22 April 2002
The Lawyer
A site for sore eyes
Tulkinghorn's done it!! He's found an interesting law firm website. Usually the world of legal cyberspace is about as interesting as the radio version of Baywatch, but finally he has found one which stands out from the greyness.It belongs to Powers Phillips, a small firm based in Denver.Here is a sample from its welcome page: "The firm is composed of lawyers from the two major strains of the legal profession, those who litigate and those who wouldn't be caught ...
A tough competitor
He was one of the first competition lawyers in Ireland and now, as adviser to the Irish Competition Authority, Gerald FitzGerald is getting tough with cartels. Helen Power reports
A&O builds up tax potential in swoop for Haarmaans partner
Allen & Overy (A&O) has finally succeeded in recruiting a partner to head its German tax practice, hiring a specialist from the Frankfurt office of Haarmann Hemm-elrath & Partner
Addleshaws hires two from a foundering Garretts
Addleshaw Booth & Co is to take on two partners from the Manchester office of disintegrating Andersen legal network Garretts
An act to follow
The introduction of the European Convention on Human Rights into Ireland's constitution will see Irish eyes looking to the UK's experiences with the HRA. Alan Miller reports
Barlow Lyde promotes four to partnership
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has made up four new partners, bringing the total number of partners in the firm to 77
Barlows defends E&Y against Equitable Life
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert to square up against Herbert Smith on £2.6bn claim
Browell Smith & Co
PI firm Browell Smith may be small, but it's always fighting fit
Burton Copeland fraud team quits
Burton Copeland's nationally-recognised white collar crime team in Manchester is splitting from the firm's general criminal arm
Cadwalader appoints Banoun as managing partner for DC office
Raymond Banoun has succeeded David Williams as managing partner of Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft's Washington DC office
CC chiefs struggle to manage Grimaldi exit
The Grimaldi e Associati Clifford Chance (CC) saga has taken another twist, causing further confusion within the partnership
China meets WTO commitments with five extended licences for HK firms
The Chinese government has issued the first set of licences to foreign law firms that have applied for second offices on mainland China
Clarification
In a deals story entitled 'Dicksons and McCanns tuck into C&C flotation' (The Lawyer, 8 April), the quote: "It's a crucial deal for the flagging Irish Market where it will probably be the biggest deal of the year," was wrongly attributed to Alastair Dickson, senior partner at Dicksons. It should have been attributed to Barry Devereux of McCann Fitzgerald.
Clarke Willmott merger creates sporting giant
Clarke Willmott breaks out of West Country with £20m Southampton link-up
Clayton Utz shreds evidence and reputation at same time
A paper-shredding scandal likened to a local Enron has rocked Australia’s legal community
Coming into line
The Competition Act is now law and practitioners must prepare themselves for its impact. Helen Kelly and Karen Gibbons explain how life will change under the tougher regulations
Corporate
Freshfields Bru-ckhaus Deringer has decided that small is beautiful. Co-head of the securities practice Tim Jones revealed to The Lawyer last week that the corporate department was going to start hunting clients outside its primary territory, the FSTE 100. Freshfields has not abandoned the lions of the corporate world, but its new safari strategy will leave room for the smaller cats - unlisted but fast-growing small and medium-sized companies.Freshfields says the corporate department ...
David Price wins first no-win no-fee libel victory for defendant
David Price Solicitors & Advocates has won what is believed to be the first successful libel case for a defendant using a conditional fee arrangement
De Brauw takes on Unilever in-houser
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has hired Jaap Winter, legal adviser to Unilever's managing board, as a partner
De Wilde to ease LSC worries for chambers
A working party has been set up to investigate ways of helping small and medium-sized chambers to comply with Bar Council and Government requirements
DEAL OF THE WEEK - ENTERPRISE INNS
Camerons racks up deals as Enterprise buys more pubs
Deals Summary
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (Andrew Shutter, Simon Jay) is advising Kier Group on a credit facility comprising senior, mezzanine and working capital facilities. The deal, which is part of a joint venture with the Bank of Scotland, will be used to finance the acquisition of Laing Property Developments from John Laing. Kier also advised by Denton Wilde Sapte (Penny Davies) on property matters. ...
Deals Summary
Herbert Smith (Tom Phillips, Nicholas Downing, Mark Turner) advised the Health & Safety Laboratory on its £210m relocation project. CMS Cameron McKenna (Frank Dufficy, Jonathan Beckett, Jason Davies) advised project company Investors in the Community (Buxton), comprising Charterhouse, Shepherd Securities and Interserve Investment, which will provide the new facilities.
Deals Summary
Allen & Overy (Roberto Casati) advised Montedison on the sale of its 56 per cent share in the Euronext-listed starch manufacturer Cerestar to food distributor Cargill. Cargill advised by Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May.Hobson Audley (Paul Taylor) advised Lighthouse Group in its acquisition ...
Dutch Steins Bisschop declared bankrupt after KPMG pulls plug
KPMG's former Dutch legal practice Steins Bisschop Meijburg & Co was declared officially bankrupt last week as the big five accountant prepared to launch a new legal capability
Enter stage left
Former actor and professional show-off Leslie Perrin is in his element, running the country's 56th nicest place to work with freedom and love
Eversheds advises AWM on lease and development of Pebble Mill
Eversheds has gained a key role advising on the redevelopment of the BBC studios at Pebble Mill in Birmingham after advising Advantage West Midland (AWM) on its deal to take over the lease of the site.
Foot Anstey scores Ringpress deal
Foot Anstey Sargent has scooped a complex demerger and sale deal thanks to former Allen & Overy partner Mark Lewis.The South West firm acted for Ringpress Books as it hived off its pet publishing business into a separate company and sold it on to Lawrence for £3.4m. Lawrence was represented by Stephenson ...
Freethcartwright makes up three new partners
Freethcartwright has appointed three partners from within the firm
Freshfields joins MoFo on Ceva's merger with Parthus
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has been brought in to advise alongside Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) on the UK aspects of the most significant merger the technology industry has seen in the past year.DSP Group subsidiary Ceva, which is an intellectual property (IP) licensing group, has announced a merger with Irish chip designer Parthus Technologies. The merger is expected ...
Garretts begs the City to take on its trainees
Andersen Legal senior partner Williams in last-ditch scramble to save forty-four jobs
Gibson Dunn top biller steps up to be new managing partner
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has appointed Kenneth Doran as its new worldwide managing partner
Halliwells poised to add gardening leave to deed
Halliwell Landau is set to introduce gardening leave for partners in the next financial year
Hammonds partners gain reprieve in Football League-ITV Digital fracas
Hammond Suddards Edge partners have escaped being sued in the Football League's litigation of ITV Digital
Hireland
With legal recruitment in Ireland enjoying the good times, Michael Benson reports on the plans to keep them rolling
Holland & Knight loses partner
Holland & Knight has lost the co-chair of its technology group Raymer McQuiston to the New York office of US-Canadian firm Torys
In the Director's care
The limited liability company has been a safety net for Irish businessmen, but with a new act and the introduction of a Director of Corporate Enforcement, Sean Nolan says this will change
In-houser charged with fraud and tax evasion
A New York in-house lawyer has been charged, along with four other men, with bank fraud and income tax evasion as part of a scam to avoid paying monies owed to Chemical Bank and other lenders
Inland Revenue slashes barristers' fees
The Inland Revenue has dramatically reduced the fees it pays to barristers, in some cases by up to 75 per cent
Iran-US Claims Tribunal on verge of winding up
After 22 years of handling almost incessant litigation the Iran-US Claims Tribunal is about to finally close shop
Irish financial services regulation
Following a governmental dec-ision two and a half years ago to house financial services regulation within one regulator, the shape of that regulator is seeing the light of day for the first time
Irwin Mitchell high-flyer and Pinsents partner drop firms for new partnership
Irwin Mitchell's national head of construction David Kilvington is leaving the firm to set up a niche construction practice in Leeds
Keeping a float
After a bumper 2000, last year was a tough time for IPO lawyers - except Linklaters. Caroline Davies reveals how the magic circle firm managed to put clear blue water between itself and its rivals
Laid back in Lancashire
Tulkinghorn is not happy. All this talk of perks used to lure associates at the top City firms has now extended far and wide, even as far as Lancashire firm Meloy Whittle Robinson.Tulkinghorn is not here to dispute its claim to be a leading modern firm, even though the last 'news' item posted on its website was in July 2001, a fact whichmust surely conceal the undoubted frantic pace of life in Preston.Now Tulkinghorn might make the odd smug remark, but if the truth ...
Law firm alliances in Ireland
Like royal marriages, it seems that alliances between Irish law firms north and south of the border may not be built to last
Lawrence Graham appoints new company head
Lawrence Graham has appointed corporate and finance partner Richard Elphick as head of the firm's company and commercial department
Linklaters finalises governance board
New international board loses two places after De Brauw votes against merger
Martineaus hires energy consultant
Martineau Johnson has taken on former NPower in-house lawyer John Stubbs as a consultant in the energy and projects team
Martyr to focus on international strategy as Norton Rose new CEO
Change in management structure 'symbolic' of new firm culture; firm to target Gibson Dunn, Willkie, Debevoise and Paul Weiss
Memery Crystal shines in Lawyer AIM Survey
The Lawyer AIM Survey 2001 shows that Memery Crystal has increased its lead on competitors in the market.Memery Crystal is soaring above the pack, managing to gain a 15-deal cushion in terms of the volume of floats between it and the firm in second place, Hammond Suddards Edge.The survey covers the period from July 2000 to December 2001. In the previous year, Memery Crystal was also ...
Mills & Reeve launches new banking practice
Mills & Reeve has set up a dedicated banking and finance practice to service its institutional clients, including Halifax Bank of Scotland, Nationwide and Royal Bank of Scotland
Morgan Cole clients switch sides for Morgan LaRoche
Newly-founded Swansea practice Morgan LaRoche has hired two more Morgan Cole lawyers as partners and has been approached by Morgan Cole clients, including Associated British Ports, Shimano and Liberty Properties
Mullerat launches in Palma de Mallorca
Madrid-based firm Mullerat is opening an office in Palma de Mallorca
Nicholsons' ten-year 'Homes for Votes' role is terminated
Nicholson Graham & Jones has ceased to act on the long-running 'Homes for Votes' scandal, 10 years after being first instructed by Dame Shirley Porter, the former member of Westminster City Council, to deal with the action.The council has recently issued a claim and is moving towards recovering millions of pounds against Porter and her former deputy David Weeks at a summary judgment court hearing, currently fixed for one day in mid-July 2002.A week after the ...
Opinion
Recent law reports have included a surprising number of cases in which the judge has taken 'airtime' to criticise the expert witness. Judicial fulminations have concentrated much of the heat on questions of conflict of interest and independence.But the duties of expert witnesses are set out explicitly in guidelines issued both by the court and by the Academy of Experts. The expert's duty is to the court and this overrides any other duties the expert may have to ...
Partner is granted early leave to join Howreys
Norton Rose has allowed competition partner Trevor Soames to cut short his gardening leave in order to join his new firm Howrey Simon Arnold & White
Partner vote approves Wessing-TJG merger
Partners at German firm Wessing have voted in favour of a merger with City firm Taylor Joynson Garrett (TJG)
Shearman gives Englishman top London job
The head of Shearman & Sterling's English law practice Kenneth MacRitchie has been appointed as the firm's new managing partner in London
Shock over Judge's no costs decision
Costs experts have expressed shock at a landmark decision of a High Court judge not to award costs to a winning party
Skadden Arps loses partner to Lazard
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom Chicago partner David Kurtz has been recruited by investment bank Lazard as a managing director
Star laws
Space technology company Astrium is one of Europe's premier players in the sector. Kathryn Hobbs talks to general counsel Stefan Seyfarth about how he keeps its feet on the ground
Staying up
The recent boom years have done wonders for the Irish legal market, but more changes are afoot. Ken Murphy reports
The IPO specialists
An analysis
The Leader Column
As you may have read in last week's leader, I am moving on from The Lawyer and the legal market to go and work for aid agency Cafod.I have loved my time at your favourite legal magazine, but despite many lunches with many lawyers there are a few questions that did not get answered. I leave them with you for quiet contemplation and riotous debate.Why is it that the legal market is still not seen as an asset to our country and economy? You are genuinely world leaders, ...
The Rooks Rider Saga
Tulkinghorn has not been watching the new version of The Forsyte Saga currently showing on ITV because it stirs up too many bad memories. And at tax specialist firm Rooks Rider, it brings on severe shudders for two reasons.To explain why, here's a little bit of history: John Galsworthy Senior (the father of the author of The Forsyte Saga) was admitted as a solicitor in 1838. He later joined his nephew Edwin Galsworthy to form Galsworthy & Co. In the 1930s the firm merged ...
Three law firms win Queen's Award for enterprise
Herbert Smith, Linklaters and Richards Butler have all won a Queen's Award for enterprise. They were among 131 companies that received the award yesterday (21 April), the Queen's birthday.Linklaters senior partner Anthony Cann said the award was an endorsement of the firm's international strategy and reflected its reputation for advising on complex cross-border transactions. Linklaters ...
UK barrister recalled to Montserrat as stand-in
A barrister has been reappointed attorney general of the Commonwealth territory of Montserrat after his predecessor resigned because of a disagreement with the island's government
Variety is the spice of life
Exactly how raucous can a bunch of lawyers get? Top marks to Allen & Overy, whose table enlivened an already rumbustious evening at the Variety Club's inaugural legal gastronomic event at The Dorchester last week. And top marks to Salans Hertzfeld & Heilbronn's Lionel Rosenblatt, who managed to persuade a whole slew of top chefs, including Antonio Carluccio and Michel Roux, to contribute ...
WIPO begins first hearings following seven-year hiatus
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has just hosted its first hearings to resolve disputes, even though it has been open for business since 1995 to handle the hundreds of thousands of intellectual property (IP) disputes that occur worldwide each year.Despite not conducting a single hearing in the six years up to April 2001 (it has since started five mediations and four arbitrations, some of which are ongoing), WIPO is confident that its future looks bright.
Zaiwalla & Co gives Saddam free advice
London firm Zaiwalla King is acting pro bono for the Iraqi foreign ministry to unfreeze its UK-based assets
Zoom in peace
Boys will be boys and immigration judge Toby Davey has always had a fondness for fireworks. But a short while ago his innocent and not unimpressive pranks, involving the construction and unleashing of fireworks, took a turn that casts some light on how 21st century people view life and death. Or at least, what happens between life and death.Before I indulge you with the facts, consider the background. Toby was witness to the throwing of a person's ashes into the sea. Unfortunately, ...
