22 November 2010
The Lawyer
Dawsons agrees terms with ex-CEO
The former CEO of Lincoln’s Inn firm Dawsons Solicitors has settled a claim against his former employer.
Dentons sues former India boss over ‘bribe’ case costs
Alleged £400,000 bribe prompts showdown between Dentons, its insurers and former employee
Fountain Court improves international credentials with three new door tenants
Fountain Court Chambers has bolstered its international reach, adding three door tenants.
Halliwells’ creditors join forces for action plan
The largest creditors of failed law firm Halliwells have formed a committee in what could be a precedent to further legal action against the firm’s former partners.
Harrison Grant fronts Greenpeace oil challenge
Environmental boutique Harrison Grant Solicitors has been instructed by Greenpeace to bring judicial review proceedings against the Government over its decision to grant a licence to Chevron that allows it to start drilling in the North Sea.
Hill Dickinson ups its game on staff benefits
Hill Dickinson is to extend its bonus scheme to all legal staff in a bid to benchmark its employee benefits against those of its peers.
Howard Kennedy family head takes parting shot after exit
Howard Kennedy head of family Ursula Danagher has quit the firm, with the move sparking a row over what she sees as the firm’s lack of transparency.
IBA denounces Chinese govt interference as lawyers live under ‘Sword of Damocles’
China’s legal profession is less independent than it was before 2003 and lawyers involved in controversial cases live “under the Sword of Damocles”, according to panellists at the International Bar Association’s (IBA) discussion on the independence of lawyers in the country.
Land of the rising yen
A rise in foreign acquisitions by Japanese companies shows that a sluggish domestic economy doesn’t mean the country’s legal market should be written off. By James Swift
Lost labour
Upcoming changes to the statutory parental leave system could leave employers facing some tricky decisions, says Suzanne Horne
Mayer and SJ Berwin oversee Apax IT divestments to Azini
Mayer Brown and SJ Berwin were the firms at the forefront on Apax Partners’ sale of 16 technology companies to Azini Capital.
Mishcon steers Marussia deal as it gears up to buy Virgin Racing owner
Mishcon de Reya has advised Russian supercar manufacturer Marussia Motors on its acquisition of a controlling interest in Manor Holdco, the parent company of the Formula 1 (F1) Virgin Racing team.
Norton Rose goes global with Canada, SA tie-ups
Last Monday’s (15 November) revelation that Norton Rose was merging with Canada’s Ogilvy Renault and South Africa’s Deneys Reitz had been in the pipeline for a year.
On the move
Michelmores has recruited Philip Wolfgang as a partner and head of its agriculture and rural business.
Opinion: Corrupt Russian image stops business making a killing
Not for the first time in recent history, corruption in Russia is making headlines.
Peters & Peters
The battle for the ownership of Liverpool FC was one of the most watched cases of 2010, thrusting Peters & Peters into the limelight once again.
Putting paid to bribery
Our lead story this week, on Dentons suing its former India head Gauri Advani following the allegation of a bribe (something she strongly denies) and costs of a subsequent court case, is a preview of the future for law firms.
Revenue up in H1 as firms shake off downturn blues
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has had by far the most successful first six months of 2010-11 of the 17 firms to have reported first-half results.
Runaway Tube legal bills are set to hit the spending cut buffers
Budget reductions and an end to the PPP saga signal lower legal bills for LUL.
The law? Stuff that for a lark
Heard the one about the barrister who quit his job to become a stand-up comedian? According to his mother it was no joke, but more than two decades on Felix Dexter has no regrets about swapping the courtroom for the comedy club.
Travers’ outsourcing move keeps Bupa as a client
Travers Smith has taken a step towards outsourcing some commoditised elements of its M&A work. The move came after Travers concluded a deal with Bupa that saw another firm take on data room and disclosure work at the client’s request.
Tulkinghorn: Secret disservice
There was also trouble for some away from the riots and in the apparently safe environs of the Hotel Cavalieri.
US duo tap into $1.25bn KazMunaiGas Eurobond
Dewey & LeBoeuf and White & Case acted on Kazakhstan oil and gas company KazMunaiGas’s (KMG) recent $1.25bn (£780m) Eurobond offering.
Web head: Grainne Brankin, Yahoo!
Yahoo! is proud of its laid-back West Coast heritage, but don’t be fooled - GC Grainne Brankin is no pushover when it comes to grilling external advisers, says Andrew Pugh
Weil action points: fix silo mentality, dump personality cults and invest
?Roll over McKinsey, as we give the US firm the benefit of a free strategic review.
When the music’s over
The failure of SJ?Berwin’s talks with Proskauer Rose has opened up a schism at the heart of the firm. Can Rob Day turn the ship around?
