12 Nov 2012
The Lawyer
A question of values in Spain
A Spanish ‘bad bank’ may be a good idea but it has arrived too late to fix the real estate problem
Alas, poor Orrick
In 14 months Orrick boss Ralph Baxter will move on after 23 years in the job. Is his legacy at risk of derailment by a strategically stalled final few months?
Arbitration system ain't broke
Having to appoint arbitrators from a fixed panel was a daft idea - we must ensure the system stays flexible
Dawn of the super-set?
39 Essex Street/4-5 Gray’s Inn link-up could be a sign of things to come
English heritage
The latest instalment in a small but significant trend slotted into place recently when Allen & Overy (A&O) private equity specialist Derek Baird upped sticks for the London office of elite US firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Featured case: Employment
Israeli work – coming your way
Israel is a growing power in IT and energy, and law firms should be aware of the opportunities
Job Watch: Expat
While statistics suggest that the UK economy is no longer in recession, the draw of foreign climes is still strong and many lawyers continue to be attracted to the expat lifestyle.
Judgment Call: 12 November 2012
Walton v Scottish Ministers [2012] UKSC 44. Lord Hope JSC (deputy president); Lord Kerr, JSC; Lord Dyson JSC; Lord Reed JSC; Lord Carnwath JSC.
Light and shade
The Russian legal market faces a new era as the government opens the door to greater business transparency, but not everything is open to scrutiny
M&A plus
Indian firms are busy with M&A as the government opens up to foreign investment, but legal market liberalisation remains off the agenda
Mis-grilling claims
Eversheds under fire for taking a tough line with rate swap mis-selling claimants
Moves: 12 November 2012
Charles Evans
Mysteries over Saudi City court
Commercial lawyers wait to see what shape the reported Saudi ‘arbitration centre’ in London will take
Osborne Clarke and FFW: it just might work
There is more to FFW’s corporate practice than prominent client BBC Worldwide to make it an attractive partner for Osborne Clarke. A deal could create a serious mid-market contender
Safari, so good
In-demand Botswana firm flips allegiance as UK firms get serious about Africa
The Lawyer Management: Edwards Wildman
Steve Rowan has been deputy chief operating officer for Edwards Wildman’s Europe and Asia offices since 2011. Prior to this he was director of finance and administration at Kendall Freeman, which merged with Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge in 2008.
Weather the storm
Chris Barlow, Nomura’s Emea head of corporate legal, relishes a challenge, having seen the Japanese bank through global expansion and recent cutbacks
Why can't firms just talk straight?
Imagine no head office: it’s easy if you try. No boss in London, management on the fly. Imagine all the lawyers living life in peace… Such is the utopian refrain suggested by the declaration last week by SNR Denton, Salans and Canada’s Fraser Milner Casgrain (FMC) that the merged firm would be “truly polycentric” with no single HQ and simply bursting with diversity.
Work Life Quiz: Daniel Jones, Artesian Law
