20 February 2006

Fighting talk from Harris as Latham confirms Lovells raid

Lovells managing partner David Harris has vowed to stop the rot after Latham & Watkins confirmed the appointment of two partners from Lovells’ tax practice, first revealed by www.thelawyer.com (21 February). Harris said in a prepared statement: “We have had several departures recently and we take them very seriously, both individually and collectively. These departures […]

Hunton lures Diageo GC as new managing partner

Hunton & Williams has taken the unusual step of appointing its new managing partner from outside the firm, luring former litigation partner Wally Martinez from global drinks giant Diageo. Martinez joined Diageo from Hunton in late 2004 where he was general counsel and senior vice president for the company’s North American arm. He was enticed […]

FSA restructures with new enforcement group heads

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has appointed two new heads of department as the Authority continues to restructure its enforcement group. The appointments come just weeks after the FSA created a new unit to “stress test” enforcement cases before they are taken to formal disciplinary review, as first revealed by director of enforcement Margaret Cole […]

Ashurst tops City trainee pay league

Ashurst has become the highest paying City firm for students, increasing its trainee maitenance grants to £7,500 for both Legal Practice Course (LPC) and Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) students. The move, which will come into effect from 1 September, will see Ashurst award its LPC and GDL students £7,500, regardless of where they live […]

Kelly Drye and Collier sign merger deal

New York-based Kelley Drye & Warren and Washington DC’s Collier Shannon confirmed their merger yesterday (February 22). The Lawyer revealed that the two firms were in advanced discussions on Monday (February 20). Kelley chairman John Callagy said: “We are expanding our capabilities in Washington DC, and were impressed by the quality of Collier Shannon’s people, […]

Hill Dickinson senior partner gets five more years

Hill Dickinson’s senior partner Tony Wilson has been reelected in an uncontested election for a second five-year term. The election comes shortly after Peter Jackson became the firm’s new managing partner in late 2005. Wilson was the North West firm’s managing partner prior to becoming senior partner in 2000. He has overseen a number of […]

Conflicts at Freshfields and Shearman let in Cravath on £20bn E.On bid

German power company E.On has chosen Cravath Swaine & Moore ahead of regular advisers Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer and Shearman & Sterling for its EUR29.1bn (£19.9bn) rival bid for Spanish power producers Endesa. Freshfields and Shearman were unable to act for the company due to conflicts of interest. Freshfields was conflicted because it is advising Spain’s […]

Cleary and Davis Polk grab key roles on BK IPO

New York-based Davis Polk & Wardwell and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton advised on the $400m (£229m) Burger King IPO on the New York Stock Exchange announced on Thursday (16 February). Cleary Gottlieb partner William Gorin led the team advising underwriters JP Morgan, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. Davis Polk advised Burger King, led […]

LA boutique raid adds to Holland & Knight upheaval

LA firm Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps has poached a ten-lawyer estate and trust team from as Holland & Knight continues its slimming. The Luce team included executive partner Bruce Ross, four other partners, three senior counsel and two associates. The defections come just three months after the Florida-based firm announced the closure of nine […]

New head of legal at TV company following FFW raid

Television production company Lion Television has appointed Susan Cooke its new director of legal and business affairs. Cooke takes over form Jeremy Miles, who is leaving to become a partner in the media and communications group of Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW). The new director joins from rival production company Atit Productions and she will be […]

A&O management revamp gathers pace

Thirteen candidates are set to fight it out for just five places on Allen & Overy’s (A&O) management board. The magic circle firm announced the names of the candidates this morning (21 February). Five of the seven seats on A&O’s key policy making body are up for grabs. The remaining two are occupied by senior […]

West Coast raid boosts Bingham securities litigation

Bingham McCutchen boosted its Orange County office with three new securities litigation partners from a local rival Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth. The three hires include Todd Gordinier, a former Los Angeles managing partner of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe and Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker. Gordinier, whose clients include Morgan Stanley, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Hyundai, is […]