17 December 2007
The Lawyer
Rags for riches
No matter how you try to sell it to junior lawyers, due diligence is still mind-numbingly tedious. Until, that is, you get instructed by the publisher of coffee table favourites such as Bella, Take a Break and TV Choice.
After BCCI: do Commercial Court reforms go far enough?
The Commercial Court is about to be given a makeover. Out with the 80-day opening statements, the length of supercases will be curtailed, with each case being assigned two judges. The proposed reforms, however, still stand accused of failing to go far enough.
ANATOMY OF A CASE: Ferrari v McLaren
Formula 1 was rocked by allegations of design theft this summer. Vanessa Whitman looks at how civil law was used to quickly protect the claimant’s interests
Ashfords guns for Osborne's SW crown
Ashfords has kick-started a recruitment campaign with four new partners as it aims to become the biggest firm in the South West.
Ashurst, Mayer Brown rethink debt package for Citigroup tower
Ashurst, Mayer Brown rethink debt package for Citigroup tower" /Patience and a considerable rejigging of the financing package were needed in order for Ashurst client Gardenprime to complete a major acquisition.
Aussie-German alliance targets China
Sydney-based Gray & Perkins has entered into an alliance with German firm Brandi Dröge Piltz Heuer & Gronemeyer, with the pair seeking to tap into the Chinese market. Under the terms of the alliance, Brandi Dröge will use Gray & Perkins' Beijing office to service clients in China. Gray & Perkins opened its Beijing office in 2003.
Away with the fairies
There aren't many lawyers who can cite 'fairytale reading' on their CV. So imagine Tulkinghorn's delight to find Integrity Interactive director of compliance services Paul Rew's voice telling the rather sombre Hans Christian Andersen tale The Flying Trunk.
BLP tipped for first asian gaming float
Online gaming is set to get a boost in the coming weeks, with Asian Logic becoming the first Asia-based gaming company to seek a London listing.
Bryan Cave seals Chinese alliance
Bryan Cave has strengthened its global network, launching an alliance with Chinese firm Alpha & Leader.
Byrne in the USA: Lovells widens insurance net
Chicago office gets creative to target brokers
Career advice: Confront a partner or move on?
Question: I am a corporate associate at a smallish City firm and am becoming increasingly irritated at one partner in particular who favours certain associates when it comes to allocating the most interesting work.
Charities named for The Lawyer Awards 2008
Charities the Children's Trust and Kid's Company will be the official beneficiaries at The Lawyer Awards 2008 after a web poll conducted on TheLawyer.com.
Christmas Gere
Mills & Reeve senior partner Mark Jeffries has made some waves recently with his ambitious plans for the Norwich-based firm. He recently swooped for Addleshaws' family team to launch new offices in Leeds and Manchester. It's not surprising he has fans - some more excitable than others.
CJC to regulate third party funding
The Civil Justice Council (CJC) will move a step closer to regulating third-party litigation funding in the new year.
Clarification
In last week's Hall of Fame it was stated that 2 Garden Court was no longer in existence. In fact the chambers was simply renamed Garden Court Chambers and continues to practise in human rights, criminal defence, family and housing work.We are happy to set the record straight.
Clifford Chance in internal restructuring
Clifford Chance has indulged in a bout of internal restructuring, merging its three large M&A, private equity and corporate practices into one mammoth department on 1 December 2007.
Clobber job week
The most pressing issue concerning some law firms, apparently, is not the possible impact of the Legal Services Bill or how to respond to further fallout from the credit crunch.
Credit crunch hits US partner prospects
McDermott Will & Emery has replenished its UK partnership after a spate of departures, bucking a downward trend that has seen US firms promote fewer associates in London than they have for two years.
Delivery time row ends with Commercial Court ruling
An international sugar trade deal turned sour when the seller failed to deliver on time and the case ended up in the Commercial Court.
Dewey repositions to make London key
Dewey & LeBoeuf chairman Steve Davis has vowed to make London a strategic priority as he moves to position the firm as a transatlantic, rather than a US, player.
Domino's Pizza: crusty lawyer wanted
Domino's Pizza is recruiting its first UK-based general counsel after employing the services of a legal consultancy to do the job part time for the last five years.
Europe honours Sudanese lawyer
The European Parliament has taken a stand on the Darfur conflict, awarding its prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Sudanese human rights lawyer Salih Mahmoud Osman.
Eversheds goes outside for in-house advocacy
Eversheds' litigation and dispute management group has taken on Jessica Mance of Essex Court Chambers as a secondee in its in-house advocacy team.
Eversheds hires DLA Piper tech partner
Eversheds hires DLA Piper tech partner" /Eversheds has hired former DLA Piper senior technology, media and commercial partner David Glover as a partner in its commercial practice group.
Extradition should not be a one-way street
The plea-bargain of the 'NatWest Three' means they will receive a term of imprisonment of three years and one month (reduced from their possible sentences of between 35 to - arguably - 210 years), and will be ordered to repay the £3.5m they defrauded from NatWest.
Firms wait on Manchester Council panel decisions
Manchester City Council has launched its first formal legal panel tender in the four service areas of regeneration, neighbourhood, childcare and bankruptcy.
First female chief for Wragges London
Wragge & Co will appoint its first female managing partner from the beginning of next year when Nicola Mumford takes over from Paul Howard as head of the London office.
Hall of Fame: The great and the good (L to Z)
As part of The Lawyer’s 20th anniversary celebrations, here’s the second instalment of the legal profession’s Hall of Fame
Hammonds' Crossley to serve another term at helm
Peter Crossley has been formerly re-appointed as Hammonds's managing partner following a vote on Friday (14 December).
Harbottle and Hollywood mogul in High Court feud
Media boutique Harbottle & Lewis is heading for a show-business showdown, with managing partner Lawrence Abramson facing cross-examination in the High Court today (17 December).
Harbottle locked in Hollywood fees feud
Harbottle & Lewis managing partner Lawrence Abramson took the stand in the High Court this week to defend the firm's client handling processes.
Harbottle settles Hollywood fees dispute
Media boutique Harbottle & Lewis has settled its case against Hollywood producer Israel Baron.
Heather Mills-McCartney turns to M Law
Media boutique M Law has won Heather Mills-McCartney as a new client, advising her on the three libel actions that are running alongside the former model's bitter divorce proceedings from Sir Paul McCartney.
Heavyweights secure oil exploration take-private
A raft of heavyweight advisers have secured one of the biggest take-privates since the credit crisis jammed the market this summer.
Herbert Smith creates diversity sub-groups
Herbert Smith has revamped its diversity strategy, expanding its inclusivity group and dividing it into five distinct sub-groups.
Herbies reshuffles competition team
Herbert Smith's longstanding EU/competition head Jonathan Scott has stepped down from the role, with partner Elizabeth McKnight set to take over at the beginning of January.
ICC Expertise Centre appoints new chair
Fenwick Elliott partner Nicholas Gould has been appointed chairman of the standing committee of the International Chamber of Commerce's (ICC) International Centre for Expertise.
ISS adds to sole in-houser with swoop for Total solicitor
International facility service provider ISS has beefed up its UK legal team via a hire from oil giant Total, and plans further expansion in the coming months.
Jan Birtwell: O'Melveny & Myers
What's the best thing about your job?The people and the excitement of an opportunity to build a business.
Jewish associate sues A&O for race discrimination
A former associate from Allen & Overy’s New York office is suing the firm for race discrimination.
Jones Day London scoops lead role on £1.36bn ENRC flotation
The London office of Jones Day has secured one of the Stock Exchange’s biggest flotations this year, advising Kazakhstan mining company Eurasian Natural Resources Corp (ENRC) on its £1.36bn London listing.
K&L Gates confirms Texan merger
The much-trailed merger between K&L Gates and Texas-based Hughes & Luce got the green light yesterday (Monday 17 December) when partners at both firms voted in favour of a combination.
Let them eat Christmas cake
The arty luvvies over at Field Fisher Waterhouse refuse to have one of those Christmas parties where everyone eats sausage rolls in a meeting room for 10 minutes. Oh no, their party is fancy dress, specifically 'Baroque and Roll'.
Linklaters
According to Linklaters, "fexibility, mobility and diversity" is at the heart of the magic circle firm's people strategy and is shaping the way the firm assists associates in developing their careers.
Lovells in H Bauer magazine purchase
Lovells' London office has reaped the benefits of a recommendation from the firm's Hamburg base, landing an instruction on publisher H Bauer's £1.14bn acquisition of Emap's consumer magazine and commercial radio divisions.
Mason Hayes plans US growth
Mason Hayes & Curran's outgoing managing partner Declan Moylan has promised to increase the Irish firm's international footprint when he takes over the chairmanship next April.
Mayer Brown partner charged with fraud, money laundering
One of Mayer Brown’s most senior partners was indicted this week on charges relating to the collapse of commodities brokerage Refco.
Mayer Brown to merge with Johnson Stokes & Masters
US firm Mayer Brown and Hong Kong’s Johnson Stokes & Masters are merging to create the tenth largest law firm in the world with a combined revenue of $1.2bn.
McGrigors' national bid extends to Manchester
Scottish firm McGrigors has taken a significant step in its quest to become a UK national firm by opening an office in Manchester.
Musical statutes
Just in. The ideal late Christmas gift for the musically minded lawyer (Tulkinghorn knows there are a few of you out there).
Nabarro pips Linklaters to three-year BP job
Nabarro has nudged aside magic circle firm Linklaters to win an instruction advising BP's pension fund on its real estate investments.
Nabarro's European clarity disparity
The tagline at Nabarro is 'Clarity Matters', but the level of secrecy surrounding the firm's international operations is such that MI6 might want to take some notes.
Nick Fell: AET
AET general counsel Nick Fell has a passion for shipping law. He just wishes UK law firms felt the same way. Katy Dowell reports
Olswang expands Belgian headcount
Olswang has hired IP partner Christine De Keersmaeker from Bright Legal Solutions in a bid to expand its Brussels office.
Oostvogels raids Lux rival for banking boost
Luxembourg firm Oostvogels Pfister Feyten has appointed Loyens Winandy senior associate Franoise Pfeiffer as partner to head the firm's banking and finance practice.
Paul Hastings secures German merger
US firm Paul Hastings has bagged desirable German independent firm Smeets Haas Wolff in Frankfurt following a long search for a suitable merger partner in Germany.
People moves
Martineau Johnson has poached planning specialist Iain Johnston from local rival HBJ Gateley Wareing to expand its Birmingham planning and environment team.
Pinsents ups projects clout with raid on DLA Piper
DLA Piper" /Pinsent Masons has raided DLA Piper for four appointments to ramp up its global projects and UK project finance groups.
Quadrant chambers director announces retirement
The chambers’ director of Quadrant chambers Gordon Armstrong is set to retire in January.
Review of the year
Career structures were changed to keep associates happy; equity partners were slashed; law firms' diversity - or rather lack of it - was put under the microscope; and Freshfields proved there is such a thing as bad publicity with a year of PR disasters
Roundup 2007
2007 was a year of firsts for both the legal profession and for The Lawyer. Clifford Chance was struck by what's thought to be the first discrimination claim against a law firm on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Separated at birth
Australian actress Toni Collette is cast in her latest role as Aberdeen Asset Management head of legal Lisa Brown.
Shadbolt teams up with C&H Jefferson
Shadbolt & Co has launched a non-exclusive alliance with Belfast firm C&H Jefferson in a bid to cash in on opportunities in Northern Ireland's projects industry.
Shearman throws down high-yield gauntlet with City raid on Latham
The rivalry between US firms' finance teams was heightened last week with Latham & Watkins high-yield London partner Jacques McChesney defecting to Shearman ...
Solicitors get permission to wear wigs
The Government has decided solicitors and other advocates will have the option to wear wigs where they would be worn by members of the bar.
Standard Chartered in derivatives offensive
Standard Chartered Bank is bulking up its in-house derivatives expertise across the globe.
Taylor Wessing merges with Dubai associate firm
Taylor Wessing is venturing out of European borders and launching a Dubai office through a merger with its Dubai-based associated firm Key & Dixon.
The best alternatives…
In this issue you will find our 20th anniversary supplement to celebrate the growth of the UK legal profession over the last two decades. But in the meantime, ladies and gentlemen, we present The Lawyer's Alternative Awards for 2007.
The Lawyer's Christmas Carol
On the first day of Christmas Freshfields gave to me A 50-point consultancy...
Three leave BLP after global strategy disagreements
Berwin Leighton Paisner's (BLP) project finance team suffered three more partner losses last week (11 December).
'Tis the season to be suing
Christmas is almost upon us. It is the time of peace and goodwill to all men. It is a time for love, laughter and the giving of presents. But not in the legal market.
Trio of firms win United Biscuits' panel selection
United Biscuits has completed its first major panel review, with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Nabarro and
US price-fixing victims turn to Cohen Milstein for redress
Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll is preparing to act for the victims of the three UK executives convicted of price-fixing in the US.
Web week
Joking aside
