19 July 2010
The Lawyer
A touch of Das: Orjit Das, Genpact Europe
General counsel Orijit Das has taken Genpact Europe from ostensible start-up to being one of the fastest-expanding companies around. He tells Andrew Pugh about the changing face of life as an in-house lawyer
Ashurst and Orrick assemble investment deal for IKEA arm
Ashurst and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe have scored leading roles on the investment by Landprop - the development arm of the Inter IKEA Group - in a 12.9 acre site near the London 2012 Olympic Park.
Birketts aims for top 100 with tie-up
Ipswich firm Birketts is planning to merge with Chelmsford-based Wollastons to create a firm that would be propelled into the top 100 UK firms by turnover.
CC advances global plan with Norman’s Dubai swap
Clifford Chance corporate partner Guy Norman’s imminent move to Dubai, announced by the firm last week, is the latest in a string of relocations that has served to underline the firm’s international strategy.
Commentators pooh-pooh Proskauer as the perfect partner for SJ Berwin
The US firm would gain access to Europe, but what’s in it for SJ Berwin?
Deutsch courage
The past two decades have seen enormous transformations within the German legal system, not least with the ever-changing appetite for mergers. James Swift examines a market on the verge of its latest mutation
Exchange Chambers opens in Leeds as local set for local firms
North West set Exchange Chambers is to open an office in Leeds in a bid to build a chambers powerhouse in the North.
Focus: The silver circle: The silver service
It’s been five years since The Lawyer originated the term ’silver circle’ as a catch-all for the UK’s domestic second tier. Matt Byrne takes a look at how these firms have fared since then
Freshfields scheme aims to up female partner count
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has introduced a pilot mentoring scheme for senior female associates in a bid to up its female partner numbers, echoing the ’female buddy’ initiative it launched in 2006.
Geldards/Kent venture bags Derbyshire council
The joint venture set up by Geldards and the legal department of Kent County Council (KCC) to provide public sector legal services has signed up its first client.
Ha-PE days finally here?
According to proponents of chaos theory, the gentle flapping of a butterfly’s wings in Indonesia has the potential to spark a hurricane in Bermuda.
Law firm profile: NCTM
Italy’s NCTM was born of a merger between two firms steeped in tradition.
LPO’s home comfort woes
Offshoring legal work is not all about the money: discuss. This is not such an absurd assertion as it might seem.
Man Utd reappoints Pinsents as part of panel review
Manchester United FC is in the process of reviewing its five-strong legal panel, with Pinsent Masons already reappointed.
Morgan Cole set to offer ATE insurance
Morgan Cole has signed a delegated authority deal to enable it to broker after-the-event (ATE) insurance to clients.
Oceans apart
The US justice system protects lawyers from being sued by dissatisfied clients to a greater degree than its English counterpart. John Keeney and Giles Hutt put paid to a popular misconception and examine the key differences between the two systems
On the move
Forsters’ former corporate head Jeremy Whiteson (left) has left the firm to join West End rival Fladgate. Whiteson, who has been a partner at Forsters for nine years, join as a partner in Fladgate’s corporate practice.
Opinion: Mental health sufferers need improved legal protection
Mental health conditions are a particular challenge in equality law because claimants often experience difficulty in proving that they are disabled.
Orange, T-Mobile merger kicks off panel scramble
Telecoms giants’ ’Everything Everywhere’ tie-up puts legacy panel firms on red alert
Paul Hastings duo bring White Tower to successful close
Bondholders rejoice as ’mini-bubble’ buoys Central London’s property sector. By Luke McLeod-Roberts
Revenues at Bristol firms remain stagnant
Revenues across Bristol-headquartered firms flatlined during the 2009-10 financial year as firms looked to rebuild their core practices in the wake of the recession.
Salans consolidates real estate primacy with multiple hires from CC in Warsaw
Salans has poached a team of real estate lawyers, including rainmaker Pawel Debowski, from Clifford Chance’s Warsaw office.
SJ Berwin hikes funds nous with Babcock hire
SJ Berwin has moved to bulk up its infrastructure funds practice with the hire of Babcock & Brown general counsel Michelle Thomsen as partner.
Slow start for Integreon as offshoring proves less popular
Legal process outsourcer (LPO) Integreon is making a 26 per cent greater loss than anticipated in its Bristol operation, with firms’ reluctance to send work overseas understood to be impacting on its bottom line.
St Johns Buildings joins Manchester Law Soc
North West set St Johns Buildings has joined the Manchester Law Society in an effort to make better connections with solicitors.
Travers leads as ‘Project New Bank’ targets state assets
Travers Smith has bagged a lead role advising on the creation of a new banking venture that will target state-owned assets.
Trio of firms check in for luxury hotel sale
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Nabarro and SJ Berwin have assisted on the sale of a chic London hotel in one of the largest European hotel deals this year.
Tulkinghorn: Motor mouth
Law firm partners are often accused of being particularly greedy. But one Halliwells partner has apparently sunk to new lows of self-serving avarice.
View from the postroom
Two months after its marriage the newly merged Hogan Lovells is still very much in getting-to-know-you mode.
White & Case takes on listing for AFI Development
White & Case has advised Russian property developer AFI Development on a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
Why too much onshoring could create a headache for LPO providers
Earlier this year (22 March) The Lawyer published a report that suggested that domestic outsourcing could eclipse offshoring as a means of cutting legal costs, with law firms’ conservatism preventing them from sending any large-scale projects overseas.
Wilberforce names Martin as new head
Wilberforce Chambers has promoted John Martin QC to head of chambers following the retirement of Jules Sher QC.
Work Life Quiz: Carlos de los Santos, Garrigues
What do you do at weekends? I try to do anything but work.
