18 July 2011
The Lawyer
A&O, Links guide energy company Ophir’s debut on London exchange
Allen & Overy (A&O) and Linklaters took the advisory roles in the London IPO of Africa-focused oil and gas company Ophir Energy.
Bar suffers knock-on effects of fees squeeze
Growth at the bar has slowed over the past financial year as a result of litigators piling pressure on fees to get the best deals for clients.
BLG flight team saga: legal threat seen as bold play prior to Clydes merger vote
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert’s (BLG) aggressive move in threatening legal action against its departing aviation team will send shockwaves through the insurance sector.
BLG’s threat of legal action steps up aviation row
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) is set to launch a breach of fiduciary duty action against its departing aviation team after it decided to defect to rival Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW)
Board games
Independent directorships for hedge funds are in the spotlight as investors express concerns about governance.
Branching out
European firms are cutting their family ties to make way for the new blood of the future
Camerons spurned City for a cheaper address
CMS Cameron McKenna turned down a building in the heart of the legal district for its new City offices in favour of a cheaper alternative in Shoreditch.
Cayman able
Alasdair Robertson and Tina Meigh look at the three big questions lenders should be asking with regard to custody of assets in Cayman vehicles
CC and SJ Berwin lead as British Land buys 17 Virgin sports clubs
Clifford Chance and SJ Berwin scooped headline roles as British Land acquired 17 Virgin Active racket clubs for £179m from health club chain New Esporta Holdings.
Choice locations
The economic climate has seen investors become more proactive in pinning down their centres of main interest.
Eastern time
Channel Islands-incorporated businesses will find all the expertise required to help them list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
End of an era for Nabarro as Paradise resigns from top spot
Nabarro managing partner Nicky Paradise is to retire from her role this summer, prompting a shake-up of the firm’s management.
Enter Story Headline
Freshfields shortens logo ahead of 2012
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is revamping its branding so it will be identified simply as Freshfields on third-party websites and banners, including those on display at next year’s London Olympics.
Gib boom
Since the implementation of the Gibraltar Financial Services (Experienced Investor Fund) Act (2005), the territory’s Experienced Investor Fund (EIF) has proved a popular vehicle among the international investment management community.
Hilex launch and Pedersoli expansion signals change for Italy’s independents
The Italian independent law firm market has undergone a shake-up, with the creation of a new firm and the merger of two existing practices.
Keeping clients sweet pays off for partners at Bakers
Baker & McKenzie has overhauled its global remuneration system, rewarding partners who focus on major international clients with an additional slug of money.
King & Spalding acts on Mecca development
King & Spalding has advised on the first phase of a $27bn ($17bn) real estate development in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Kingsley Napley partner advises Rebekah Brooks after phone-hacking arrest
Kingsley Napley partner Stephen Parkinson has been instructed by former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks following her arrest in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.
Latin love-in
It is estimated that more than 15,120 Latin Americans have an individual worth exceeding $30m (£19m), with their combined wealth amounting to at least $2.3tr.
Magrath takes on ex-Clarke Willmott boss
Former Clarke Willmott chief executive David Sedgwick has been appointed CEO of niche immigration firm Magrath.
Medic aide
Healthcare specialist Bupa’s general counsel Paul Newton is keeping the pressure on his panel firms.
Met demands cut-price rates as scandal hots up
Police force risks cutting quality of advice in wake of phone-hacking
Met’s false economy
You can just imagine the uproar if the Metropolitan Police had assembled a legal panel littered with the City’s elite.
On the move
IP expert David Dew has joined Morgan Cole in Oxford from London firm Charles Russell.
Payne Hicks keeps Team GB sailors buoyant
If all you want out of the London 2012 Olympics is to see Great Britain win a gold, then a good bet would be to keep an eye on the sailing.
Pinsents bags solo role on broadband project
Pinsent Masons has won the role to act as sole legal adviser on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) £530m project to deliver super-fast broadband across the UK.
Reputation matters
Injunctions in the Channel Islands might not involve celebrities, but that doesn’t mean there’s no drama involved.
Royal Pharmaceutical Society invites tenders for first panel
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is looking to put together its first legal panel, with the move coming shortly after the arrival of its first general counsel.
Salaried partner contributions help to clarify legal status
The news in The Lawyer last week that SNR Denton’s UK non-equity partners will be asked to contribute capital to make everyone feel like they have a stake in the merger may have a benefit for the firm beyond that stated aim and extra working capital.
Schultze & Braun
Achern-headquartered Schultze & Braun dealt recently with a challenging insolvency case for Saar-Gummi Group, a leading maker of sealing systems for cars
Senior, junior or in the middle: the battle goes on
IMO, European Directories and WorldPay have done little to sort out intercreditor disagreements.
Shearman hires new blood for ECM launch
Shearman & Sterling is launching a UK equity capital markets practice with the hire of former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Monica McConville.
Sitting pretty
Joanne Harris dissects the most recent rankings of offshore firms’ listed clients
Stewarts Law bumps up cash call by £50k
Litigation boutique Stewarts Law asked its equity partners for an extra £50,000 last year to fund the firm’s rapid and continuing expansion.
Thrill of the trace
It’s important to get experts on board when it comes to tracking down and retrieving offshore assets
Top cats
Cat bonds, which cover the risk of natural disasters, have become big business offshore. Anthony Smyth and Philip Paschalides report on Irish and Cayman dominance in the sector
Tulkinghorn: Willing and Able
Tulkinghorn knows the best way to make a good impression on your vacation scheme is to agree to do absolutely everything that is asked of you.
Winning trusts
Case law concerning offshore trusts in matrimonial disputes can be tricky to navigate, necessitating trustees’ lawyers’ full attention.
Work Life Quiz: Juliette Peters, Howard Kennedy
What was your first-ever job? Paralegal at Wright Webb Syrett during the university holidays.
