cromwell were the firms still standing. They will have first bite of the company's ...
In-house innovation
F&C Asset Management's legal department has completed a customer service survey for external clients and internal users in a bid to measure its performance. Sparked by director of legal services Gillian Switalski, surveys went out to key external clients and 50 top users of the legal function within the organisation.
International firm profile: Grau Baylos & Angulo
Grau Baylos & Angulo (GBA) was founded in November 2003 when three IP partners from different Spanish firms joined to form an IP super-boutique.
Jacob LJ seeks challenge to Patent Act exclusions
The Court of Appeal could turn UK patent law on its head after Lord Justice Jacob decided to hear a case testing the Patent Office's exclusion of software patents.
Kirkland rues Sprayregen's Goldman exit
US firm Kirkland & Ellis has been hit by the departure of Chicago-based superstar and head of bankruptcy and restructuring James Sprayregen. Sprayregen, who has been with the US firm for 16 years, will leave early next month to join Goldman Sachs in a non-legal role. He will help lead the bank's practice by advising clients on restructuring and those that are in distressed situations. Sprayregen ...
Lactating girlfriends, seven foot Rooneys and Lovells systems crash
Well, it finally happened - Wayne Rooney played for England in the World Cup. Now we can get back to the important things, like telling tales of the lawyers and their friends who helped prop up bars across the city.
Lawyers get the fluids on board at England v Paraguay
On day two of the world's greatest sporting tournament, the time had finally come for the England team to show what it was made of.
Legal Intelligence
City report
Linklaters appoints new Lisbon head
Linklaters has appointed Portugal head of finance and projects Pedro Siza Vieira as managing partner in Lisbon.
Linklaters, camilleris land major telco buy
Linklaters and Maltese firm Camilleri Preziosi have advised Emirates International Telecommunications (Malta) and Tecom Investments, a Dubai Free Zone company, on their E220m (£151.43m) acquisition of the government of Malta's 60 per cent stake in telecoms company Maltacom. Both International Telecommunications ...
Linklaters, Freshfields trail as Slaughters maintains its status as FTSE100 darling
Linklaters, Freshfields trail as Slaughters maintains its status as FTSE100 darling" /M&A powerhouse Slaughter and May is still king of the FTSE100, according to research conducted by Hemscott Group.
Loyens appoints Bertels chairman in board shake-up
Dutch heavyweight Loyens & Loeff has re-jigged its management board, with tax adviser Pim Bertels succeeding Philip van Hilten as chairman.
Merger creates 47-strong civil set
Public law specialists Two Field Court and human rights and child law set 17 Bedford Row have merged to form a 47-strong civil set, Field Court Chambers.
Milberg prepares for consequences of indictment for referral fee 'misuse'
After the Milberg prosecution, what next? Joanne Harris reports on the effects to the US class action sector
Mintz Levin opens in San Diego with Fish & Richardson team
Boston firm Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo has scooped a 12-lawyer team from Fish & Richardson to open an office in San Diego.
Miranda targets energy with East Timor base
Despite widespread violence, looting and arson in the capital city of Dili, Lisbon-based Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados plans to open an office in East Timor this year.
Movers and shakers
Internet travel company Expedia has lost corporate travel lawyer Flavia Richardson to online competitor Opodo, but Expedia European general counsel Luisa Edwards said a replacement is expected soon.
Orangey boom
Bar the odd crate lying around, Lewis Silkin's recent move into Denton Wilde Sapte's (DWS) old offices on Chancery Lane apparently went pretty well.
Payne Hicks partner in 13 Old Square move to avoid admin
Partner Chris Jarman has joined the bar after 22 years as a solicitor at private client firm Payne Hicks Beach, choosing 13 Old Square to launch his career as a barrister.
People
Uxbridge-based IBB Solicitors has appointed criminal defence specialist Paul Mason as a partner in its business investigations and governance team. He joins from TV Edwards in London.
Phillips Fox becomes DLA Phillips Fox
Phillips Fox has adopted the DLA moniker as part of its entry into the DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary alliance.
Philly merger creates 500-lawyer powerhouse
Philadelphia firms Buchanan Ingersoll and Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling have merged to form the city’s largest law firm with more than 525 lawyers.
Pinsents bans pubs as England fever hits the City
If you’re anything like Tulkinghorn, you’ve been fast and furious with the work this morning to get out in time for England’s big game against Trinidad & Tobago this afternoon, and not making last minute tinkerings to your fantasy football team.
Pinsents scoops BAE's IT outsourcing mandate
Pinsent Masons has beaten magic circle opposition to win the key role on BAE Systems' $1.9bn (£1.01bn) IT outsourcing deal with CSC.
Profit remains static at Ward Hadaway
North-East player Ward Hadaway has announced its year end results, showing increased turnover but static profits.
Property boom drives Semple Fraser turnover growth
Scottish firm Semple Fraser has posted a 21 per cent rise in turnover to £13m, the third consecutive year of 20 per cent plus growth.
Proskauer mulls Dublin but seriously considers London
US firm Proskauer Rose's hunt for a European base appeared to move a step closer with visits last month to the UK and Ireland by two of the firm's senior partners.
QC scores role on Fifa World Cup panel
FIFA has set up its first ad hoc arbitration panel with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to settle any emergency disputes that arise during the World Cup.
Reed Smith and Richards Butler vote in favour of merger
The partnerships at the UK’s Richards Butler and US firm Reed Smith last night voted to confirm the merger between the two firms.
Return to splendour
Australasian firms have got their work cut out to retain their talent, but if all else fails they'll rely on the boomerang effect. By Robert Hanley
Reynolds defence puts BNP in its place
In libel cases few lawyers have managed to use the risky Reynolds defence successfully. The defence should allow the media to print allegations that are in the public interest whether or not they can be proved as true, as long as certain tests are applied. The tests, though, are often too rigorous for media defendants to meet.
Ricksons boosts turnover via diversification
Northern insurance firm Ricksons has profited from diversification, with a 23 per cent turnover rise to £13m.
Riker to expand with London office
New Jersey firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti is opening a London office to focus on insurance/reinsurance and litigation. Castlewood general counsel Eleni Lacovides has been hired to head the office, while three partners will join from Riker's US operations. Riker co-chairman Shawn Kelly said: "Our [insurance] clients want Riker in London and our firm is committed to meeting those needs."
Securities and Exchange admission
It may not be classy, but sometimes the temptation to crow a little when you're proved right is simply too strong. Astute readers may recall a story earlier this year about former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) director Alan Beller returning to his old stomping ground of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
Senior Withers partner quits to head new Barclays team
Withers has lost private client partner Jeremy Arnold to Barclays.
Separated at birth
He might be best known to a popcorn audience as the baddie opposite tiny Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III, but to a more discerning crowd he will always be lisping author Truman Capote. Yes, US actor Philip Seymour Hoffman may be diminutive, but he has an enormous back catalogue, and it's that career-defining role as the sing-song-voiced writer for which ...
Showing off figures
We're not fooled, you know. We do realise that profit figures have become a brand extension exercise. It's the time of year when firms all over the UK cunningly reveal that, a) their profits have shot up, b) they've managed their costs, and c) they're now looking at work-life balance or diversity or something. Because financial reporting has become key to law firms' overall positioning, a few have tried some presentational tricks. For a closer look, see Matt Byrne's analysis on page 23.
Simpson Thacher witnesses soccerball disaster
Hurray!!! Tulkinghorn has discovered a US firm that screened the US football game.
SJ Berwin star joins English Partnerships
SJ Berwin star joins English Partnerships" /SJ Berwin senior planning and environment partner Pat Thomas is quitting the firm to take on a consultancy position at national regeneration agency English Partnerships. Thomas has spent 18 years as a partner at SJ Berwin, establishing and building up the planning ...
Sleeping partners
It's all very collegiate over at Linklaters, where the banking partners work together, play together… and now apparently go home together.
Smaller Stephenson Harwood is back from the brink
Stephenson Harwood is back from the brink" /His firm looked on the verge of collapse just three years ago, but now Stephenson Harwood chief executive Sunil Gadhia appears to be presiding over a minor miracle.
Supermarket giants braced for massive legal bill
The UK's big four supermarket chains are expecting a large financial hit in external legal fees and long hours and big headaches for their in-house counsel for the next 12 months in the wake of a competition investigation into the grocery sector.
Taking over takeovers
As in the case of Glencore, the Australian Takeovers Panel has the threat of judicial review hanging over it - and the UK panel should sit up and take note, say Bill Koeck and Matthew Dobson
The electronic avenue
The storage capacity of modern electronic equipment provides investigators with the ideal starting place in their search for evidence. Sanjay Bhandari and Georgina Lewis report
The Lawyer Awards
Do not forget The Lawyer Awards 2006 on 27 June, where in-house teams and individuals will feature prominently. In-house achievers will be highlighted through the Commerce and Industry, Technology Media and Telecoms (TMT), Banking and Financial Services and European Teams of the Year, while there is also an award for the individual in-house lawyer of the year. Those shortlisted for the latter award are Merlie Calvert of De Beers, Victoria Cochrane of Ernst & Young, Michael Gradon from ...
The Terminator backs up Orrick's China licence bid
One of the world's best-known faces is helping Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe in its quest for a China operating licence.
The work-life quiz: John Keffer
What was your first-ever job?Cashier at a student-run grocery shop at Georgetown University.
TLT scoops Wright Hassall property chief
TLT Solicitors has recruited Tim Rowe, Wright Hassall's head of property.
US apathy to "soccer" hits new heights
The hunt to find a US firm showing today's game against the Czech Republic, which kicked off at 5pm, is bearing little fruit.
US Congress slams Milberg Weiss indictment
Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman, the US plaintiffs’ firm recently indicted for alleged referral fees, has picked up a powerful ally in the shape of the US Congress.
Vinson dragged in to fresh Enron suit
Vinson & Elkins faces yet another saga in the ongoing Enron nightmare with a fresh filing in a shareholder litigation detailing allegations the firm knew of improper dealings at Enron as early as 1999.
Vinson forks out $30m in Enron escape plan
Vinson & Elkins has settled to the tune of $30m (£16.09m) with Enron's bankruptcy estate in a deal that staves off the threat of civil litigation from the company.
Walker Morris pushes its PEP past £600K mark
Walker Morris pushes its PEP past £600K mark" /Walker Morris has broken through the £600,000 average profit per equity partner (PEP) barrier for the first time, with turnover and profit rises of 5 per cent.
Watsons gears up for launch of City office
Newcastle-based Watson Burton is set to launch a new office in London within the next six months.
Web of deceit
The internet has opened up a whole new array of opportunities for organised crime. Miranda Moore QC looks at government agencies' latest measures to tackle it
Weil: would it really bill for breathing?
Weil Gotshal & Manges was left searching for a rock to crawl under after being forced to admit that its lawyers “don’t communicate”.
White-collar crime
White-collar crime has never been such a big issue. The recent establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) - sometimes described as the UK's answer to the FBI - means that the authorities have a powerful new weapon to target white-collar criminals and the profits made through organised crime.
Why the Legal Services Bill is a must for the profession
With the onset of summer and the inevitable distractions this brings, it would be easy to lose sight of the draft Legal Services Bill. We must ensure that this does not happen. Ever since the publication of the Office of Fair Trading report on competition in the professions in March 2001 there has been a wide-ranging debate about the place ...
