14 April 2008
The Lawyer
People
Reading firm Boyes Turner has taken on 13 new fee-earners in a three-month hiring spree. The new arrivals are: assistants Rachel Mclean from Olswang, Lisa Griffin from Clarke & Son, Nadda el Kaloush from Clifton Ingram, Ed Walker from Gallaher Group/JT International, Carole Harwood from Battens, Claire Harte from SJ Edney ...
2007 Proves good year for CMS Albiñana
The Spanish ally of CMS Cameron McKenna, CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo, has posted a 16 per cent revenue increase, with e17m (£13.42m) earned last year.
7BR, Peel Court CEOs set up LSA consultancy
Seven Bedford Row (7BR) chief executive Stephen Allen and Manchester-based Peel Court CEO Ian Dodd have left their respective chambers to set up the first Clementi-dedicated consultancy.
9 Bedford Row lures barrister trio as silk defects to No5
David Williams QC of 9 Bedford Row (9BR) has been poached by No5 Chambers, while 9BR has taken on a trio of barristers, including Joanna Korner QC of 6 King's Bench Walk.
A&O in fees spanking shocker
A&O in fees spanking shocker18-April-2008There's nothing to beat an English judge in a strop. Mr Justice Floyd's costs judgment yesterday, where he slams Allen & Overy (A&O) for its bill in the BlackBerry litigation, doesn't pull any punches.
A&O slammed for "shocking" costs
Allen & Overy (A&O) has been slammed by the High Court for racking up almost £5.2m in costs and spending the equivalent of nine man years for a five-day trial.
A&O, Cravath score Nestlé's Alcon sale
Allen & Overy (A&O) and Cravath Swaine & Moore have landed roles in Nestlé's sale of eyecare company Alcon in a two-step megadeal worth up to $39bn (£19.62bn). Cravath called on New York-based corporate partners Alan Stephenson and Robert Townsend to advise Nestlé, while A&O New York partners Daniel Cunningham and Eric Shube turned out for the buyer, pharmaceutical giant Novartis. Alcon turned ...
A&O's Asia disputes head returns to City
Allen & Overy (A&O) Asia dispute resolution head Andrew Jeffries is moving back to London after nine years in the Hong Kong office.
Al Fayed gives up the fight following Diana, Dodi verdict
More than 10 years and £10m in legal fees later, Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed has called off the lawyers from his bid to prove that there was a conspiracy to murder Princess Diana and his son Dodi.
Arbitration panel bows to football fan pressure
The arbitration panel hearing Leeds United FC’s case against the Football League has confirmed that it deliver an initial decision by 1 May.
Banks hit by talent shortage as disputes overwhelm firms
A rise in post-credit crunch litigation has left investment banks struggling to man their in-house teams with enough lawyers to handle the upsurge in intra-bank disputes.
Beachcroft swoops for Eversheds health team
Beachcroft has raided Eversheds for a five-strong health team including sector chief David Weatherburn, who is apparently worth up to £4m of revenues.
Benelux
Belgians carried on happily without a government for nine months, with the political deadlock only ending last month after the new government was finally sworn in.
Bird & Bird doubles partnership promotions
Bird & Bird doubles partnership promotions" /Bird & Bird has doubled its promotions to the partnership, making up a record 14 associates to partnership this year after last year’s haul of seven.
Bird & Bird promotions: only two birds
Despite the headway that women have made in this year’s partnership promotions, Bird & Bird promoted just two women.
Blackstone, Matrix silks dash Govt's BAE defence
Dinah Rose QC and Philippe Sands QC inflicted an embarrassing High Court defeat on the Government last week.
BLP promotions down for second year in a row
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has promoted five associates to its partnership, the second fall-off in promotions in a row.
BLP rejig strengthens dispute resolution arm
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has launched an initiative to centralise its contentious business procedures in a bid to strengthen the disputes resolution column of its five-pillar strategy.
Brokers beware
Brokers must take notice of strict guidance from the FSA concerning their duty to the client. David Coupe and Rowena Grundy report.
Burness adds to property might with team headed by McClure Naismith partner
Scottish firm Burness has raided the Glasgow office of McClure Naismith for the lateral hire of property partner Nick Naddell.
Business support staff: a case of karma
To paraphrase US politician Adlai Stevenson: "Law firms get the business support professionals they deserve."
Cardiff law firm first to commit to flotation
A small Cardiff law firm has been the first to explicitly state that it will float on the stock exchange.
CC pursues its American dream
New York office claims four out of 35 new partners
Chadbourne seals PepsiCo Russia acquisition
Chadbourne Parke and Clifford Chance have won places as main legal advisors in soft drinks giant PepsiCo's $1.46bn (£740m) bid for control of Russia's leading juice company.
Chamber of Shipping installs lawyer at top
Martin Watson, founding partner of Watson Farley & Williams, has been elected president of the UK Chamber of Shipping - the first lawyer to occupy this post. Watson has been a senior consultant at his firm since standing down as a partner eight years ago.
City firms open doors for work-life balance research
Thirteen firms are welcoming researchers from work-life balance charity Working Families in a bid to improve retention rates.
Clifford Chance moves partner to Saudi
Clifford Chance is relocating Dubai-based partner Mohamed Hamra-Krouha to Saudi Arabia, just days after Herbert Smith announced its Saudi tie-up.
Cloud grazing
This latest Eversheds tidbit comes after The Lawyer's April Fool story about Eversheds putting sheep on its grass-covered roof in an effort to become London's greenest firm.
Clydes falls into line as UK promotions go global
Clyde & Co has followed firms such as Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, CMS Cameron McKenna and Herbert Smith by promoting more partners in its overseas offices than at its UK base.
Coroner inquest reforms need to go further
It would be wrong to draw too many lessons from the Diana and Dodi inquest or to use it as a basis for reforming the law.
Crown Estate picks Hunton, Norton Rose
Hunton & Williams and Norton Rose are the only firms to bag places on The Crown Estate's new energy panel, chasing off competition from five other firms that tendered for the work.
Derivatives body appoints Asia counsel
Financial trade organisation International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) has hired Jacqueline Mei Lin Low as senior counsel for Asia.
Dishing the dirt
Regional differences in Belgium's approach to soil pollution reflect those in the EU as a whole. Dominique Devos reports
Dundee Uni broadens LLB offering
The University of Dundee is introducing a bachelor of law degree that enables students to gain dual-qualification in Scottish and English and Welsh law.
Editor's weekly: What not to wear
If it weren’t for the inevitable fashion nightmares that come to the fore during the hottest months of the year summer would be my favourite season.
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge elects new managing partner
US firm Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge (EAPD) has elected corporate partner Walter Reed to the post of managing partner.
Eversheds Paris: female partners multiplying
Eversheds female promotions may be down this year but it's nothing to do with the traditional 'oh, she'll just leave when she gets pregnant' reasoning, says new partner Valérie Blandeau.
Eversheds stays solid on yearly partner promotions
Eversheds has matched last year's record promotion round, making 30 associates up to its partnership.
Eversheds ties the knot in South Africa
Eversheds has merged with South African firm Routledge Modise to open its first office on the African continent.
FFW acts on sale of BBC's outside broadcasts division
Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) has fended off competition from a range of other firms to advise the BBC on the sale of its outside broadcasts division to sports broadcaster Satellite Information Services (SIS).
Foot Anstey raids Folletts to boost Truro office
Foot Anstey has made a series of lawyer appointments to its Truro office to underpin its targeted growth of a £36m turnover by 2011.
Freshfields bolsters Hong Kong with Sullivan hire
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's Hong Kong outpost has hired US securities and M&A special counsel Calvin Lai from Sullivan & Cromwell's local office. He will join Freshfields as a partner.
Freshfields finance chief quits for life outside law
Freshfields London-based finance chief Perry Noble is retiring from the firm to pursue a career outside the law
Games Workshop wins legal manager from Roythorne
Games retailer Games Workshop has hired Gill Stevenson from Nottingham firm Roythorne & Co to replace its outgoing legal manager Hugo Pritchard.
Green gauge
With the UK facing potential action from Europe over failing to implement the Environmental Liability Directive, perhaps now is the time for action rather than consultation.
Hammonds makes biggest ever promotion round
Hammonds has made up a record 19 associates to partnership, the largest number of associates the firm has promoted yet.
Herbert Smith creates new managing partner role
Herbert Smith has created the role of managing partner, with corporate partner David Willis taking on the position.
Herbert Smith gains foothold in Saudi with Al Ghazzawi alliance
Herbert Smith has set up an exclusive association with Saudi Arabian firm Al Ghazzawi ;Professional Association (GPA), as first revealed on www.thelawyer. com (8 April).
Herbies launches hedge fund 'healthcheck'
Herbert Smith has set up a team that will spend time in-house with hedge fund clients to ensure they do not commit market abuse.
Herbies' Moodie retires to tend his vines
Herbert Smith IP heavyweight Bill Moodie is retiring after more than 30 years in legal practice.
Indian salary war escalates as global firms circle best talent
Despite heavy lobbying and GDP growth of almost 10 per cent, India is to all intents and purposes still off-limits to foreign law firms and likely to remain so for at least another one to three years, according to most expectations.
Insurance
Insurance, a market that impacts on every aspect of life, is forever changing in the eyes of the law. Case law is constantly evolving, impacting on how insurers operate.
Irwin Mitchell in consultancy venture
Irwin Mitchell has launched software and consultancy business Ectimo in a joint venture with supply chain advisory business State of Flux.
Jeff Zindani: Forum Law
With a target of doubling turnover to £2m by October 2009, Forum Law managing partner Jeff Zindani clearly has some hefty ambitions for the firm.
K&L Gates in Shanghai launch
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis (K&L Gates) is to launch an office in Shanghai after being granted a license by the Chinese authorities.
Keeble Hawson pays the price
Ten years ago Keeble Hawson bagged a Leeds office, setting it on course for a decade-long ride more rocky than the Pennines.
KKR chooses Akin lobbyist as public affairs chief
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) has snared high-profile Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Washington DC lobbyist Ken Mehlman to become its first global head of public affairs.
Law Soc names in-houser Lee as deputy VP
Clinical negligence in-house lawyer Linda Lee has been voted in as the Law Society’s next deputy vice president, it was announced today (15 April).
Links loses corporate partner to S&W
Scottish-headquartered firm Shepherd and Wedderburn (S&W) has landed a major hire for its London office, with Linklaters corporate partner Steven Turnbull due to come on board in May.
Lovells Paris hikes turnover by 20 per cent after management rejig
Lovells' Paris office is celebrating a strong 2007, after revenue climbed 20 per cent to e40m (£31.58m).
Macfarlanes, Lovells lead on £40m unitranche
Lovells and Macfarlanes have won places advising on the £40m debt refinancing of nursery operator Just Learning Group in one of the first examples of the unitranche debt facility seen in Europe.
Maitland co-head relinquishes post
Maitland Chambers joint head of chambers Michael Lyndon-Stanford QC is to stand down, leaving Michael Driscoll QC as the set's sole head.
Manchester merger sparks bid to dominate North
Manchester chambers St Johns Buildings has merged with Chester's White Friars Chambers in a bid to become the largest set in the North of England.
McDermott wins global projects boss from Akin
McDermott Will & Emery has raided Akin Gump for its global projects head John Cogan.
Meet market
Sainsbury's is aiming to close the gap between in-house and outside counsel. But its initiative has ruffled a few private practitioners' feathers
Merger creates Curtis Turner & Drukker
Dorset firm Bruce Curtis Turner & Co and London-based Nicholas Drukker & Co are to merge with effect from 21 April. The partners of the new firm, Curtis Turner & Drukker, will practise from Mitre House, Fleet Street. They are Bruce Curtis Turner, Nicholas Drukker, Keith Grey and David Wheeler. The two firms bring together expertise in general commercial litigation, specialised litigation, employment, conveyancing, business sales, purchases, commercial leases and licensed premises.
Mishcon demands IOC ensures athlete safety
Mishcon has written to the International Olympic Committee urging it to clarify how it will protect dissident athletes.
Neil Hodges: Zurich UK
Just six months after joining Zurich, UK general counsel Neil Hodges is implementing a restructure of his legal team.
New partner numbers down at A&O and CC
Allen & Overy (A&O) and Clifford Chance announced their partnership promotions last Monday, as first reported on www.thelawyer. com (7 April), both making up slightly fewer new partners than they did in 2007.
OJC reprimands Smith J for misconduct
The Office of Judicial Complaints has found the actions of Mr Justice Peter Smith amounted to misconduct.
Olswang spot on for Boyle's new picture
Olswang has advised independent film company Celador Films on Trainspotting director Danny Boyle's new picture. Film partner James Kay closed the deal on new title Slumdog Millionaire six weeks early after the team simplified the documentation to make it more user-friendly. Film4, the co-developer and co-financer on the project, was advised by in-house legal head Paul Grindey. Distributors Pathe Pictures ...
PARTNERSHIP 2008: Hammonds: Brum, building, a baby and a barrister
Baltis and the Bullring are arguably the things most closely associated with Birmingham - lawyering comes in third, at best.
PARTNERSHIP 2008: Berwin Leighton Paisner: unreal estate
By promoting two out of its five associates to partners in the tax team, Berwin Leighton Paisner is underscoring its commitment to ascending the corporate food chain by increasing its tax leverage.
PARTNERSHIP 2008: Lovells turns its nose up at its own
Lovells' 2008 promotions round has been significant for a number of reasons: IP was the most heavily promoted practice area, just three females were made up and the total number of promotions dropped significantly on last year's figure.
PartyGaming hires lawyer to save on fees
PartyGaming is taking its commercial work in-house to save money after hiring Victoria Allison from IWC Media to join the team at the online gambling company's Gibraltar HQ.
Risk drive
Importing Anglo-Saxon legal concepts and standards carries its own risks for the Belgian insurance market, according to Hugo Keulers
Separated at birth
Hollywood stars always need publicity. Actor Edward Norton needs it more than others, with the upcoming release of his new film The Incredible Hulk.
Shearman halves executive committee
Shearman & Sterling has created the role of management co-ordinator and reduced the size of its management team.
Simmons takes on O'Melveny counsel
Simmons & Simmons has boosted its corporate practice with the lateral hire of O'Melveny & Myers counsel Matt Rees.
Simons Muirhead launches libel action for Murat
Simons Muirhead & Burton is launching one of Britain's largest libel claims on behalf of Robert Murat, the man named by Portugese police as a formal suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
SJ Berwin's friendly Facebook
SJ Berwin first announced a radical overhaul of its international strategy in 2006, vowing to create formal referral relationships in China, India and the US.
Skadden launches $10m student diversity venture
Skadden launches $10m student diversity venture" /Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has ramped up its community and diversity drive with the launch of the $9.6 (£4.8m) Skadden Arps Honors Program.
Speechly Bircham promotes four to partnership
Speechly Bircham has promoted associates to the partnership in its private client, corporate and real estate groups.
Speechly Bircham seals Revlon deal for supermodel Elle Macpherson
Speechly Bircham has picked up the lead role acting for model Elle Macpherson on her deal to become the new face of $1.33bn American cosmetics giant Revlon.
Stephenson Harwood seeks extra money for Petroleos de Venezuela
Stephenson Harwood is looking to double the costs awarded to Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) after the High Court lifted a freezing order sought by ExxonMobil against the state-owned oil company.
Sullivan London woos Shearman tax specialist
Sullivan & Cromwell has boosted its London arm with a rare hire, bringing in highly rated tax specialist Michael McGowan from the UK office of Shearman & Sterling.
Talk isn't cheap
While Tulkinghorn is still resisting the shift from feather quill to ballpoint pen, today's lawyers need to embrace technology to survive.
Tchenguiz looks to Dentons to help reinvigorate pub group
Longstanding Kirkland & Ellis client Robert Tchenguiz has turned to Denton Wilde Sapte for advice on restructuring a 400-strong pub portfolio.
The truth about partnerships
The run-up to partnership is one of the most stressful periods of a lawyer's career. One ambitious young associate, when approaching his second bite at the partnership cherry, put on three stone as he comfort-ate his way through the gruelling process.
The write stuff
And talking of office equipment, Tulkinghorn was informed that Denton Wilde Sapte media partner Roderick Kirwan has become a liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers.Although Tulkinghorn is not sure what all this actually means, he is sure that the contacts Kirwan makes there will guarantee that the Dentons practice doesn't remain stationary.Boom boom.
Three women make the grade at Slaughters
Slaughter and May has elected only four new partners in the latest promotions round, of which three are women, as first revealed on www.thelawyer.com (10 April).
Time trials
The House of Lords decision on historical sexual abuse cases is unlikely to result in a torrent of claims being brought, says Kathy Perrin
Tom whelan: Lovells
What car do you drive?A pink Volvo.
UBS counsel turned chair proposes management shake-up
UBS general counsel turned chairman Peter Kurer is proposing a widespread shake-up of the bank's corporate governance.
UK and US leaders debate impact of legal services act
The likely impact of the Legal Services Act (LSA) and the possibility of a US equivalent was high on the agenda at the Legal Leaders Forum earlier this month (3-4 April).
US firms win mandates on airline mega-merger
Four US firms have secured lead mandates on the merger between Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines, which is set to create the world’s largest carrier.
Web week
The Lawyer's Web Week is a weekly commentary on legal activity on the web.
White & Case makes friends of foes
There are a lot of partners leaving White & Case's City office right now. Peter Epp upped sticks for Herbert Smith, Maurice Allen and Mike Goetz left for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Bird & Bird scooped Nipun Gupta.
Why pay off your debt when it's cheaper to owe it to yourself?
US and UK lawyers are divided over the legitimacy of loan buybacks, says Julia Berris
Wilberforce kicks off Leeds arbitration against Football League
Commercial and chancery set Wilberforce Chambers will kick-off arbitration proceedings for Leeds United FC against the Football League.
WS Society launches accreditation scheme
Influential Scottish body The WS Society is seeking to modernise itself with the introduction of an industry standard for young lawyers.
'You're hired', Apprentice makers tell new legal and business head
The television company responsible for hit show The Apprentice has hired Jacqueline Moreton as its head of legal and business affairs from the UK arm of US media company CBS Paramount.
