18 December 2006
The Lawyer
People
Mills & Reeve has appointed three solicitors to its insurance group. They are James Melvin and David Roche, who join the London office from Davies Lavery, and Kate Ayres, who joins from Berrymans Lace Mawer. Philip Lumb also joins the firm's Norwich professional negligence team from
2007 Will be a year of change for the better
2007 is going to be an important year for solicitors and for the Law Society. The Legal Services Bill, the most significant piece of legislation for the legal professions for decades, will complete its passage through Parliament and the new solicitors' Code of Conduct will come into force during the final months of my term as president.
A&O scores instruction for first-ever LSE sukuk listing
Allen & Overy (A&O) has bagged a lead role advising on the first sukuk programme to be listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
A&O to pour resources into France, Germany for 2007
Allen & Overy (A&O) has targeted France, Germany and the US to boost its corporate team during 2007.
A&O wins round two of gay banker case
Allen & Overy (A&O) has won the second round of client HSBC’s employment dispute with a former banker who claims he was dismissed from the bank because he is gay.
Arthur's daily news
While supping another glass of wine at The Daily Telegraph's Christmas party last week, Tulkinghorn was regaled with the tale of how the paper's top lawyer Arthur Wynn Davies introduced himself to Laurie Sear, the then managing/editorial director, back in 2005.
ASB Law fills commercial litigation top spot
South East firm ASB Law has a new head of commercial litigation.
Baggage cheque
Christmas came early for one Freshfields London partner recently. The chap, whose name Tulkinghorn will refrain from revealing, was hot off the plane at his honeymoon destination with his new bride when disaster struck.
Bar Council fights off negligence claims
The Bar Council has fought off a claim brought by a barrister against several officers of the Council for unlawful prosecution, breach of contract, and negligence.
Barristers slam Human Rights Act
Almost two-thirds of barristers believe that the Human Rights Act leaves the justice system open to misuse and abuse by judges and lawyers, a new survey has found.
Blackstone attacks govt on BAE Saudi decision
Blackstone Chambers is to launch the first legal action against the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Attorney General and prime minister Tony Blair over the decision to drop an investigation into BAE Systems’ involvement with a Saudi Arabian defence contract.
Camerons targets £250m revenue
CMS Cameron McKenna has set its partners an ambitious target of growing revenue to £250m in three years as it concludes a firmwide strategic review.
Christmas cheer for organist
It will be a happy Christmas for former Bar Council chair Guy Mansfield after a negligence case fell through and an even happier one for some bloke from Croydon who has scored a stunning court victory over Procul Harum.
Cleary NQs to break £100k pay barrier
US firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s newly qualified lawyers in its London office will be taking home in total more than £100,000 this year.
Cross-border litigation gets an overhaul
Rome II has been adopted by the European Union today, in a move which should bring more clarity to cross-border litigation.
Disused railway station charity scheme sees Wragges climb aboard
Birmingham-based Wragge & Co has provided pro bono advice to make unused space in railway station buildings available to charities.
DLA Piper in defence push with BAE hire
DLA Piper has hired former BAE Systems group legal director Michael Lester as a senior consultant as part of the firm's plans to create a global defence practice.
Double private equity role for Linklaters
Linklaters played the lead role by advising on two private equity deals.
DWS ramps up Paris with in-house coup
Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) has continued its French growth with the hire of an in-house lawyer to head its Paris telecoms team.
Extradition protestors frustrated as Simmons appeal is dismissed
Another blow was dealt to those campaigning against the extradition regime between the US and UK last week after Simmons & Simmons failed in its attempts to have an extradition case thrown out for abuse of process.
First Commonwealth case to be heard outside London
The Bahamas has made it into The Privy Council’s history books becoming the first place where the Judicial Committee have sat to hear cases outside of England.
Focus 2006: A year of change
Four major issues hit the headlines in 2006. Associate retention, law firm flotations, case management and China were the hottest topics of the year
Freshfields cements Wilson Bowden ties with sale mandate
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, has scored a lead role on the £2.1bn scramble for developer Wilson Bowden.
Freshfields crowned kings of M&A for 2006
Magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has retained its position at the top of the European M&A league table for the second year in a row.
Freshfields to be sued over pension reform
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is being sued by a former partner over the magic circle firm's controversial pension reforms as cracks appear in its transformative restructuring programme.
Fried Frank opens in HK with Simmons raid
Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson has raided Simmons & Simmons for a second time, as the US firm launches its Hong Kong office.
Goldsmith turned to 6KBW for BAE probe
The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, took independent advice on the Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO) decision to drop its investigation into BAE Systems, The Lawyer can reveal.
Grapevine
It's the final Wednesday Grapevine before Christmas, so in time-honoured fashion here's our own legal market letter to Santa:
Greenberg, Olswang pick up buyer role on Rank deal
US firm Greenberg Traurig and its ally Olswang have scooped a mandate to advise on the first major purchase of an international company by a native American tribe.
Have a crass Christmas
Tulkinghorn would like to offer his thanks to all of those who have sent him Christmas cards in recent weeks. The paper mills, printers and postmen of Europe and North America thank you too.
In-house interviews round-up of year
2006 saw a spate of in-house lawyers reassessing their companies' advisers. By David Middleton
Irwin Mitchell takes Govt to task over erosion of shipping safety
Irwin Mitchell will fight the UK Government in Europe over plans to force through a controversial new Boatmasters' Licence that critics say could increase the likelihood of Marchioness riverboat-type disasters.
Italian firms attack govt's transparency scheme
The Italian government has outlined new regulations governing lawyers in Italy, sparking outrage within the Italian legal community.
JPMorgan Chase hires WilmerHale star
JPMorgan Chase & Co has hired WilmerHale's rated co-chair of securities Stephen Cutler as worldwide general counsel. Cutler joined WilmerHale's Washington DC office in 2005. He was previously director of the US Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement division from 1999. He will become executive vice-president, general counsel and head of worldwide legal and compliance and succeeds Joan Guggenheimer, ...
Kalis bullish as Kirkpatrick expansion plan falls into place
Last Thursday (14 December) the latest piece of Peter Kalis's world domination jigsaw slotted into place.
King & Spalding
King & Spalding was founded in Atlanta and has grown alongside its Atlanta-based clients, such as The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Airlines, UPS, Home Depot and SunTrust Bank.
Landmark senior clerk retires to take up consulting role
Landmark Chambers senior clerk Stephen Graham is stepping down at the end of the month (December) after 42 years in the profession.
Latham opens in Barca and Madrid
US firm Latham & Watkins will open in Spain with Madrid and Barcelona offices in January after a raid on Cuatrecasas, snaring M&A star Jose Luis Blanco to oversee the opening.
Latham scoops lead on Harrah's takeover
Latham & Watkins’ client and US casino operator Harrah’s has accepted a $27.8bn (£14.29bn) offer from private equity funds Apollo and Texas Pacific.
LawGram harvests X-Factor victory
Lawrence Graham played a starring role behind the scenes as Leona scooped victory in the X-Factor final.
Lawrence Graham makes a song and dance
Time was when lawyers did deals, had a quiet drink to celebrate, then moved on.
Lawrence Graham to lose shipping team
Lawrence Graham is losing the bulk of its small shipping practice as partner Mike Lax leaves the firm with two associates to set up a boutique.
LeBoeuf London scoops 40 per cent of firm's promotions
LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae has made up two partners in the firm’s booming London office, as part of five new partners for 2007 across the globe.
Linklaters and Freshfields grab €3.1bn ProSieben deal
Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have scooped lead roles on the private equity acquisition of German broadcaster ProSieben.Sat1 Media (ProSieben).
Linklaters bolsters Budapest team
Linklaters has raided Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer's Budapest office for two corporate specialists, including a new head of corporate for its own office. Ádám Máttyus joins Linklaters as a partner and head of its corporate practice in Budapest. Máttyus had been senior counsel at Freshfields. Ottó Daróczi also joins with Máttyus from Freshfields' office in the Hungarian capital. He joins Linklaters ...
Linklaters establishes Indian foothold
Linklaters has drawn up a referral arrangement contract with a new Indian firm in a move that could lead to the magic circle firm having more access to the Indian market. The deal means Linklaters and Mumbai-based Thawar Thakore & Associates, which is officially launching in January, will refer work to each other where there is a demand for India-related advice from international clients. The move is ...
Linklaters racks up latest deal for Hermes
Linklaters has secured the latest in a string of recent deals for Hermes Private Equity, advising on the acquisition of a stake in a holiday park operator.
Look gift horses in the mouth
Plenty of day-to-day business is conducted over a meal. There is also little doubt that the giving and receiving of gifts is seen by most as a normal part of developing good relations with customers and suppliers. This is particularly pertinent at Christmas.
Manzoor lays down new complaints targets
New targets for handling complaints about Law Society members have been announced, promising to improve the speed and the quality of responses.
McDermott launches Italian tax practice
McDermott Will & Emery has almost doubled its partner numbers in Italy, hiring three partners from Trivoli & Associati to launch a tax practice. Tax partner Carlo Paolella is leading the exodus from Trivoli and is joined by Mario Martinelli and Andrea Tempestini. Their practice will focus on the tax elements of corporate transactions, an area that McDermott used to farm out to Italian ...
Merry Christmas from The Lawyer
It has been a fantastic year for most of us involved in the legal market.
Mishcon boosts real estate with BLP raid
Mishcon de Reya has made rare lateral hires out of Berwin Leighton Paisner's (BLP) real estate practice, taking a partner and a senior associate.
Mishcon secures London town pub buy
Mishcon de Reya has advised new AIM-listed client London Town on its £94.57m acquisition of Save Investments, a Petchey Holdings-controlled company with a portfolio of 167 pubs. The deal is being funded through a £72.8m facility from the Anglo Irish Bank, with an additional £28m coming from new share and deep discount bonds issues. DLA
More Dewey exits ahead of Orrick merger
The pending merger between Dewey Ballantine and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe suffered another setback yesterday (Tuesday 19 December) when Covington & Burling announced it had hired three Dewey partners, including the firm’s co-chair of its restructuring and bankruptcy practice, Ben Hoch.
MWE scoops Hammonds competition team
McDermott Will & Emery has scooped Hammonds’ final departing Brussels partner José Rivas along with the firm’s UK competition head Alasdair Bell.
Neuberger LJ made Law Lord
Lord Justice Neuberger is set to become the country's youngest Law Lord after just two years at the Court of Appeal. The appointment of 58year-old Neuberger comes in the wake of Lord Nicholls' retirement on 10 January next year. Prior to Neuberger LJ's promotion, the youngest Law Lordwas 61-year-old Lady Hale.
Nottingham Law School installs CEO in London
Nottingham Law School's new London branch has appointed its first chief executive officer.
Organist wins Procul Harum claim
Former Procul Harum organist Matthew Fisher has won his High Court battle for the rights of A White Shade of Pale, giving 11 South Square’s Iain Purvis QC a winning start to his career as a silk.
Pannone lands Atos Origin health advice role
Pannone has won a pitch to advise services giant Atos Origin on its employee health-screening service, which offers 24-hour legal advice to employees.
Pinsents launches European alliance
Pinsent Masons has made its first bid to become an international force by forming an exclusive European alliance, called PMLG, with Germany's second-largest independent firm Luther and a number of other firms. It hopes the move will be the first step on the road to a full merger.
Pinsents' US ally Thelen Reid opens in London
Pinsent Masons' ally Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner is aiming to increase its presence in the investment banking market by opening a new office in London.
Review of the year
A&O's merger approach to Freshfields, firms shunning the gaming sector, big partner moves, millionaires abounding and the emergence of China… 2006 was not short of talking points
Roundup 2006
2006 was undisputedly the year of the corporate and commercial law firm. M&A continued to boom, while private equity houses battled to outdo each other for the title of 'largest fund'.
Row erupts over freebies from the bar
Spa weekends, trips to New York and all-expenses-paid jaunts to the Rugby World Cup are under threat as barristers' gifts to solicitors come under scrutiny.
Schroders kicks off global panel review
Global asset management company Schroders has kickstarted its much-anticipated global panel review.
Shearman grows with Freshfields pair
Shearman & Sterling has bolstered its London office with the hire of two partners from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The employment of Freshfields structured finance partner Ian Harvey-Samuel and corporate partner Lois Moore follows a string of high-level partner losses at Shearman. ...
Shoosmiths forces M&S recall for Jimmy Choo-a-like
Shoosmiths has forced Marks & Spencer (M&S) to recall thousands of handbags following a copycat row with designer brand Jimmy Choo.
Simmons hit by Gibson Dunn corporate raid
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has lured a corporate finance and capital markets partner from Simmons & Simmons to beef up its growing corporate team.
Simmons reshuffles top tier to revive flagging HK
Simmons & Simmons is attempting to stem its recent problems in Hong Kong by parachuting in its international head of corporate Damon Le Maitre-George.
SJ Berwin boosts property with Pedersoli hire
SJ Berwin has boosted its Italian arm with the hire of real estate partner Mario Botte from independent firm Pedersoli e Associati.
SJ Berwin puts corporate social responsibility high on its agenda
SJ Berwin puts corporate social responsibility high on its agenda" /SJ Berwin is overhauling its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme with a view to publishing a formal report alongside its limited-liability partnership (LLP) accounts.
Skadden and Latham advise on Asia's largest energy deal
US firms Skadden Arps Meagher Slate & Flom and Latham & Watkins scored roles on Asia’s largest energy transaction, the $3.4bn (£1.74bn) acquisition of Mirant’s Philippine business by a consortium comprising power companies Marubeni and Tokyo Electric.
Swathe of QCs gifted High Court appointments
Manchester-based Byrom Street Chambers has scored yet another appointment to the High Court as a flurry of judge appointments were announced this morning (21 December).
The alternative Lawyer Awards
As is now traditional, here are The Lawyer's alternative awards for 2006.
The curious case of Latham and Spain
US firm Latham & Watkins made a splash in Spain this week with news that it is to open in Barcelona and Madrid.
The Lawyer HR Awards 2007: the finalists
In January The Lawyer is launching the first-ever HR awards in the legal profession in order to celebrate excellence in the effective deployment of HR strategy in the legal world - an issue underpinning some of the biggest stories of 2006.
The work-life quiz: Richard Ginsburg
What was your first-ever job?Warehouse receiving clerk.
Three times a lawyer
The stars have been out this Christmas, with Squire Sanders' party list featuring the likes of Will Young, Beverley Knight and Alexander O'Neal.
Travers chief secures third successive term
Travers Smith elected Chris Carroll as managing partner for a third term on 13 December, making him the second managing partner to win three successive elections at the firm.
Trio fight for CC partner council seat
Clifford Chance London partners are voting in a rare contested election for a place on the firm's partnership council this week.
US firms announce static associate Christmas bonuses
Several US firms have announced their associate bonuses ahead of Christmas. Most are keeping their hand-outs static on last year, with associates set to pocket between $30,000 (£15,280) and $65,000 (£33,110).
Warming signs
Tulkinghorn recently received Lewis Silkin's orange Christmas scarf. It says 'Warm Lawyers' on it (geddit?).In fact its garish hue makes it look more like the kind of thing a trolley-dolly on a certain budget airline might sport.Does it herald the rebrand of Lewis Silkin as 'easyLaw'? (Oops, Tulkinghorn is already expecting a letter from easyGroup head of IP Anthony Robb-John…)
Web week
The Lawyer's Web Week is a weekly commentary on legal activity on the web. This includes an overview of the best of the week's blogs. If you want to direct us to useful links, email webweek@ thelawyer. com.
White & Case snares Cadwalader finance star
White & Case has dipped in to US rival Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft for a finance specialist to boost its own European finance capabilities.
Wii whiz
The Christmas present of choice this year for many bonus-packing lawyers is, of course, a Wii. A what? asks Tulkinghorn. Apparently it's some sort of electronic games gizmo.
Willkie Farr raids CC for top corporate team
Willkie Farr & Gallagher has raided Clifford Chance’s Frankfurt office for two of its most rated German corporate partners.
