22 March 2004
The Lawyer
A revolution in legal education
- City Eight becomes five as A&O, CC and Linklaters turn to College of Law for bespoke courses;- Nottingham and Oxilp dumped, BPP retained;- College of Law and BPP enter slanging match as Savage makes U-turn on ‘principles’
A&O Paris takes on ex-Ashurst finance ace
Allen & Overy’s (A&O) search for a European acquisition finance capability is about to hit the jackpot as its Paris office prepares to recruit highly respected Ashurst partner Jonathan Nabarro.
Appeal judges rule on who 'employs' temps
The Appeal judges this month attempted to clarify the uncertain employment status of agency workers and, in particular, looked at situations where an implied contract may arise between temps and the businesses they are placed with.
Ashurst-McKee alliance aids Nomura in momentous CDO
Ashurst-McKee alliance aids Nomura in momentous CDO" /Ashurst has introduced its new transatlantic alliance partner McKee Nelson to Nomura, allowing the pair to celebrate their referral relationship by completing the first ever cash arbitrage collaterallised debt obligation (CDO) offering for the bank.
Bevan Ashford fills the gap as Morgan Cole loses WDA place
Morgan Cole has been dropped from its coveted place on the Welsh Development Agency’s (WDA) property panel and replaced by Bristol’s Bevan Ashford.
BLP creates partnership examination programme
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has launched an internal review of partnership options as part of an examination of its career development programme.
Boies is back in town
The rumour mill in the US is awash with gossip that Microsoft is funding the SCO Group in its litigation against IBM and others over the free software system Linux. This was fuelled further by a leaked email from an SCO consultant to SCO Group vice-president Chris Sontag and SCO chief financial officer Bob Bench. It reads: “Microsoft will have brought in $86 million [£47.4m] for us…”“Why do we care?” Tulkinghorn hears you cry. Well, SCO’s litigation is being run by none other than ...
Cadwalader hits the jackpot in NY office sale
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has offloaded its New York headquarters and trousered $57m in the process.
CC lawyer wins plum role at the OFT
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has turned to the magic circle for its deputy director of competition enforcement, taking on an associate from Clifford Chance.
CC partners give thumbs up to expulsion move
Clifford Chance lawyers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of sweeping reforms to the firm’s constitution, simplifying the cumbersome process of expelling partners.
CC, Freshfields and Travers in face-off for Apax panel place
Private equity giant Apax has given its clearest indication yet which firms are likely to make its hotly anticipated panel after inviting Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Travers Smith Braithwaite ...
Chelsea power show
Bruce Buck is a very busy and important man these days, combining a number of high-profile roles: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom European head, Chelsea Village chairman and Roman Abramovich’s right hand man. But perhaps his latest responsibility, as Ken Bates’ substitute penning the editorial in Chelsea FC’s programme notes, could be his toughest to date. Bates, the London club’s ...
Clause for thought
The proposed Exclusion of Judicial Review in the Asylum and Immigration Bill is an affront to the rule of law, says Richard Plender QC
Courts dealing with fall-out from Three Rivers ruling on privilege
The courts have been dealing with the fall-out from the Three Rivers v Bank of England ruling this month, restricting the scope of legal advice on privilege.
Dechert departure spurs insurance withdrawal
Dechert’s London office is pulling out of the insurance market following the departure of partner James Lewis to LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae. Lewis, who became a partner in the firm in 1992, is expected to leave Dechert at the end of this week. His departure follows that of Charles Brown, head of Dechert’s City construction practice, who is moving to the London office of Philadelphia firm Duane Morris.
Dickinson Dees lands Croydon
Newcastle-based Dickinson Dees has scooped a place on the Croydon Borough Council legal panel.
DLA promotes Edinburgh boss to Asia role
DLA’s Edinburgh managing partner Nick Seddon has won the role of regional managing partner for Asia, following Stewart Crowther’s decision to step down after 10 years in the position. Seddon was appointed by managing partner Nigel Knowles, with no formal elections held. Former corporate head Bruce Westbrook will step up to take on Seddon’s Edinburgh role. Crowther has yet to decide whether he will continue as a consultant at the firm or retire altogether.
Enterprise releases long-serving clerk
One of the bar’s longest serving clerks has been asked to step down after more than 40 years’ service as his set Enterprise Chambers embarks on a modernisation programme. The set’s attempted foray into the 21st century means that Barry Clayton ends a 36-year career at Enterprise, after first becoming a clerk in 1962. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 17 March
Equality regs discriminate against gays and lesbians
New equality regulations designed to protect gay and lesbian people are allowing pension schemes to discriminate against them, it was argued last week in a High Court challenge.
European Commission slaps legal precedent on Microsoft
The European Commission will rule against Microsoft this week, delighting its competitors, led by Allen & Overy (A&O) client Sun Microsystems.
Eversheds lures head of legal from client Nissan
Eversheds has poached the legal manager and company secretary from client Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMUK).
Fewer than one-in-ten law trainees regard legal aid as 'career option'
A future crisis appeared to be brewing for legal aid practice as less than one in ten trainee solicitors regarded public-funded work as "a good career option".
FFW prises IP pair from Laytons
Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) has nabbed intellectual property (IP) partners David Knight and Simon Chapman from regional firm Laytons. The pair will join FFW as partners. Knight focuses on patent litigation and Chapman concentrates on trademarks and copyright. The duo’s previous clients have included Hilton, Nokia, Remington, Reckitt Benckiser and Qinetiq.
Finance deals round-up
Linklaters (Alejandro Ortiz, Vinay Samani) advised Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria as lead arranger on the establishment and update of the €5bn (£3.37bn) repackaging programme of Atlanteo Capital. It is the first programme arranged by a Spanish bank. Ogier & Le Masurier acted for the special purpose vehicle on aspects of Jersey law.
Firm profile: White and Bowker
Hampshire firm White and Bowker has been around longer than many of its competitors. Established in 1750, the firm has existed “in a number of guises ever since”, according to chairman Niall Brook.
Firms on British Coal case come under fire
The UK’s largest class action has been overshadowed by calls for the Government to sue 18 claimant law firms, which have been involved in the case against British Coal.
Flying solo
Is it possible to leave a big City firm but still handle big cases? Emma Vere-Jones meets a poster boy for the litigation boutique
Freshfields, Ashurst in first ever CAT damages trial
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Ashurst are defending companies found to be part of the vitamin cartel in the first ever damages claim to be heard by the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT).
Gibson Dunn in NY CC raid
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has hiked its East Coast securities practice with the hire of Clifford Chance’s former global head of US securities.
Govt eyes Supreme Court site
Somerset House has emerged as the Government’s favoured site for the new Supreme Court, with the Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court and the old Prudential building in Holborn also under consideration.
Hearsay
Which Law Lord on rest days can be seen at a newsagent in Islington dressed in pajamas and slippers talking at high volume to himself on matters, we presume, of national importance?
Heller Ehrman goes live in Beijing
San Francisco’s Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe has finally kick-started its Asian practice after opening an office in Beijing.
Herbert Smith promotions show trust in market
Herbert Smith has increased its total of partner promotions to 13 this year, signalling a renewed confidence in business activity. The firm made up 19 partners in April 2001 but dropped to 11 in 2002 after its 2001-02 financial results showed an 8 per cent drop in profits. New partner numbers remained at the same level in 2003. Litigation dominated promotions at the firm this year, with five lawyers in litigation and arbitration becoming partners compared with three in corporate ...
Herbies pushes for inclusivity with formation of task force
Herbert Smith has set up an inclusivity committee, made up of top partners at the firm, to recruit people from ethnic minorities and to conduct internal soul-searching into whether the firm is inclusive enough.
Hollinger battle takes new turn in legal fees fight
Embattled newspaper baron Conrad Black has brought a claim against Hollinger International over its alleged refusal to pay his legal bills.
Jones Day loses partner to Hogan & Hartson
Jones Day’s London office has suffered the loss its first legacy Gouldens partner since the two firms merged over a year ago.
Law Society to answer back to Clementi reforms
The Law Society will attempt to provide a cohesive response to Sir David Clementi’s proposal to overhaul regulation of the legal profession in two specially convened meetings.
Leader
The Lawyer brought a little bit of joy and laughter to many a City partner’s Friday afternoon last week when we told them the news about Justin Spendlove joining Fried Frank. Reaction was also flecked with incredulity; Ashurst’s former managing partner had obviously developed deeper ties with the US firm than anyone had thought.
Liberty belle
Baroness Helena Kennedy has taken up a new cause – defending the justice system from New Labour. Jon Robins meets the campaigning QC
Linklaters cashes in on merger laws
Linklaters has entered talks to merge its Japanese practice with local firm Mitsui Yasuda Wani & Maeda when new laws come into force next summer.
Linklaters partners to put management in hot seat over falling profits
Linklaters’ management is set to face tough questions over falling profits at its upcoming partners’ meeting, as lawyers’ discontent grows over declining income.
London Legal Support Trust to spread wider pro bono net
A new charitable trust, aimed at providing financial support to law centres throughout London, is set to launch in April. The London Legal Support Trust will be launched by Lord Woolf on 29 April. The first of its kind, it will coordinate fundraising efforts by firms across the City.
Lovells partner faces the stand in tobacco case
Lovells litigation partner Andrew Foyle is set to face questioning over five key areas of British American Tobacco’s [BAT] document destruction policy, after losing an appeal against an order forcing the lawyer to give evidence in a huge US tobacco litigation.
Martineau Johnson loses Birmingham energy partner
Martineau Johnson energy specialist Paul Brennan has quit the Birmingham firm to pursue interests outside the profession of the law.
Morgan Lewis set to open Paris office with De Pardieu capture
US firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius is set to launch in Paris with a team from French independent De Pardieu Brocas Maffei & Leygonie.
Morton Fraser prepares for Glasgow opening
Edinburgh firm Morton Fraser is set to open in Glasgow. The office will launch on 1 May, with banking and finance partner John Urquhart the first Glasgow-based partner. He will be followed by three other banking and finance partners and two commercial property experts, who will spend the bulk of their time in the new office.
Nabarros wins over Numis
Nabarro Nathanson has won Numis as a client, after advising the broker on the unusual demerger and AIM listing of Moneybox.
Nameless rights
In the manner of a 1950’s baptist minister’s daughter, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert is playing hard to get. Tulkinghorn rang the coquettish firm requesting an email address – normal, day-to-day, officey-type behaviour, or so one would think. But like a dainty slap across the face, Tulkinghorn’s approach was unceremoniously rebuffed. Apparently, email addresses are not to be given out, nor will names be revealed over the phone.
New pilots to keep separating parents out of court
Family lawyers welcomed plans published last week to divert separated parents from bitter court battles over their children and encourage them to make their own agreements, but called for compulsory mediation.
No5 expands in Spain with innovative alliance
Birmingham’s No5 Chambers has become one of only a handful of sets with an international presence after forging an alliance with Spain’s GV&A (Gomez Villares and Alvarez).
Norton Rose suffers more leakage in Paris reshuffle
A second Norton Rose partner has opted to leave for White & Case as the UK firm continues the far-reaching shake-up of its Paris office.
Olswang refuses to be beaten as £19m action goes to High Court
Olswang is taking the £19m negligence claim brought against it last year all the way to the High Court.
Opinion
The bill creating foundation hospitals scraped into law last year. Through the mist and fog of political debate, one thing seems clear. Foundation hospitals will have to behave much more like private companies than extensions of the civil service. If trusts status was one step away from Whitehall, foundation status is probably three steps away – and that may only be the start of a long walk.
Parmalat creditors gang up on Bondi
Creditors rally around French companies to challenge Italian minister’s administrative appointment of Enrico Bondi
Piper Rudnick wins some and loses some in real estate drive
Piper Rudnick has bolstered its rapidly expanding California practice by adding two high profile real estate partners to its San Francisco office.
Probe into 9/11 charity’s legal fees
US Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has launched an investigation into legal fees earned by a leading New York attorney while acting for a charity that evolved out of 11 September.
RadcliffesLeBrasseur family man joins Harcus
RadcliffesLeBrasseur family department head Roger Cobden-Ramsey has left to join small London firm Harcus Sinclair. His assistant Terry Bray moves with him.
Rambaud loses three competition partners
Rambaud Martel’s EC competition partner Olivier de Juvigny has quit the firm with two other partners and an associate to join M&A boutique Vivien & Associés.
Rights turn
If the Human Rights Act 1998 is expanded, commercial and voluntary providers of public services should take note, warns Helen Mountfield
Rosenblatt in TalkSport compensation case
Rosenblatt has been instructed by ex-Sun editor and Wireless Group owner Kelvin MacKenzie on his £66m damages claim against Rajar, the body that measures radio audience share. MacKenzie wants £66m in compensation for advertising revenue he claims to have lost because Rajar’s system of audience measurement allegedly underestimates the audience figures for TalkSport, owned by Wireless Group, by more than ...
Russell Jones & Walker sets up link with financial services expert
Russell Jones & Walker (RJ&W) has signed a business partnership with financial services adviser Towry Law.
Sean Rush: Petro-Canada UK Limited
He survived the takeover of his company and now he’s become invaluable. Husnara Begum meets Petro-Canada’s Sean Rush
Spendlove quits for Fried Frank
Ashurst’s former managing partner Justin Spendlove is joining the firm’s jilted US merger partner Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson.
Sub-standard
Given that The Lawyer’s editorial team boasts its own massive Antipodean contingent, there were a few red faces when we noticed that we’d published a photo of a New Zealand flag proudly waving above an article about Australia. But we didn’t realise it would generate such a torrent of responses. Some were humorous. Others revealed a group of lawyers who take themselves far too seriously. But here’s a little excerpt from one of our favourites, which came from Chris Hunt in the legal ...
Swedish firm scores coup with lateral from rival
Sweden’s Vinge has poached one of Mannheimer Swartling’s brightest stars, marking the firm’s first lateral partner hire from it’s closest rival.
The one-stop shop? It’ll never catch on over here
Latham’s Skadden raid confirmed the US one-stop shop trend. But what about conflicts? By Catrin Griffiths
The ride of your life
Any lawyer who has visited Mipim will know that getting a taxi outside the Martinez Bar at 4am can be nigh on impossible. But perhaps next year they can follow the lead of one banker attending the conference this year.
Three KLegal rebels quit McGrigors ahead of lock-in
The London office of McGrigors (formerly KLegal) is reeling after the resignation of three corporate partners, including executive board member Philip Rogers, which has slashed the corporate department from six to three.
University challenge
The Higher Education Bill has grabbed its fair share of headlines, mainly over top-up fees. Carola Geist-Divver outlines the rest of the proposals
Uplifting experience
Life at Clifford Chance is full of ups and downs – quite literally. When it emerged that the firm’s New York-based global head of securities Kevin Kelley was leaving, Clifford Chance’s management understandably scrabbled to stop his departure.
