13 September 2004
The Lawyer
20 Essex St arbitrator count grows to seventeen
Francisco Vicuna, who has just stepped down as president of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal, has joined 20 Essex Street’s growing team of arbitrators.
2003 sees £4m paid out to discrimination victims
Compensation of more than £4m was paid out by employers last year in compensation for sex, race and disability discrimination cases. The figures are published in the Equal Opportunities Review, which examines discrimination cases in England and Wales. There were 376 successful cases brought to employment tribunals, 37 less than in 2002. Total compensation was also less, although 2002 saw record payments. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 6 September 2004
Abbey instigates wholesale reshuffle of advisers
Abbey National is pursuing a radical overhaul of its legal function despite the fact that the bank is the subject of an £8.75bn takeover by Banco Santander and is facing rival bids from other UK banks.
Africa 2005 launches with support from Herbert Smith
The launch of a year-long international campaign to promote Africa in a positive light is underway thanks to support from Herbert Smith’s Paris office.
B&M plucks litigation expert from Austrian rival
Baker & McKenzie has snatched a litigation expert from Austrian local firm and Allen & Overy (A&O) ally Wolf Theiss.
Barclays turns to AZB for Indian venture
Barclays’ in-house lawyers have teamed up for the first time with Indian firm AZB & Partners to advise the bank on its joint venture with Mumbai-based processing centre Intelenet.
Bird & Bird corporate partner quits for Fladgates
Bird & Bird corporate partner Jeff McGeachie has quit to join Fladgate Fielder. McGeachie joined Bird & Bird after the collapse of Garretts. Bird & Bird managing partner David Kerr said that McGeachie’s practice, focusing on entrepreneurial mid-market clients, did not fit in with the firm’s corporate strategy, which ...
Blake Lapthorn loses partner to Charles Russell
Southampton-based Blake Lapthorn Linnell’s corporate practice has suffered a blow after losing a partner to Charles Russell. Peter Elliott has joined Charles Russell’s London corporate commercial office in a bid to beef up the firm’s business in the South East, Oxfordshire and Thames Valley areas.
Bland quits Wragges after real estate clash
Wragges after real estate clash" /The national chairman of Wragge & Co’s real estate group Gerald Bland has quit following what some insiders have described as a year-long power struggle with the firm’s property head Adrian Bland.
Blasts from the past
With the removal of barristers’ immunity from negligence actions, a raft of claims was predicted. But as John Bennett reports, this has not transpired
Capital markets ace quits for Dorsey
Norton Rose US capital markets star Richard Baumann is quitting the firm to lead US firm Dorsey & Whitney’s capital markets practice in London.
Careers: in brief
The insolvency team at South West firm Foot Anstey Sargent is celebrating the news that one of its members has been awarded the Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency (CPI). Siân Phillips, who joined the department in 2002, now becomes an associate member of the Insolvency Practitioners Association. Phillips’ success in the CPI exams represents an important step towards becoming a licensed insolvency ...
Careers: people
Cobbetts has bolstered its IP, information, communications and technology and media teams with the hire of two solicitors for its Manchester office. Laura Harper arrives after a five-year stint at Pannone & Partners, while Sonia Luthra joins the top 50 firm from DWF Solicitors.
CC and A&O lawyers quit to join the bar
Keating Chambers and Seven Bedford Row have snapped up two magic circle lawyers, the latest in a string of defections from top City firms to the bar.
CC wins new Canary Wharf instruction
Clifford Chance is hanging on to key client Canary Wharf Group after being instructed on a large letting to US investment bank Morgan Stanley.
Charles Russell makes key hire for media team
Charles Russell makes key hire for media team" /Charles Russell has bolstered its media team with the hire of media litigation expert Nick Armstrong (left) from Goodman Derrick. Armstrong, who specialises in defamation, ...
Clementi inspires RICS regulatory review
Sir David Clementi’s review of legal regulation has sparked other professional services industries to analyse their own regulatory functions.
Clifford Chance bags government high flyer for Paris office
Clifford Chance’s Paris office has landed the former head of staff to France’s ministry of justice as of counsel.
Clifford Chance names new global IP chief
Clifford Chance’s global head of IP is stepping down, to be replaced by a Palo Alto-based partner.
Corporate deals round-up
Paul Weiss Rifkin Wharton & Garrison (John Lange) advised TCL Communications Technology Holdings on its acquisition of Alcatel’s mobile handset R&D, manufacture and distribution business. The joint venture established to carry out the acquisition is owned 55 per cent by TCL and 45 per cent by Alcatel.
Coudert re-ignites Paris with partner hires
Coudert Brothers is working to rebuild its embattled Paris office with the hire of two new partners.
Dream scheme
Solvent schemes of arrangement and other exit strategies are helping to keep London at the head of the insurance market, say Ian McKenna and Richard Gregorian
Employers embrace new employment law in DLA survey
A report published by DLA has shown that new employment legislation is having a more positive effect on employers than in previous years.
European general counsel quits Disney after ten years
Walt Disney’s European general counsel Rosemary Bloom has quit after 10 years with the media giant.
Eversheds, Lovells and Simmons secure places on Tube Lines panel
Eversheds gains first instruction; Lovells’ previous relationship pays off; Simmons lands main role
Expert witnesses balk at depressed fee rates
Just two per cent of expert witnesses are paid more than £300 an hour causing concern of a shortfall in the industry as professionals are increasingly unlikely to risk their reputations for low fees.
First pasta post
With Cherie Booth QC spending most of her working days at Number 10, she has little time to visit her old eating haunts in Gray’s Inn.
Freshfields shake-up Asian litigation role
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has swapped the head of its Asian dispute resolution practice with a London-based litigation specialist.
Freshfields to stay put in Vietnam as planned closures are called off
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has abandoned plans to pull out of Vietnam.
FSA warns insurers to control legal risk
The input of in-house legal teams at life insurers has come under the spotlight following warnings from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) that some companies are not exercising sufficient control over legal risk.
Government clears Freshfields of conflict on BBC Worldwide
As the BBC’s vice chairman Anthony Salz considers the fate of the corporation’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide, it has emerged that Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, of which Salz is co-senior partner, has recently been instructed by BBC Worldwide in Germany.
Grapevine
We’ve put our heads together and have come up with the reason why Pinsents wants to merge with Masons (see www.thelawyer.com/item/111984)
Halliwells launches construction in Sheffield
Halliwells has launched a construction practice in Sheffield with the hire of DLA partner David Fearon.
Hammonds Berlin lures top Freshfields associate
Hammonds’ Berlin office has added a second partner to its projects and planning team after a swoop on Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Hermann Müller, a senior associate at Freshfields, joins as a salaried partner and is the second partner in the growing real estate, planning and construction team. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 6 September 2004
Hearsay
Which female partner at a top 10 firm is rumoured by her colleagues to have had a boob job?
Hengeler, Freshfields keep tight grip on DAX 30 companies
Germany’s corporate powerhouses have maintained their stranglehold over clients in the DAX 30, the German equivalent of the FTSE 100.
Herbert Smith wraps up Russian mining deal
Herbert Smith has successfully closed Russia’s largest debt financing this year, despite the deal sailing perilously close to the rocks after two of the three book runners pulled out.
Hopefuls line up for the top jobs as elections draw near
Election season is now in full swing, with candidates emerging for the top jobs at Dickinson Dees, Herbert Smith, Lovells and Simmons & Simmons.
Ince wins Norton Rose partner for ship finance push
Ince & Co has plucked a former Norton Rose partner in a bid to bolster its burgeoning ship finance team.
Irish ministers delay reductions in barristers’ tribunal fees
Barristers’ fees in five Irish tribunals will remain static for at least another three months, despite July’s announcement that costs would immediately be slashed by two-thirds.
Keep it greasy
Sports lawyers are flocking back from the Olympics in their droves with war stories galore. Many have tales of drugs cheats they’ve busted or athletes they’ve advised or sponsored. The common denominator, though, seems to be sex. All those near-naked bodies glistening with sweat seem to have overwhelmed many of our learned friends.
Last partner quits CC’s Düsseldorf IP department
Clifford Chance has lost its last Düsseldorf IP partner Christian Osterrieth to embryonic German IP boutique Reimann Osterrieth Kohler Haft.
Law Society goes to war on accountants’ privilege
Lobbying battle goes to heart of government as Chancery Lane hires Kentridge to stop the accountants
Law Society to be hit by potential £1m fine
The Law Society could face a fine of up to £1m if it fails to deal with complaints, it was announced today (September 13).
Lawnmower men
A blistering performance from Milton Keynes firm Fennemores saw its A team take the winner’s trophy at the inaugural Lawyer Formula Law go-karting extravaganza last Tuesday (7 September). The sun scorched the 1.3km track, the 21 burger and bacon butty-fuelled teams argy-bargied on the course, and the rapt crowd made a racket to rival the souped-up lawnmower cacophony made by the high-speed ...
Lawrence Graham wins Enterprise Act first
Lawrence Graham has secured the first ever extension on company administration following the introduction of changes to the Enterprises Act 2002 last September.
Leader
As Herbert Smith embarks on its elections for senior partner, one thing ought to be on the minds of the two candidates – how is the firm going to regain momentum?
Leeds office of Walker Charlesworth & Foster swallowed up by Cobbetts
Cobbetts is carrying out its fourth merger in 10 months as it takes on the Leeds office of niche housing practice Walker Charlesworth & Foster.
Legal Risk
Twelve months ago in Liverpool, a new kind of niche firm was born. Sue Mawdsley and Frank Maher left Weightman Vizards to set up a risk management consultancy called Legal Risk. They claim its principal aim is to save its clients money. “Our main focus is on helping firms save more than they spend. We saved one firm half a million pounds last year,” says Maher.
Lewis Silkin nets second payment for footballer
Lewis Silkin has secured an out-of-court settlement for Dutch football star Pierre Van Hooijdonk, ending his pay dispute with former club Nottingham Forest. Hooijdonk, advised by partner Philip Foster, will receive a second payment in addition to the £383,000 paid in 2003.
Lipton replaced in high profile NYSE role by Sonsini
Legendary US corporate giant Martin Lipton has been replaced as the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) legal advisory committee by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati chair Larry Sonsini.
Local authorities shun QCs on airport expansion cases
Seven local authorities have decided against instructing QCs for their forthcoming fight over government plans for airport expansion in the South East.
Lovells lands Paris private equity star
Lovells has plugged a gap in its European private equity practice with the recruitment of French private equity star Monique Sentilles-Dupont from Paris boutique Nomos.
Lovells’ Madrid office appoints second partner
Lovells’ Madrid office has been boosted following the appointment of Jose Luis Huerta to head its Spanish dispute resolution practice. Huerta, previously a senior associate at Landwell’s Spanish arm, is the second partner to join Lovells’ Madrid arm. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 8 September 2004
Manches takes on Shook Hardy duo
Manches is launching a new commercial litigation and arbitration group with the hire of two partners from US firm Shook Hardy & Bacon. Clive Zeitman, formerly at Herbert Smith before joining Shook Hardy, will head the new group. Fellow ex-Shook Hardy partner Andrew Shaw will also join the commercial litigation group as a partner.
Morgan Lewis scoops AIM flotation work for XL TechGroup
Morgan Lewis & Bockius’s London office has been handed the mandate for the AIM flotation of US technology incubator XL TechGroup.
Moving on up
Linklaters is finally breaking into the German big league. But it’ll be a while before it catches Hengeler and Freshfields. By Aled Griffiths
NLP: the scientific route to success
Neuro-linguistic programming can help you attain your goals, says Karen Clark
Northern Rock calls in Shearman as Abbey tension mounts
Northern Rock has brought in US law firm Shearman & Sterling to help it fight a potential tie-up between Abbey and HBOS. Shearman is the first US firm to get a major role on the Abbey deal. That it was preferred over second-tier City firms such as CMS Cameron McKenna, Denton Wilde Sapte or
Norton Rose beats Richards Butler to Hemscott contracts
Norton Rose beats Richards Butler to Hemscott contracts" /Norton Rose has elbowed aside Richards Butler to scoop a trio of deals for new client business and financial information supplier Hemscott.
Norton Rose cements Admiral, QBE relationships
Norton Rose has consolidated its relationship with two of Europe’s largest insurers. The firm scooped a key role on the initial public offering (IPO) of Admiral and associate Adrian Williams landed the general counsel role at QBE.
Opinion
In the wars of opinion, the Law Society is like a four-star general. Not only does it have to fight a mean war with the profession it represents, it also has to wage a mean battle of opinion with the public. But the society is losing both the battle and the war.
Parmalat advisers get hourly rate
The law firms advising bankrupt dairy group Parmalat in the multibillion dollar actions against banks and financial advisers have been retained on an hourly rate rather than a contingency basis.
Paul Meadows: Coca-Cola Enterprises
The Dasani debacle may have left Coca-Cola with egg on its face, but it highlighted the excellence of its legal team. Husnara Begum reports
Photo laugh
Do Latham & Watkins partners have a subscription to Heat magazine? The US firm’s annual Labor Day party has become the traditional start-of-term fixture for half the investment bankers in the City, to judge by the turnout.
PI lawyers slam Law Soc over referral fees
the Law Society’s stance on referral fees.
Pinsents to seal merger with Masons
Masons is hoping to secure a merger with Pinsents by the end of the month.
PM’s brother to represent the bar in silk review
William Blair QC, the Prime Minister’s brother, is at the heart of the inquiry geared at making the silk appointment system more transparent.
Poll reveals Slaughter and May as outside investors’ firm of choice
Slaughter and May has emerged as the most attractive law firm prospect for outside capital investment, following a poll of readers of The Lawyer.
Reckitt fill general counsel role with Sybase man
Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser has appointed the European general counsel of IT group Sybase as senior vice-president and general counsel.
SAC race
The development of public legislation relating to segregated accounts companies is proving beneficial to the insurance market in Bermuda. Neil Horner reports
Shell doubles up on advisers for class action
Oil giant Shell has drafted in a second law firm to help fight off a huge class action brought against it by swathes of investors.
Swedish merger ups ante for Baltic dominance
Scandinavia’s Magnusson Wahlin Qvist Stanbrook (MAQS) has merged with niche Swedish outfit Bergling & Partners as part of a push to dominate the Baltic rim. The six-lawyer law firm will be integrated into MAQS Stockholm headquarters and is intended to bolster its corporate capability.MAQS currently operates offices in Sweden, Denmark, Poland and Estonia but is aiming to launch in Latvia, Lithuania and Moscow by January 2005.
Tesco to review legal advisers
Tesco is reviewing its legal advisers in a bid to cut costs, with head of legal Martin Field inviting current advisers and others that the supermarket has not used before to pitch.
The money side of the street
A neighbourhood dispute is never a pleasant experience. Bickering about the placement of a dividing fence can quickly escalate, while the curious eyes of a Peeping Tom will always be disturbing.
The work-life quiz
Laurence Harris, managing partner, Kendall Freeman
TUC clashes with the CBI over employment claims
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has slammed the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) over a report into employment trends, claiming the organisation has "got everything wrong about employment tribunals".
Weightmans partner joins Licensing Legal
A partner from Liverpool firm Weightmans is joining a new niche practice specialising in licensing and regulatory law. Anthony Horne, head of licensing at Weightmans until last month, is linking up with Richard Williams at Licensing Legal. Williams previously worked at Cobbetts and West End firm Joelson Wilson & Co. Licensing Legal, with offices in Manchester and Liverpool, advises pubs, restaurants and ...
Weil and Latham take the quick route to the top in Paris
With just two defections, the French private equity market has totally changed. By Catrin Griffiths
Wheels of injustice
There has been much lobbying for tough laws on corporate killing, but the Government has reneged on its promises to make them. By Joanne Harris
White & Case snaps up last remnants of Japan’s Mitsui Yasuda
White & Case Kandabashi Law Offices has become the latest firm to raid Mitsui Yasuda Wani & Maeda after the Japanese practice saw the bulk of its lawyers move to Linklaters.
