19 March 2007
The Lawyer
A&O loses mandate...
Poor old Allen & Overy (A&O). Slaughter and May was under the spotlight as Alliance-Boots general counsel Marco Pagni gave the firm the ne plus ultra of instruction - the £10bn management buyout backed by Clifford Chance ...
People
•Sidley Austin has hired David Went as a senior associate in its London EU competition team. Went joins from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
... And Italians. But it doesn't matter...
A stark admission indeed from A&O that the recent departures of two dual-qualified, high-level banking partners in Italy really stunted its capability to execute leveraged buyouts in the Italian market.
... Because making money is overrated
We all like a good read, especially the online missive by A&O senior partner Guy Beringer to his staff. You can find it in the 'Knowledge' section of www.allenovery.com.
A little bit of winter sun for A&O and Herbies
In days of yore the package holiday was just one arena where some good old German-British rivalry could be played out; the other being the football field, of course.
A load of ship
It's good to see that news sense has not deserted Newcastle giant Dickinson Dees, or at least the firm's PR monkeys Lewis.
A thoroughly absorbing read
Regular readers of Tulkinghorn - and what other kind are there? - will remember his scoop last summer concerning BPP Law School chief executive Peter Crisp, who received two Daschunds from his colleagues to celebrate his civil marriage to long-term partner Jeremy Crouch ('A Man's Best Friend', 31 July 2006).
A&O must make the most of its long-awaited Japanese entry
As wish lists go, a local law capability for its Japanese office has been right up there for Allen & Overy (A&O) for quite some time.
Amlin brings in new general counsel
FTSE250 insurance business Amlin has appointed a new general counsel.
BBC wins fight to publish cash for honours injunction
It was third time lucky for the BBC's head of litigation Sarah Jones last week as the Court of Appeal lifted the ban preventing the broadcaster from reporting the contents of its cash for honours injunction.
BLG scoops CC accountant for non-lawyer CEO position
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) has completed its search for its first non-lawyer CEO, appointing chartered accountant and former head of branding at Clifford Chance Clint Evans.
Bloomberg failure blow to software patent push
The High Court has dealt a blow to companies looking to patent software-related inventions by rejecting Bloomberg’s bid to patent a computer program.
Bredin Prat swoops for Orrick partner
Leading French independent firm Bredin Prat has made a rare lateral hire, boosting its finance group with partner Raphaële Courtier from the Paris office of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe.
CC guides safestore through IPO
Clifford Chance secured storage company Safestore's IPO and admission to the main list, with corporate finance partner Iain Hunter leading. Safestore raised £209m and said it plans to use £35m for further growth.
CIArb forms company for dispute resolution spin-off
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) has spun off its dispute resolution services into a new limited company in an effort to provide a distinction between its regulatory and provider roles.
Cuatrecasas makes record promotions
Spanish firm Cuatrecasas has nudged its partnership closer to the 200 mark, making up 21 new partners in this year’s round of promotions.
Cuatrecasas reinforces Zaragoza, Vitoria
Cuatrecasas has bolstered its regional presence in Spain with the hire of two partners and an office launch in the Basque Country.
Davis Polk and Nauta team with A&O on ABN-Barclays deal
Davis Polk & Wardwell and Nauta Dutilh have taken lead roles advising ABN Amro on the Dutch bank’s merger discussions with Barclays.
Dewey sticks with Italian collaboration plan despite target firm's defections
Dewey Ballantine has brushed aside a high-level departure at Italian firm Galgano to confirm that its collaboration with the Bolognaheadquartered boutique would go ahead as planned.
DLA drops Rotterdam to focus on Amsterdam
DLA Piper has today announced it will divorce its Rotterdam office as the firm seeks to ramp up its Amsterdam presence.
DLA Piper's turnover nears $2bn mark after 17 per cent hike
DLA Piper’s global revenue edged close to $2bn (£1.09bn) for the 2006 financial year, with turnover up by 17 per cent to $1.8bn (£978.26bn).
Dobbs J takes up the banner as judiciary falls short on diversity
Diversity has been the Government's mantra when appointing judges since it came into power in 1997.
Dublin's A&L crosses border to launch in Belfast
Dublin-headquarted firm A&L Goodbody has opened a new office in Belfasttoday (Tuesday, 20 March).
EFAD hands top legal role to ex-Allied Domecq GC
Allied Domecq’s former general counsel Len Quaranto has reappeared as the legal chief of the new Kuwaiti co-owners of Aston Martin.
EU prepares for class action impact
The EU is considering new rules that could see class action-style suits being fought in Europe. Meglena Kuneva, the European Commissioner for Consumer Protection, said last week that measures could allow individuals and consumer bodies in different member states to band together to pursue collective reparation. The EU has asked parties, including law firms, to help assess the likely impact of the proposals and report back on their findings. Lovells product liability partner Rod Freeman ...
European Patent Office snubs UK Court of Appeal
The president of the European Patent Office (EPO) has rejected the UK Court of Appeal’s request to clarify its stance on software patents.
Exchange Chambers first into mediation
Exchange Chambers is gearing up to become the first set to launch a dedicated mediation group as the bar explores radical new ways to shore up its position in the post-Woolf landscape.
Ex-Freshfields chief resurfaces at the Pru
Former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer restructuring head Peter Bloxham has reappeared as a policyholder advocate at Prudential, just as the insurance giant instructed Freshfields on a headline deal with troubled mutual Equitable Life.
Fasken seals second merger in two months
Canadian firm Fasken Martineau DuMoulin secured its second merger in as many months last week after agreeing terms with Ottawa-based Johnston & Buchan.
Firms to go bust will top 3,000, says Mayson
The number firms at risk of collapsing as a result of market reforms such as the Carter Review and the Legal Services Act could be as high as 3,000.
FoI for public, not press, says Falconer
Freedom of information (FoI) is for public use and not the press, the Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer is expected to say at The Lord Williams of Mostyn memorial lecture this evening (Wednesday, 21 March).
France is pants and the Dam's a sham
Another prime example of spin was allegedly on show over at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer recently.
Freshfields associates give it some welly
We hope Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer associates have packed their wellies.
Freshfields associates issue 10-point wishlist
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer will host its first ever associate away-day tomorrow (23 March) as part of a raft of measures intended to improve communication with its junior staff.
GIB UK's legal chief departs for CMC Markets
General counsel of GIB UK Dominic Bacon is leaving to join online retail spreadbetting company CMC Markets.
Going native
As real estate investors become priced out of the UK market, many are looking to Europe. But navigating the varied legal systems can be a headache for English lawyers. By Rhodri Pazzi-Axworthy
Herbies favours disputes associates with new promotions
Herbert Smith announced today (21 March) that is has ramped up it dispute resolution practice with more than half of its internal promotions to partnership this year being in the contentious area.
Herbies First Choice for travel merger
Holiday operator First Choice has turned to trusted adviser Herbert Smith for its £10bn merger with German group Tui, the latest German-British consolidation in the tour operator industry.
Herbies scoops key BSkyB mandate for Ofcom probe
BSkyB has returned to longstanding adviser Herbert Smith to help the satellite broadcaster navigate around its latest regulatory hurdle.
HIV victim lands campaigning award
An HIV-positive Swazi woman has won the Law and Campaigning Award at the Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression awards. Siphiwe Hlophe, co-founder of Swaziland Aids charity 'Swazis for Positive Living', won the award for the organisation's work fighting gender discrimination related to HIV and Aids and helping other HIV and Aids victims. The other shortlisted nominees were Ethiopian human rights lawyer Yalemzewd Bekele; Abdul Rahman al Lahem, a Saudi Arabian lawyer who has challenged ...
HK associate snubs Fried Frank in Simmons U-turn
A Hong Kong-based senior associate has decided to return to Simmons & Simmons after just one month at US firm Fried Frank Shriver Harris & Jacobson.
Hogan moves Reit into heart of London
Hogan & Hartson is gearing up to import its market-leading US real estate investment trusts (Reits) practice into London to capitalise on the UK's introduction of listed property investment companies.
In the dark
After two rulings give opposing views, developers fear the right to light could scupper their plans for the City’s future skyline. By Katie Bradford and Will Densham
Insurance group Aspen gets new associate GC
Offshore insurance group Aspen Insurance Holdings has created the new role of associate group general counsel, promoting Patricia Roufa to the position.
Irwin Mitchell joins Golds for repositioning strategy
Irwin Mitchell joins Golds for repositioning strategy" /Personal injury powerhouse Irwin Mitchell has kick-started a repositioning strategy to allow it take full advantage of the Clementi reforms by merging with Glasgow-based firm Golds.
Irwin Mitchell rapped on ‘excessive costs’
Irwin Mitchell was criticised last week for “excessive and unreasonable costs” after Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) obtained a cost-capping order against the firm – a court power rarely used.
Jam for DWF, SJB and Weil on Burton’s sale
The institutional buyout of the maker of Jammie Dodger biscuits and Wagon Wheels, Burton’s Foods, has gifted roles to the parties’ longstanding advisers.
Jonathan McCoy: Vodafone UK
Vodafone UK head of legal Jonathan McCoy is eyeing a groundbreaking tie-up with rival Orange. Amy Dry reports
JPMorgan tells law firms to shape up on gay issues
JPMorgan is summoning its key relationship partners from its panel law firms to a meeting with a view to bring their policies on lesbian and gay employees into line with the bank’s own policy.
Jumpers and goalposts
Most lawyers are content with going to the gym once or twice a week to sweat out a sambuca hangover.
K&L Gates London keeps up PEP despite profit dip
K&L Gates London keeps up PEP despite profit dip" /Profit per equity partner at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis (K&L Gates) rocketed by 28 per cent last year, from £308,000 in 2005 to £386,000, despite a drop in the net profit of the London end of the business, The Lawyer can reveal.
Law Society slams Govt plans to scrap fraud juries
The Law Society has made its strongest attack yet on plans to scrap juries in fraud trials, saying that the Government “must be stopped”.
Law Society threatens JR over Carter
The Law Society has written to the Lord Chancellor threatening judicial review against the Unified Legal Aid contract due to take effect next month.
Lawyers welcome Brown's Reits and sukuk measures
Proposals to provide authorised property unit trusts with the same tax efficient status as Real Estate Investment Trusts (Reits) were outlined in the budget yesterday (21 March).
Learning from experience
In recent years the focus on non-legal learning and development has been growing and there is an increasing understanding that 'behaviour' is a critical issue. At the same time certain constants have remained: lawyers are pragmatic, 'proof-hungry' people and they measure the value of every minute of their time.
Legal Intelligence
Despite forecasts of doom and gloom at the beginning of the year (as well as collective hand-wringing as stockmarkets worldwide experienced a freefall on 27 February), according to Thomson Financial global M&A activity is actually up by 16 per cent so far this year on the same period in 2006. Deals totalling a whopping $610bn (£315.85bn) were announced in January and February, a statistic topped only by the $816bn (£504.79bn) raised in the first two months of 2000.
Lerach fights Enron banks dismissal
San Diego-based law firm Lerach Coughlin Stoia & Robbins has vowed to challenge a US court ruling that the multi-billion dollar class action filed by the Enron investors against the energy company’s banks must be thrown out.
Linklaters makes secondary raid for A&O team
The exodus from Allen & Overy (A&O)’s Italian banking department to Linklaters’ has continued, with two associates following partner Davide Mencacci out the door.
Lords stymies govt plans to bin fraud juries
The House of Lords last night wrecked the Government’s third attempt to scrap juries in fraud trials.
Manches institutes career road map for aspirational lawyers
Manches is planning to revamp its training by putting in place a structured career road map for young lawyers.
MIPIM: Building bridges
Attending Mipim is the best way for property lawyers to keep up to date with their clients' needs. Or so they say
Olswang bolsters tech team with ex-Slaughters TMT guru
Olswang has hired Slaughter and May’s former co-head of technology, media and telecoms (TMT) Nigel Swycher for its newly created role of head of technology.
Oops, Keith did it again
Media law firm Schillings has landed an emergency injunction against a so-called ‘John Doe’ for pop star Britney Spears.
Open minds, open doors
Diversity throws up all sorts of challenges. One managing partner recently asked in genuine puzzlement: "How many gays is a firm meant to have? What's the quota on this kind of thing? And what do I do if I don't have enough gays? Where do I recruit?"You may smile, but he is not alone in his bafflement. The question is not whether gay employees are actively oppressed by law ...
Pinsents swoops on Skandia for new insurance head
Pinsent Masons has appointed a new director of life insurance in its insurance and reinsurance group.
Plexus bags second merger this year
Professional indemnity firm Plexus Law is set to undergo yet another merger after the crime defence practice of Cheshire-based law firm Bott & Co split with its claimant arm.
Powell Gilbert sneaks IP job away from Bristows
IP boutique Powell Gilbert has snared the lead role on an ongoing patent battle between telecoms companies Aerotel and WaveCrest Group Enterprises, drawing the instruction away from Bristows.
Property
The property industry is as hot as it has ever been. The 25,000 official delegates - and hundreds more unofficial hangers-on - at the annual Mipim property conference last week (12-16 March) proved that.
Property boon
UK real estate investment trusts have given a new lease of life to the property industry - and will provide some welcome tax relief to boot. By Don Rowlands, Bradley Phillips and Isaac Zailer
Reid Minty launches in Ukraine
London-based Reid Minty has announced the launch of a new office in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
SCA picks RPC for Procter & Gamble tissue acquisition
Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) and the London office of Jones Day have scooped the lead roles advising on the £350m acquisition of Procter & Gamble's (P&G) European tissue business.
Schillings hits the media one more time
Sheppard Mullin takes China plunge
Los Angeles-headquartered Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton has chosen China as the location for its first international offering, parachuting in former Coudert Brothers chairman David Huebner as regional managing partner, as well as raiding local firm AllBright for the launch.
Sics of the worst
A particularly distasteful press release wormed its way into Tulkinghorn Towers last week. Sent on behalf of something called EventWise (note, never Eventwise because, as the release took pains to point out, "when referring to EventWise the company, please use a capital 'W' for Wise as this is the company's registered identity"), it claimed to have "unearthed the need for law firms to invest more time and money towards their social events."
Simons Muirhead snares DLA Piper duo
DLA Piper duo" /West End firm Simons Muirhead & Burton has hired an employment team from DLA Piper. Makbool Javaid and Ewan Keen join the firm as partners, with Javaid becoming the new head of the firm's employment group. Consultant Dennis Taylor also joins from DLA Piper and becomes ...
Slaughters beats A&O to Alliance-Boots as KKR makes overtures
Two mega-deals in the pharmaceuticals sector have cemented Allen & Overy (A&O), Clifford Chance, Lovells and
Spring launch for Ozannes' litigation team
Channel Islands firm Ozannes is launching a litigation practice.
SRA publishes new Code of Conduct
The profession has just three months to prepare for the new Solicitors’ Code of Conduct, which was published today and will come into force on 1st July 2007.
Stephenson Harwood ramps up in Asia
Stephenson Harwood & Lo has boosted its Asia presence with two new partners and has relocated its Hong Kong office to the Bank of China Tower.
Stephensons absolves Westminster council
Stephenson Harwood has vindicated Westminster City Council over its settlement with Dame Shirley Porter three years ago. Porter had racked up costs of £44m for her role in the homes for votes scandal, but the council dropped the surcharges to bring the settlement to £12.3m in 2004. A district auditor report published last week said that the council had acted reasonably and recommended that the ...
Sullivan partners CC on Barclays £80bn ABN bid
Allen & Overy (A&O), Clifford Chance and Sullivan & Cromwell have landed instruction on what will be, if successful, Europe’s biggest cross-border deal; the £80bn merger between Barclays and ABN Amro.
Taylor Wessing loses trio to German spin-off
Taylor Wessing's German co-head of competition is leaving the firm with another two Düsseldorf-based partners to start up their own corporate and commercial boutique.
TfL targets candidates for panel overhaul
Transport for London (TfL) and its group company London Underground Ltd (LUL) are reviewing their panel.
The gall of the Gaul
The European Patent Office (EPO) has declined to dirty its hands with one of the hottest topics in the IP world.
The rise and rise of schemes of arrangement
Schemes of arrangement (shareholder-approved mergers) have always been part of the UK public M&A scene.
The work-life quiz with Ann Benzimra
What was your first-ever job?Looking after chickens and collecting their eggs.
Thompsons lands victory for pilot in BA flexible-working test case
Civil law firm Thompsons has scored a settlement for British Airways (BA) pilot Jessica Starmer, who sought more flexible working hours after becoming a mother.
TwoBirds reaffirms Benelux standing
Bird & Bird managing partner David Kerr has made Benelux a key plank of the firm's European growth strategy as the firm makes its third hire in The Hague in as many months, bringing in an IT and telecommunications specialist from LogicaCMG.
UK firms clamber for LLP status
The Lawyer's top 100 UK law firms have been registering their intent to become LLPs at a rate of one a month, it can be revealed.
UK firms land roles on recycling plant first
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons and Martineau Johnson advised on the establishment of the UK's first recycling plant to produce plastic for food packaging.
UK pension funds go it alone in AOL class action
A breakaway firm formed from US class action boutique Milberg Weiss has scored a victory for 10 UK-based pension funds as part of an ’opt-out’ action brought against AOL Time Warner.
US firms muscle in on UK rivals’ Barclays-ABN Amro action
No surprises that Allen & Overy (A&O) and Clifford Chance were tapped by ABN Amro and Barclays respectively on the “exploratory discussions” the banks are holding, which could lead to an £80bn mega-merger. See ...
US patent cases in downward trend
The number of patent cases filed in US courts has fallen for the first time in more than a decade, according to a study carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
US-Hong Kong alliance to speed dispute resolution
The US and Hong Kong have struck up a unique alliance between two of the largest providers of arbitration and alternative dispute resolutions (ADR).
Van Doorne
Dutch independent Van Doorne is ramping up its growth strategy under the guidence of new managing partner Onno Boerstra.
Vietnam govt steps up witch-hunt against peace campaigners
The Vietnamese government has launched one of the most severe crackdowns on peaceful dissidents in 20 years, campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims.
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.
Wiggin goes inside and out to ramp up partnership headcount
Media boutique Wiggin has boosted its partnership by two, with an external hire and its first internal promotion for more than three years.
Wiggin secures BPI victory on parallel imports
Media boutique Wiggin has scored a crucial win for the British music industry, after the High Court ruled that online retailer CD WOW breached of UK copyright law despite being based offshore.
Willkie returns for Schmidt's CC team
Willkie Farr & Gallagher has launched a secondary raid on Clifford Chance as the US firm poaches five private equity lawyers from the magic circle firm’s Frankfurt office.
