2 June 2008
The Lawyer
Image scrimmage
In a bid to update its image, Macfarlanes has hung a collection of unusual photographs in its new Cursitor Street offices.
People
#Clifford Chance partner Daniela Weber-Ray has been appointed as a member of the board of directors at BNP Paribas. She remains a Clifford Chance partner.
Sides splitting
The Suez-Gaz de France (GdF) merger has been complicated by some lawyers playing musical chairs. Agathe Soilleux, a French M&A lawyer formerly at Suez adviser Linklaters, moved to Weil Gotshal & Manges. Fortunately Weil was also instructed on the same side.
The Apprentice analysed...
Each week we watch as Sir Alan Sugar yells 'YOU'RE FIRED!' at one of The Apprentice wannabes.
A&O launches Romania outpost
#Allen & Overy (A&O) has launched a presence in Romania, signing an exclusive association with local firm Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu (RTPR). The alliance will be up and running from the start of July. A&O has announced the move in the same week that magic circle rival Linklaters signalled a retreat ...
A&O takes on Lehman real estate chief
#Allen & Overy (A&O) has recruited Lehman Brothers head of global real estate as a partner in its New York office. David Broderick, who was senior counsel at the investment bank, joins the real estate group and will focus on property debt and equity investments for private equity funds, financial institutions and real estate investors. A&O New York managing partner Kevin O'Shea said: "David's ...
A&O takes top role on Corporate Express deal
Allen & Overy's (A&O) Amsterdam office has scored a lead role on one of the biggest corporate deals to hit the Netherlands this year, advising Corporate Express on its e1.7bn (£1.35bn) takeover of wholesaler Lyreco.
Addleshaw Goddard: babies and bathwater
It’s been a disappointing year for Addleshaws’ national real estate practice group, which nudged turnover up just two percent.
Addleshaws' City banking team holds its own
Addleshaw Goddard's turnover increased by 10.6 per cent, hitting £195.4m after last year's £176.7m.
Arnold & Porter bags Winston & Strawn lawyer to head Euro corporate
Arnold & Porter has boosted its London office with the hire of Geneva-based Winston & Strawn corporate partner Carl Liederman.
Baby boom
Recent legislation on maternity rights gives women contractual benefits for the whole of their maternity leave.
Bar Council launches in Europe
The Bar Council today (3 June) launched a new Brussels office in a bid to expand the representative body's reach into the European Union.
Bircham promotes duo to partnership
Bircham Dyson Bell has made up two to the partnership, bringing the overall number of partners to 52.
Bird & Bird sees stellar year with £27m turnover boost
Bird & Bird sees stellar year with £27m turnover boost" / Bird & Bird has emerged as one of the fastest-growing technology and media outfits in the top 100 firms, outstripping its peers with a 23.7 per cent increase in turnover to reach £143m.
BLP, Simmons & Simmons in £635m MoD training deal
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Linklaters and Simmons & Simmons have scored roles advising on a £635m contract to provide flight training for the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Chadbourne & Parke launches in Brazil
Chadbourne & Parke launches in Brazil" /Chadbourne & Parke has confirmed that it is to follow its recent opening in Mexico with an office launch in Brazil, The Lawyer can reveal.
Childs 'pleased' despite drop in CC's growth rate
Clifford Chance global managing partner David Childs said he was pleased with the firm's 2007-08 financial performance, despite seeing a slowdown on the previous year's rate of growth.
China's Zhonglun builds links in Europe
Chinese firm Zhonglun W&D Law Firm is continuing its assault on the European market with its first associations with firms in the UK and Italy.
Cravath, Paul Weiss win Time Warner deal
Cravath Swaine & Moore and Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison snared lead roles on Time Warner's $9.25bn (£4.68bn) spin off of its cable television operations. Longstanding adviser Cravath advised Time Warner on the deal, which has separated the media conglomerate from Time Warner Cable. Corporate relationship partner Richard Hall led the team. Paul Weiss corporate partners Ariel Deckelbaum and Robert Schumer led the team advising Time Warner Cable.
Cripps shakes up leadership to create four new departments
South East firm Cripps Harries Hall has revamped its internal leadership structure with the creation of four new departments.
Cuatrecasas associates study for US degree
Leading Spanish firm Cuatrecasas has launched an international training programme for star associates, giving them the chance to study for a masters degree in the US.
Dentons sheiks its booty
David Pfeiffer, the partner that Dentons has nicked from Bryan Cave to set up shop in Kuwait (see front page) says there was a host of reasons why he had virtually no competition when he was at Bryan Cave.
Dentons swipes Bryan Cave office for Kuwait launch
Denton Wilde Sapte is launching in Kuwait, poaching the entire office of Bryan Cave, the only international law firm in the country.
Disabled solicitors group elects new chair
#David Merkel has been elected chairman of the Group for Solicitors with Disabilities following the death of acting chair Sue Maynard last month. Merkel, who is partially sighted, is a former local government solicitor who now lectures at a number of colleges and trains entrants to the Army and the Royal Air Force. He said: "I intend to continue Sue's work. As I said in a eulogy given for Sue at the May Law Society Council [meeting], there can be no place for negative words such ...
Employment
Gillian Switalski's £13.4m sexual discrimination claim against F&C Asset Management has put sexual discrimination in the headlines. F&C's former general counsel claims she was overlooked for management positions in favour of her male counterparts. F&C deny such claims and is trying to have the case heard by the Court of Appeal.
England Lawyers World Cup squad
He will have to make do instead with the Lawyers World Cup in Alicante, also known as the Mundiavocat 2008. At least the English lawyers have a chance of winning it, represented by the boys from London Lawyers FC, the reigning European champions.
Eversheds joins diversity group after 2nd Tyco deal
Eversheds has become the first law firm to become a member of the diversity promoters Minority Supplier Development UK (MSDUK).
Eversheds tax head to return as consultant
Eversheds tax head to return as consultant" / #Eversheds tax chief Tom Daltry has resigned from his post, but from September will return to the firm as a consultant. Daltry's post has been filled by Leeds and London-based tax planning partner David Jervis. Jervis said that he was surprised by Daltry's ...
Eversheds: green-eyed or just naive?
Over the past couple of weeks, few lawyers can have missed the avalanche of publicity associated with Eversheds' report The Law Firm of the 21st Century.
Ex McGrigors chief, banking partner join Eversheds
Eversheds" /McGrigors’ former managing partner, Colin Gray, has left the firm for a role at Eversheds, where he will be joined by McGrigors banking partner Colin McKay.
Exchange wins Peel Court criminal team
Manchester's Exchange Chambers has raided Peel Court Chambers for a three-barrister criminal team.
Former Milberg head sentenced to 30 months jail
The former head of Milberg Weiss Bershad & Shulman (now known as Milberg), Melvyn Weiss was sentenced to 30 months in prison today (Monday 2 June) for his role in a kickbacks scheme relating to securities class action cases.
Freshfields and Slaughters seal £2bn TNS merger
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May have been handed places on the £2.2bn merger between market research companies Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) and Germany's GfK.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer PEP surges 39 per cent
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer PEP surges 39 per cent" /Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has seen a 39 per cent rocket in average profit per equity partner (PEP), with partners now taking home an average of £1.44m. Total turnover has jumped 19.5 per cent, to hit £1.18bn.
Freshfields moves two more partners to Middle East
Two more Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partners have relocated to the Middle East, with Charles July and Ian Poynton joining Bob Charlton in Dubai.
Freshfields to launch office in Abu Dhabi
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is to launch an office in Abu Dhabi under Charles July, who relocated to the Middle East last week (The Lawyer, 2 June).
Gaz de France gets green light for €67bn Suez merger
News that the Gaz de France (GdF) works council has issued its formal opinion on the proposed e67bn (£53.07bn) merger between French utility company Suez and GdF allows the companies to proceed to board and shareholder approval.
Google faces legal action by top brands
Legal chiefs at some of the UK's leading brands convened a crisis meeting last week to look at the legality ;of ;Google's revamped keywords policy, which they believe infringes their trademarks.
Heller chairman coy over merger rumours
The chairman of US firm Heller Ehrman has refused to rule out a merger after respected litigator Paul Alexander became the seventeenth partner to leave the firm this year.
Holier than thou
Tulkinghorn is an admirer of the game of golf and its followers. He feels that golf has the advantages of being a sport where the consumption of alcohol is encouraged and younever need break into a sweat.
Islington Council turns to 11KBW to defend religious discrimination suit
11KBW is defending Islington Borough Council in a discrimination?claim brought by a Christian registrar who refuses to marry same-sex couples.
Latham raids Davis Polk for structured finance hire
Latham & Watkins has raided the New York office of Davis Polk & Wardwell for a structured finance and capital markets partner.
Latham reveals restructuring ardour
Next month in London, a rather swanky West End hotel will play host to a panoply of insolvency and restructuring specialists keen to offer their insights into the state of the market
Law Soc lashes out after fine for poor performance
The Law Society has lashed out at the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner Zahida Manzoor after it was fined £275,000 for inadequate complaints handling.
Linklaters ditches CEE presence for 'virtual offices'
Linklaters is set to launch a series of virtual offices based in London as it axes its real offices in Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague.
Linklaters ditches CEE to follow fashionable Eemena
The legal industry may be traditional, but it is not immune to changing fashions.
Linklaters litigation star quits for Vinson & Elkins
Linklaters litigation star quits for Vinson & Elkins" /Vinson & Elkins is ramping up its Asia disputes offering with the hire of Linklaters litigation and arbitration star Christopher Walker.
Linklaters, Cleary in TPG's £150m B&B investment
Linklaters has won a role alongside Cleary Gottlieb advising US private equity giant Texas Pacific Group (TPG) on its £150m investment in UK bank Bradford & Bingley.
Littleton unveils mediation service
Commercial and employment set Littleton Chambers has launched a rapid mediation service.
Lovells promotes 46 to of counsel
Lovells has promoted a total of 46 lawyers to its of counsel role, with the appointments spread across a broad range of practice groups.
LSA inspires Hodgart-Kite merger
Alan Hodgart's consultancy H4 is merging with Julia Chain's consultancy Kite Partnership as Hodgart prepares to take advantage of the Legal Services Act.
Martineau Johnson PEP surges 48 per cent
Birmingham-based Martineau Johnson has grown average profit per equity partner (PEP) by almost half.
Martineau Johnson: mission accomplished?
Birmingham-based Martineau Johnson may only just scrape the nether regions of the UK 100, but this year’s PEP result suggests it is a firm on the rise.
Mauritius revamps legal sector to lure global firms
Mauritius is on the verge of overhauling its legal sector in a bid to entice international firms to set up shop in the jurisdiction and to raise its financial services profile.
McGrigors leads Indian power company AIM listing
McGrigors has scored a coup for new client OPG Power Ventures, floating the Indian power plant business on AIM.
Michele Pullan: Marsh & McLennan
After 10 years at insurance broker Marsh & McLennan, even a high-profile price-fixing claim couldn't faze Emea legal head Michele Pullan.
Mourant CEO leaves to join hedge fund
Top offshore firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune is facing a change of leadership as current CEO Stephen Ball steps down to join a hedge fund.
Norton Rose grapples with team transfer
The continuing global focus of law firms has seen an increasing number of lawyers relocating to different offices, throwing up a raft of HR issues.
OFT raids banks on law firms' loans investigation
The OFT has raided Barclays and the RBS as it launches an investigation in to the price-fixing of loans to professional services companies such as law firms.
Outside influences
New law makes employers liable for the harassment of staff by third parties. How will this affect the legal profession? Rachel Dineley reports
Pastures new for Freshfields
What do Wachtell, Cravath and Sullivan & Cromwell have in common?
PLMJ rejigs management and launches merit-based pay initiative
Portugal's largest law firm PLMJ has revamped its management structure and set up a new partner remuneration scheme.
Prior desire
Quinn Emanuel recruits magic circle talent for London launch
US litigation powerhouse Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges has bolstered its new London presence with the hire of a trio of associates.
Reed Smith taps Clydes for energy hire
Reed Smith has ramped up its energy, trade and commodities group with the hire of Clyde & Co partner Robert Parson.
Reid Minty issues 'come and get us' merger plea
West End litigation boutique Reid Minty has taken the novel step of putting itself up for sale.
RPC media litigation head moves inhouse at Daily Mail
Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) media litigation head Liz Hartley is to take up an in house role at Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and London's Evening Standard.
Separated at birth
Fans of cinema will be pleased to hear that Hollywood legend Burt Lancaster has resurfaced as a construction partner at HBJ Gateley Wareing. Lancaster had been lying low at Simmons & Simmons in the guise of the firm's construction head Robert Bryan, but could not help but hit the headlines when he jumped ship to HBJ. How long he stays at his new firm is open to speculation, but HBJ will be hoping it's From Here to Eternity.
Simmons doesn't believe in magic, just the reality of its global sectors
Since ditching its magic circle dreams, Simmons is following a global sector-focused strategy.
Sorry is the hardest word
In its final report on the near-collapse of Northern Rock, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) says that in future its supervisors should watch out for ‘dominant or aggressive individuals’. No names, no pack drill – and no comfort at all to the 2000 staff expected to lose their jobs over the next three months as the lender tries to halve its £110 billion mortgage book. But In an admirable display of candour the FSA has confessed to major failings in its handling of Newcastle-based Northern Ro
Stephens & Scown
When he joined South West firm Stephens & Scown in 2005, chief executive Andy Steele says he identified gaps in the firm's offering. Since then he has spent his time "filling".
Technology firms: RPP reveals all
On the surface, Bird & Bird and FFW seem to be shooting ahead of the pack, with TwoBirds having added 23.7 per cent to turnover this year, FFW 30 per cent.
Test position 2
Test position 2
THE LAWYER AWARDS 2008 PREVIEW
The Lawyer Awards 2008 is the premier event in the legal calendar. Every June around 1,500 of the industry’s leading lawyers gather in the Great Room of the Grosvenor House Hotel to celebrate their achievements of the previous year.
The magic circle - a new ring leader to emerge?
Clifford Chance and Freshfields have both announced their financial figures for the 2007-08 financial year but, rather than giving a clear picture of how the magic circle as a whole has fared, the numbers have thrown up more questions than they have answered.
Top firms retain FTSE stranglehold amid tough times
In the past three months several of the FTSE100's biggest names have fallen victim to takeovers, leaving City firms to wave goodbye to some of their most prized clients.
UK braced for downturn as redundancies hit US
The turmoil in the US legal market hit a new peak last week when Chicago-based firm Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal announced that it was cutting 31 lawyers and 93 support staff from core practices.
US trio acts on vodka giant buyout
Three US firms won roles on UK private equity house Lion Capital's $600m (£303.58m) purchase of Russian Alcohol. Weil Gotshal & Manges corporate partner Ian Hamilton, London managing partner Michael Francies and tax partner Sarah Priestley represented Lion Capital. Russian Alcohol instructed Hogan & Hartson Paris corporate partner Xenia Legendre, while the Central European Distribution ...
Wachovia hires Citigroup general counsel for in-house chief role
Wachovia has snared Citigroup's global consumer group general counsel to head its 400-strong in-house legal team.
Walker Morris year-end figures prove disappointing
Walker Morris has announced a turnover rise of just 0.6 per cent. Revenue was £48m in the last financial year, up from £47.7m.
Ward Hadaway opens in Leeds with raids on rivals
Newcastle-based Ward Hadaway is to open in Leeds after poaching five partners and two associates.
Ward Hadaway PEP grows just 2.5 per cent
Newcastle-based Ward Hadaway has increased turnover 13 per cent to £28m, from £25.1m this time last year.
Watson Farley & Williams turnover up 9 per cent
Watson Farley & Williams has increased turnover to £59m, a 9.3 per cent increase on last year’s figure of £54m.
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.
Weil set to join Middle East influx
Weil Gotshal & Manges is on the cusp of entering the Middle East, with a Dubai office launch planned for the end of the year.
Whistle Weil you work
The long-awaited sigh of relief breathed by Weil Gotshal & Manges yesterday (5 June) could be heard in Manhattan.
Withers partner joins Stevens & Bolton
#Surrey-based Stevens & Bolton has hired private client partner Stuart Skeffington from Withers. Skeffington specialises in advising on taxation of investments, complex offshore structures, business exits and reconstructions, tax planning for international families and employee remuneration strategies. Skeffington was at Wither
Work Life Quiz: James Stewart, Manches
What was your first-ever job?
