21 February 2011
The Lawyer
A&O, Slaughters bag GE’s John Wood oil well division purchase
Allen & Overy (A&O) and Slaughter and May have taken the prize mandates advising John Wood Group on the $2.8bn (£1.7bn) sale of its oil well support division to General Electric (GE).
BLP, Irwin Mitchell, Pinsents aid charity’s landlord move
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Irwin Mitchell and Pinsent Masons have helped an evangelical Christian charity become landlord of a ’dark store’.
Bobby dazzler: Gareth Madge, Gwent Police
South Wales and Gwent Police legal director Gareth Madge is leading the way in streamlining legal services in the public sector.
Bunny business
Marcus Leese says Asia is the place to be for offshore lawyers in the Year of the Rabbit
Camerons furthers diversity credentials
CMS Cameron McKenna is set for a diversity facelift following the appointment of Daniel Winterfeldt as diversity and inclusion partner.
Childs: CC will not get big in Australia
Clifford Chance took few in the legal market by surprise when it announced last week it was following the march of UK firms into Australia.
DMH Stallard hikes City arm with partner duo
DMH Stallard’s burgeoning City boutique has been boosted by the arrival of two partners.
FFW IT specialist joins UK Broadband as GC
Telecoms company UK Broadband has appointed its first general counsel to lead the development of its in-house legal department.
Five Hengeler lawyers break away to form corporate boutique in Frankfurt
A team of five senior associates from Slaughter and May’s German best friend Hengeler Mueller have left to launch their own Frankfurt boutique.
From Taylor Wessing to blessings
Jonathan Croucher, the curate of St Michael & All Angels Church in Blackheath, always wanted to pursue a career in the ministry, but when he came down from Cambridge at the age of 21 he decided he needed some “real-life” experience in order to be able to relate to his future flock, so he became a City lawyer instead.
Grand’s masters
M&A activity has seen a dramatic return to health after the recession. Rolf Lindsay explains why investors should look to Cayman
Greetings, astropreneurs
Stephen Mann and Paul Kerruish report on the Isle of Man’s efforts to reach for the stars
Halliwells administrators dash creditors’ hopes
Last autumn (20 September 2010) The Lawyer revealed that a trail of small businesses and charities faced financial difficulties as a result of the collapse of Halliwells.
Halliwells, the aftermath: HBJ and failed firm face court
Angry staff take action over firm’s handling of redundancy process
Herbies helps De La Rue fend off hostile bid by rival banknote printer
Herbert Smith has helped banknote printer De La Rue see off a hostile takeover attempt by French bidder Oberthur.
Herbies lawyer heads for Wonga
The former partner who managed Herbert Smith’s relationship with European alliance firms Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe has left the firm for an in-house role at online lending company Wonga.com.
Hogan Lovells combo pays dividends as PEP jumps 10 per cent in first year
Merged firm impresses market despite absorbing merger costs.
How blogs plug the legal drain
Last week I chaired a debate on the future of legal blogging, held at One Crown Office Row and featuring three excellent web commentators: David Allen Green of the Jack of Kent blog, Carl Gardner of the Head of Legal blog and Adam Wagner of the UK Human Rights Blog.
Into the light
Unhappy shareholders are becoming increasingly militant and using their right to be heard at general meetings. Be prepared, say Paul Wilkes and Wayne Atkinson
Kemp Little
Kemp Little senior partner Richard Kemp thinks the next decade will be tough for the legal market.
Linklaters lags behind in magic circle NQ retention
Linklaters has revealed an 82 per cent newly qualified (NQ) retention rate for its spring qualifiers.
Luvvies’ leap
Olswang is moving fast to extend its international reach - and about time too
On the move
Walker Morris partner Martin Price has joined Russell Jones & Walker (RJW)?to lead its Manchester-based employment group.
Opinion: A wider definition of domestic violence reflects reality
The recent Supreme Court judgment in Mihret Yemshaw v Hounslow London Borough Council provoked a strong reaction.
Osborne Clarke appointments signal upmarket aspirations
Osborne Clarke has appointed its first practice-specific business manager as part of a push into higher-end work.
Pick ’n’ mix morality
Recent political attacks on so-called tax avoiders display a worrying tendency to ignore the rule of law, says Alan Binnington
Rules of the game
Alderney remains at the forefront of innovation and execution for e-gaming. Mark Dunster and Richard Field examine the industry’s rapidly evolving international appeal
Spring loaded
Strong demand from emerging economies is seeing offshore firms continue to punch above their weight, and figures suggest they will continue to do so. By Joanne Harris
Spurious porn e-piracy witchhunt casts doubt on disclosure orders
Norwich Pharmacal orders lose their indefeasibility in light of Media CAT ruling.
TCC judge becomes door tenant at Atkin
Gray’s Inn set Atkin Chambers has expanded with the appointment of Frances Kirkham as a door tenant.
Tchenguiz brothers file £1.8bn fraud claim against Kaupthing
Gabriel Moss QC of Gray’s Inn set 3-4 South Square is representing the Tchenguiz Family Trust in its multibillion-pound fight against failed Icelandic bank Kaupthing.
Trust with a twist
Caroline Garnham explains how a revolutionary trust structure could help families with their wealth management
Tulkinghorn: Midnight crass
Just when Tulkinghorn thought legal PR could sink no lower, something drops into his inbox that proves him wrong.
When the Halliwells runs dry
Like a decapitated chicken that continues to flap around long after its severed head has hit the dusty ground, Halliwells is still managing to create waves several months after its demise.
