17 October 2005
The Lawyer
A novel press release
Where to start? Tulkinghorn came face-to-face with a five-page press release last week. Five - count them - pages. What, he wondered, could possibly be so earth-shattering that it deserved not one, two, three or even four pieces of A4 (which is almost a tree), but five?The future front-page splash was… wait for it… a legal assistant at Keoghs whose legal career was "taking off thanks to her apprenticeship".
A&O set to donate £60,000 in interest from client accounts
Allen & Overy (A&O) expects to have donated almost £60,000 by the New Year through its new scheme to direct interest on client accounts to London's voluntary legal sector. It recently paid £14,000 to the London Legal Support Trust, which represents two months' interest. The firm anticipates that a further payment in the region of £45,000 will be made on 1 January.
A&O sparks salary war with 20 per cent hike
Five years after the dotcom pay war, City firm raises salaries to record levels
Addleshaws in plan to up business nous
ADDLESHAW Goddard has launched an ambitious scheme to make its lawyers more commercially-orientated in a bid to secure more instructions from FTSE100 companies.
Ashworth quits Ashurst as O'Melveny & Myers beckons
O'Melveny & Myers is in advanced discussions to hire Ashurst corporate heavyweight Chris Ashworth to create the firm's first M&A capability in Europe.
Australia's Blake Dawson closes London office
Australian firm Blake Dawson Waldron (BDW) is to close its London office on November 30.
Bakers posts profit hike for 2005
US firm Baker & McKenzie has increased gross revenue by 10 per cent to hit US$1.352bn for 2005, at the same time as bolstering average profits per partner (PPP) by 15 per cent.
Bar Council chair calls for shorter court cases
The chairman of the Bar Council, Guy Mansfield QC, has called for the cost of long court cases to be cut and for the savings to be redistributed to barristers doing shorter pieces of litigation.
Bingham lures nine from Bryan Cave New York
Bingham McCutchen is continuing its aggressive expansion by launching a nine-strong New York hedge fund practice after a raid on Bryan Cave New York for a team of nine lawyers, including partners Robert Leonard and Michael Mavrides. The team will support the existing hedge fund practices in London and Boston. The hires almost double the firm's global hedge fund expertise to 19 lawyers. The losses leave Bryan Cave's New York hedge fund practice in tatters. First revealed on
Blame it on the judge: BCCI looks set to drag on and on
It has been a long haul for all concerned. Now, 14 years on from the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Comm-erce International (BCCI) in 1991, and 12 years from the launch of the liquidators' claim against the Bank of England, the end of the trial is still at least a year away.
BLP advises EPR on £130m refinancing
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has completed its first deal for Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund and its subsidiary Energy Power Resources Group (EPR).
Bond Pearce growth necessitates new chief
Bristol's Bond Pearce has appointed banking and restructuring partner Victor Tettmar as managing partner following the decision by Simon Richardson to step down after seven years in the post. Tettmar, who has spent his entire career with the firm, has been a board member at Bond Pearce and was previously vice-president of the Insolvency Lawyers' Association. The change will take effect from 1 February ...
BP uses Linklaters for Innovene sale to Ineos
Linklaters has continued its longstanding relationship with petroleum giant BP after advising on the $9bn (£5.14bn) sale of its plastics production arm Innovene, which was announced last week.
Bristows overcomes Freshfields to defend patent for new client Agripa
Bristows overcomes Freshfields to defend patent for new client Agripa" /Bristows has won a patent infringement battle which represents a David and Goliath victory not just for its Scottish client, but also for the firm itself, by defeating
Careers: In brief
John Wells, president of the Institute of Legal Executives, made a keynote speech pleading for "equal access to justice for all" at a business reception at the House of Commons on 12 October. The event was hosted by Patrick Hall MP and attended by MPs and legal and business practitioners. Wells voiced his concern about legal aid, claiming that there were people who were struggling to find a local legal aid lawyer. "Lawyers taking legal aid cases are diminishing as they struggle with poor ...
Careers: People
Walker Morris has expanded its IP practice with the appointment of a new associate, Dr Peter Harrison, giving the firm nine IP solicitors. Harrison joins from Hammonds' Leeds office after three years in the IP team.
CC in orangey boom
A new uniform was spotted recently at Clifford Chance. Was it dress down? Was it a shift away from dark suits and white shirts?
CC in U-turn on all-equity partnership plans as lockstep review unveiled
Clifford Chance has reneged on its bold plan to form an all-equity partnership, according to new proposals unveiled internally last week.
CC ups back office services
Staying with Clifford Chance and its spirituality, it appears the firm has its own osteopath on board. His name? Lazarus Nono.
Chris Boothman: Standards Board
The Standards Board has come in for a lot of stick, but head of legal services Chris Boothman insists that the organisation still has a lot to offer. Lorraine Cushnie reports
Crisp to step down as Freshfields boss
Hugh Crisp will step down as Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's chief executive soon after the senior partner election, despite being asked by all six candidates to continue in the role.
DCA meets media's flak over court disclosure rule head-on
The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has hit back at the media organisations that accused it of trying to sneak through a change to rule 5.4 of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) on disclosure of court documents.
Different endings
The differences between how European jurisdictions deal with insolvencies is leading to a surge in forum shopping. Justin Westhead reports
Distance learning
A raft of potential pitfalls have been thrown up for restructurings following the creation of the Pension Protection Fund. Joe Bannister and Katie Banks report
DLA Piper cocks a snook at Orrick with Far East growth
DLA Piper cocks a snook at Orrick with Far East growth" /Nigel Knowles, joint chief executive officer of DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, has claimed his firm is now the biggest in Singapore and China, where the firm's feud with Orr
Dorsey and Sheppard Mullin bag Coudert big shots
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton and Dorsey & Whitney are the latest firms to benefit from Coudert Brothers’ demise, recruiting top New York partners Edward Tillinghast and Brian McGunigle respectively.
Duane Morris poaches Halliwells employment head
The London office of US firm Duane Morris has poached partner Tola Ogundimu from Halliwells, where she was head of employment in London.
Duane Morris targets London merger
Philadelphia law firm Duane Morris has joined the frenzy of US firms searching for a UK merger partner.
Dummys attend quiz
Richards Butler played an absolute blinder recently with its sports quiz party.
Dundas bags three partners for London
Dundas & Wilson is continuing a City hiring spree with the appointment of three new partners, bringing the total number of lateral hires in London this year to five.
DWS inherits Coudert Almaty
Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) has hiked its Central Asia practice with a team of eight corporate lawyers from Coudert Brothers' Almaty office.
Equitable drops more claims against directors
Equitable Life yesterday dropped its ‘lost sale’ claim against the 11 former executive and non-executive directors it is still suing for negligence.
Eversheds beats rivals to Centrica outsourcing
Eversheds has beaten fellow Centrica panel firms Allen & Overy (A&O), Ashurst, Herbert Smith and Linklaters to complete an important offshore outsourcing deal for subsidiary British Gas.
EY Law France records turnover slump
Ernst & Young Société d’Avocats, the French arm of EY Law, recorded a 5 per cent drop in turnover for the last financial year.
EY Law Italy, Willkie Farr land mandates from Parmalat hopefuls
The latest stage in the ongoing Parmalat saga has gifted EY Law Italy and Willkie Farr & Gallagher with major mandates. It is understood that EY Law is advising Italian dairy group Granarolo, which is considering whether to launch a bid for Parmalat. According to reports, Granarolo, an unlisted company which is smaller than Parmalat, is waiting until the end of the month to decide whether to launch a formal bid. Meanwhile, Willkie Farr is believed to be acting for French dairy group ...
Firm profile: Harrowell Shaftoe
Managing partner: Jackie Knights Turnover: £6.5m Total number of partners: 17 Total number of fee-earners: 50 Main practice areas: Company and commercial, matrimonial, personal injury, private client and residential and commercial property Key clients: Ainscough Crane Hire, Business Internet Directory Gaming Corporation Offices: Three Location: Clifton Moor, Haxby and York
For the record...
In last week's issue of The Lawyer, it was incorrectly stated that music partner Sarah Waddington of The Simkins Partnership was joining Harrison Curtis. She is, in fact, joining Collins Long.
Four New Square appoints new chambers head
Four New Square's highly-regarded head of chambers Justin Fenwick QC is stepping down, to be replaced by Roger Stewart QC. Stewart picks up the reins in January for three years, with the option of being re-elected for a further three years in 2009. Fenwick replaced John Powell QC in 2000 and has seen the set grow from 43 members to 55 in six years. ...
Freshfields takes torture case to House of Lords
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Brick Court Chambers silk Sir Sydney Kentridge QC are acting pro bono for intervenors in this week’s landmark House of Lords appeal on the use of evidence obtained by torture.
Germany funds head to quit SJ Berwin
The joint head of SJ Berwin’s German operation and leader of its funds practice is to leave the firm at the end of the year.
Gibraltar's Marrache launches in Prague
Gibraltar firm Marrache & Co has opened an office in Prague, expanding the firm’s focus on corporate law.
Grapevine
Scrivener stays put as Saddam hunts for counselThe legal world has always had a key role in the War on Terror. While certain law lords have shown disdain for new laws, and some attorney generals have come under much pressure, barristers have been thrown some very odd new instructions. The latest name to be thrown into the media spotlight is that of 2-3 Gray's Inn Square co-head Anthony Scrivener QC, who, it emerged on Friday (14 October), "has been approached ...
Hearsay
Which law firm's client often plays a ghettoblaster at full volume during negotiations to make the other side admit defeat so long as he turns it off?
Herbies brought in to advise BAT on sale of BAR to Honda
Herbert Smith has advised British American Tobacco (BAT) on the sale of its 55 per cent shareholding interest in Formula 1 team BAR to Honda. The sale is expected to be completed by New Year's Eve. It will give Honda, which currently owns 45 per cent of BAR, complete ownership of the team. Herbert Smith's team was led by corporate partner Mark Geday. Honda was advised by Jones Day senior associate Neil ...
Hextalls plan raises prospect of US merger
City firm Hextalls has launched a major expansion programme that may lead to a US merger within a matter of months.
Joining up
The last twelve months have seen big ticket US M&A back on the table. William Kucera and Paul Maher report on the circumstances behind the resurgence
Kilpatrick partner quits for Mishcon
Kilpatrick Stockton corporate partner Vishvas Kanji has become the first to defect from the US firm's ailing London office since its plans to downsize were revealed.
King & Spalding boosts Houston
King & Spalding has boosted its Houston office with partner hires in the intellectual property (IP) and project finance practices.
Lame same name claim
Should this firm perhaps have checked the legal directories before signing off on its rebrand?"From today (17 October 2005), Nottingham law firm Berryman Shacklock will trade as Berryman and sport a new brand identity to mark the next phase in its strategy for sustained growth," read its entry.
Law Society backtracks on Training Framework Review
The Law Society has today announced a u-turn on its controversial plans to abolish the compulsory Legal Practice Course (LPC).
Lawyer takes Dagger to heart
Congratulations are due to Mace & Jones's Martin Edwards. The firm's head of employment also dabbles in crime writing and has just been shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Dagger for the best short story of 2005. Past Dagger winners include such luminaries as John Le Carré, so Edwards is in good company.
Linklaters bags Lend Lease's sale of shopping centre stake
Linklaters has advised Lend Lease on the sale of its interest in the Chapelfield Shopping Centre in Norwich to Capital Shopping Centres for a consideration in excess of £260m. The Chapelfield centre is Lend Lease's fifth major retail development to be completed in the UK and Europe since Bluewater in 1999. At 530,000sq ft, it is the largest retail scheme to open in the UK this year. Lend Lease was advised ...
Lord Falconer paves the way for MDPs
Lawyers are to be allowed to practice in partnership with other professionals under new government proposals unveiled this morning (Monday 17 October).
Lovells prepares to back client's takeover of Rentokil Initial
Has Mr Justice Tomlinson let BCCI spiral out of control? By Joanne Harris
M&A sera sera
Worldwide M&A has been flexing its muscles and predictions indicate that this trend is set to continue. Jeremy Dickens takes a cautious look at what the future holds
McDermott in Italian rift as Carnelutti merger falls apart
McDermott Will & Emery’s merger with Italian firm Carnelutti has failed, with the firms splitting just two years after their merger.
McGrigors reports rise in turnover, static PEP
McGrigors confirmed a year of steady growth last week with turnover rising 9 per cent from £42m to £46m.
McGrigors' tech team left in tatters by exits
McGrigors' London technology team has been ravaged by a string of high-profile departures as the fallout from last year's split with KPMG continues.
MoFo adds to earlier Weil haul with swoop for finance partner
Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) has poached finance partner Chris Harrison from Weil Gotshal & Manges, leaving the latter with no market-facing UK debt practice.
Mourant launches in Guernsey
Offshore law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune is launching a Guernsey office in January as it expands its multi-jurisdictional capabilities.
New Keating head keen to grow knowledge base
Keating Chambers has elected John Marrin QC as its new head of chambers following the appointment of Vivian Ramsey QC to the High Court. Marrin will take over for five years on 27 October. Ramsey is due to be sworn in as a judge in November. Marrin has been a member of Keating for nearly 30 years and was previously the chambers' deputy head and treasurer. His manifesto included a plan to grow expertise outside of Keating's core specialities of technology and construction law.
Opinion
Law firms should seriously consider offering PR advice. It can work
Partnership: are you up to it?
With opportunities shrinking, Ivan Jackson raises some suggestions on how to attain partner status
Pic winner gets picked
Last week's competition to win a pair of tickets for the National Portrait Gallery's Most Photographed Exhibition received an avalanche of entries. Tulkinghorn was swamped and could barely leave his chair to refill his glass of port.
Pillsbury raids Bakers for energy team
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has moved to bolster its finance and global energy practices with a two-partner raid on rival Baker & McKenzie.
Pirate pinchers
Bascap is the world's newest organisation in the fight against global piracy, but with the corporate muscle on board it may be the most powerful. Craig Cardon reports
Rambaud reacts to lawyer defections with Orrick tie-up
Following raids by Proskauer Rose and Reed Smith earlier this summer, French independent Rambaud Martel last week agreed to merge with US giant Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe.
Rescue parties
The Court of Appeal decision in Huddersfield has ruled that protective awards do not attract priority, in the process securing the rescue culture. Paul Vine reports
Salans evicts Saatchi Gallery
Salans has won a High Court victory evicting the Saatchi Gallery from its home in London’s former County Hall.
Salans senior partner receives instruction to oust Saatchi Gallery
Salans London senior partner Lionel Rosenblatt is fighting for the landlords of the old County Hall building in the high-profile litigation against the Saatchi Gallery, which is currently underway in the High Court.
Second O'Melveny raid leaves Norton Rose with one Brussels partner
O’Melveny & Myers has raided Norton Rose’s Brussels office for the second time in 18 months by hiring managing partner John Cook for its competition team.
Separated at birth
Robert Carlyle. What can you say? Scary? Prodigiously talented? Scottish?
Sharpston joins ECJ as first female Advocate General
Hailsham Chambers’ joint head Eleanor Sharpston QC has been appointed as the UK’s first female Advocate General to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Shearman falls prey to Winston's Paris ambitions
Winston & Strawn has raided Shearman & Sterling in Paris to bring the number of partners in its 10-year-old French office to 13. Robert Flanigan, formerly a European counsel at Shearman, joins Winston as a corporate partner. Flanigan specialises in international finance work, including capital markets, and is dual-qualified in New York and Paris. Corporate head John MacCarthy said Flanigan's ...
Sidley launches in Frankfurt with Lovells pair
Sidley Austin Brown & Wood has swooped on Lovells to launch its first office in Germany. The US firm has hired Lovells capital markets head Oliver Kessler and colleague Jens Rinze as part of its first foray into Frankfurt. Both have worked extensively on transactions with the US firm's London office and with clients such as Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. First revealed on www.th
Simmons hikes banking with White & Case man
Simmons & Simmons has ramped up its UK banking practice, appointing its fourth partner in two months, taking on White & Case asset finance associate Mark Moody. Moody has recently acted for BNP Paribas, Société Générale and for various airlines. The move follows high-level banking hires as it aims to double its headcount. In September the firm landed securitisation partner Bodo Schaar from
Simmons votes for strategic overhaul as three groups face downgrade
Simmons & Simmons has launched a revolutionary strategic review that has threatened the future of several sector groups after they were deemed non-core.
SJ Berwin sees British Land through two large disposals
SJ Berwin has advised British Land on two multimillion-pound disposals.
Slaughters advises dating service Meetic on Euronext placement
Slaughter and May's Paris office has introduced online dating service Meetic to Euronext in an IPO worth more than €300m (£206.1m) - one of the first French organisations to float under new European Pros-pectus Directive rules.
Technology, pharma prove biggest billers
Technology and pharmaceutical companies are the most lucrative clients for law firms, according to a new survey of European in-house legal departments.
The ghost of business past
LLP status confers many benefits should your firm be left owing creditors - but don't fool yourself into thinking of it as an escape hatch. Malcolm Shierson reports
The Lawyer Foyer Award
It's always good to see copies of The Lawyer in reception rooms - and it's even better when the copy on display is a recent one.
The Lawyer.com scoops business website award
The Lawyer.com has won Business Website of the Year in the Association of Online Publishers Awards - the 'industry Oscars' for online publishers.
The new pay war
Proof, if proof were needed, that City law operates in a world without gravity. To anyone outside the Square Mile, the notion of twenty-somethings with virtually no hands-on commercial experience being able to earn £80,000 is incomprehensible and rather repulsive.
The war for talent: will A&O's pay hike convince assistants to stay?
City will be forced to respond as exodus to investment banks sees magic circle firm take drastic action to retain lawyers
The work-life quiz
Richard Tyler, head of corporate and commercial, Mishcon de Reya
The X factor
David Harrel is about to retire. Three men are jostling to succeed him. Can SJ Berwin ever be the same again? By Gemma Westacott
Turkey targets judicial reform for EU push
Judicial reform has been named as an essential part of Turkey's accession to the EU.
Weil makes good in resurgent German market with 41 per cent turnover hike
Freshfields, Clifford Chance, Linklaters top Juve revenue table; Görg hikes turnover 16 per cent post-DLA split; A&O slumps
Zimmerman re-elected as Bingham chief
The Bingham McCutchen partnership has re-elected Jay Zimmerman as Chairman of the US firm.
