23 February 2004
The Lawyer
A&O’s Rink jumps ship to Eversheds
Former Allen & Overy (A&O) managing partner John Rink is to become a non-executive director on the Eversheds board when he steps down from a similar role on the A&O board at the end of April.
Allens Arthur wins Commonwealth Games role
Allens Arthur Robinson has proved it is the top choice for major sporting events, having won the coveted role of official law firm to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. It won the role over a host of other law firms, and will advise alongside the games’ in-house legal team. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com, 18 February
Animal rights extremists target senior judges
Special Branch officers have launched an investigation into a campaign of harassment by animal activists against two senior High Court judges.
Anti-money laundering law causing 'havoc' in the family courts
A new report into the experiences of family law specialists with the new anti-money laundering regime under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) has revealed widespread concern about its impact.
CC and Freshfields join fight to win HK government securitisation
Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are among a number of City firms pitching to advise the Hong Kong government on its first ever securitisation.
CEDR report 35 per cent rise in mediations
CEDR Solve, the dispute resolution service for the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) handled a record 631 cases last year.
Clifford Chance bans brief fees for barristers in favour of hourly rate
Clifford Chance bans brief fees for barristers in favour of hourly rate" /Clifford Chance is squaring up to the bar by banning the payment of brief fees to leading counsel, such as the £3m Gordon Pollock QC has charged BCCI’s liquidators for suing the Bank of England.
Corporate killing law: bad for business and will do little to protect safety
New corporate killing legislation would be both bad for business and do little to promote safety, according to a survey of companies published yesterday.
Coudert kickstarts pro bono with Kids Company
Coudert Brothers’ London office has won its first ever pro bono client following the introduction of a formal pro bono programme last year.
Crown Office Row lures junior duo from Kings
Crown Office Row has hired two junior tenants from Kings Chambers in Manchester. The barristers, John Cooper and Simon Antrobus, specialise in health and safety and corporate manslaughter. For the last seven years they have acted for the Department of Trade and Industry in Griffiths v British Coal Corporation.
De Brauw set for Amsterdam growth with Freshfields team
De Brauw partners to vote on recruitment of Freshfields tax heavyweight
Denton’s competition team hit by third departure
Denton Wilde Sapte’s competition department has taken another hit, this time with the loss of senior associate Alan Davis who is joining Pinsents to head up the firm’s competition team in London.
Dentons Japanese lawyer takes up govt post
Tetsuya Kashio, the name lawyer of Denton Wilde Sapte’s Japanese office Denton Wilde Sapte Kashio Law, has been appointed by the Japanese Cabinet Office to manage its newly-established department of compliance. The department has been set up to establish and manage new corporate governance legislation, which is due to be submitted early this year. The appointment is part time only and Kashio will retain his position within Dentons.
Departures necessitate MCI legal restructuring
The shake-up of the MCI legal team has seen senior in-house lawyer Peter Waters promoted to acting head of legal for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Following the departure of the previous EMEA legal head Stuart Blythe to Viatel last year, Waters had been co-heading the legal function with Suzanne Hopkinson, who is on maternity leave. Simmons & Simmons partner Rhys Williams has been called up on secondment to fill the gap, as revealed by The Lawyer (16 February). After ...
DLA raids Linklaters for Spanish employment head
As its European invasion continues, DLA has hired Linklaters’ former Spanish head of employment Luis Peinado.
EADS hires Svenska lawyer as it loses general counsel
EADS’ general counsel Eric Thomas is to leave the European defence company.
Editorial – CFAs blamed for rising council tax bills – but 'That's Life'
A much-needed ambassador for conditional fees arrived this month in the always controversial world of 'no win, no fee' in the form of Esther Rantzen.
Ex-Brobeck staff in $20m clash
Morgan Lewis & Bockius could be liable to pay up to $20m (£10.6m) in severance pay to former lawyers and employees of collapsed firm Brobeck Phleger & Harrison.
Ex-Morgan Cole chair moves to Boyes Turner consultation role
Former Morgan Cole chairman John Moisson is the latest partner to leave the embattled firm, joining Thames Valley’s Boyes Turner.
Falconer: judicial independence is guaranteed
Constitutional Affairs secretary Lord Falconer today unveiled the Constitutional Reform Bill which will shake up the justice system.
Firm profile: Rawlison Butler
Tim Sadka, managing partner of West Sussex practice Rawlison Butler, uses a boxing metaphor to sum up his sense of the firm. “We punch well above our weight,” he claims. Proudly, he quotes testimonials from clients praising the way in which he and his colleagues deliver a City service. Indeed, with its expansionist drive, Rawlison Butler looks well placed to be ...
Freshfields set for Apax triumph
Apax Partners has restarted a stalled plan to form a legal panel for £100m-plus buyouts undertaken by the leveraged transaction group. The review looks set to hand Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer a victory in its attempts to hike private equity and could drop many of the existing legal advisers.
Getting your clause in
Arbitration in professional negligence cases can be a better route for litigants to resolve their disputes. And it costs less, says William Bojczuk
Gide and Jeantet post hiked revenues for 2003
French firms Gide Loyrette Nouel and Jeantet Associés have recorded a steady increase in revenues in 2003.
Grapevine
This morning, Lord Falconer of Thoroton unveiled his Constitutional Reform Bill to an audience of journalists yawning at the "revelations" that there will be a new Supreme Court, that the office of Lord Chancellor will be abolished and that judges will now be appointed by a Judicial Appointments Commission.
Hearsay
Which senior City planning lawyer had to be physically restrained in a property partners’ meeting to prevent him taking a swing at one of his fellow partners?
Hello! offered CFA as Douglas case goes on
MLaw, the firm acting for Hello! in its appeal against the High Court victory by Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas and OK! over the couple’s wedding photos, is taking the case forward on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis.
Hextalls in defensive move with Beachcrofts hire
Hextalls is continuing its attack on the London market, with the hire of Beachcroft Wansbroughs insurance litigation partner Dominic Dennis-Browne to head the firm’s professional indemnity department. Dennis-Browne specialises in defending claims against a number of professions, including solicitors, with particular expertise in claims involving dishonesty. The hire comes just two weeks after the firm took on Druces & Atlee partner Stephen Kingsley to head commercial property.
How to deal with the dollar slump
Husnara Begum on how US firms are ramping up their defences to deal with the exchange rate
Howard Kennedy adds to media capability
Howard Kennedy continues to beef up its media department with the hire of another Hammonds partner. Justin Stephenson joins the eight-strong media team, headed by his former Hammonds colleague Brian Eagles. Stephenson is a banking lawyer specialising in media finance. He will work mostly for the film and music industries and help out the general banking practice. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com, 18 February
Italian law firms set to be drawn into Cirio furore
Further law firms may be forced to hand over client documents, after the Rome office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer handed over papers to Italian state prosecutors in relation to their investigation into high profile businessman Sergio Cragnotti.
Kendall Freeman media star joins Reed Smith
Kendall Freeman litigation partner Marcus Rutherford is joining Reed Smith Warner Cranston.
Land of the cloud cuckoo
When Tulkinghorn finally takes leave of his senses, he would like to be transported to a high seat in the US judiciary.
Landwell given cutoff date by SEC
Landwell’s global legal network has been given a deadline of 30 June by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this year to stop working for Price-waterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) SEC-registered audit clients.
Latham boosts DC with double Mayer hire
Latham & Watkins has poached two financial regulatory partners for its Washington DC office from Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw.
Lawrence Graham ain’t cheap – it’s just inexpensive
Emma Vere-Jones finds that Lawrence Graham is quietly going from strength to strength
Lawyers get thumbs-up to practise throughout EU
Approval has been secured at the European Parliament for a new EU directive on the mutual recognition within member countries of professional qualifications.
Lawyers in the frame
A secretary of a law firm in the Netherlands has discovered how to handle working with lawyers: write a comic all about them.
Leader
Clifford Chance is on a campaign against the 500-year-old brief fee – and it’s a welcome move.
Lifeline for legal aid firms challenging legal aid audits
A recent ruling by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) could throw a lifeline to those legal aid firms challenging the audit process.
Light here, light now
What on earth was going on this week over at Serle Court? Tulkinghorn wondered as his calls and emails met a stony and repeated silence.
Linklaters raids CC for telecoms partner
Linklaters raids CC for telecoms partner" /Former Clifford Chance partner and head of Linklaters’ global IT and communications practice Christopher Millard has raided his old firm to poach telecoms star Tim Schwarz.
Long arm of the bar
Don’t let Tesco law compromise the independence of the bar, says Stephen Irwin QC
Lovells solves Madrid question with Cuatrecasas corporate star
Lovells has solved its Spanish problem with the recruitment of Cuatrecasas’ Madrid head of corporate Jose Maria Balana de Eguia, who will open a Madrid office for the firm.
Masons Thelen Reid launches in Iraq
Masons Thelen Reid, the joint venture vehicle established by Masons and US firm Thelen Reid & Priest, has bolstered its Middle East practice by linking up with an Iraqi law firm.
Meditation’s what you need
Tulkinghorn has discovered that one of the many projects Slaughter and May competition star and lifestyle guru Laura Carstensen intends to fill her days with after retiring from the firm is a yoga supplies business, which the more spiritually-minded of you can find online ...
Mishcons loses music specialist Glick
One of Mishcon de Reya’s best-known partners, David Glick, has left the firm to set up his own media and entertainment-focused group of companies.
Money troubles
With Section 459 petitions causing ructions within businesses, Daniel Lightman looks at the participation of companies in shareholders’ disputes
Morgan Lewis posts 13 per cent profit hike
US firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius has returned strong figures for 2003 with revenues and profits rising by about 13 per cent.
Nabarros wins the top spot as Isis dumps regeneration panel
Nabarros wins the top spot as Isis dumps regeneration panel" /Waterways regeneration body Isis has abolished its panel and appointed Nabarro Nathanson as its sole legal adviser.
New Look’s Trinitybrook buyout bid sees A&O and DLA bag new clients
Trinitybrook’s offer for teen fashion retailer New Look has won Allen & Overy (A&O), DLA and Simmons & Simmons instructions from new clients.
Office of Deputy Prime Minister picks Bird & Bird for unemployment project
Bird & Bird has secured first-time instructions from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Ofgem rejig leaves general counsel without a position
Ofgem, the energy regulator, has made its general counsel redundant and restructured its 20-strong legal team as part of its ongoing mission to cut costs.
Opinion
The effects of the worryingly weak dollar is generating frenzied activity among US firms in London. The critical issue to be addressed by management is whether to act now (and, if so, what measures to take), or do nothing in the hope that the problem will go away when the exchange rate reverts to an acceptable level.
Parmalat gives birth to single EU watchdog
The European Parliament has called for the creation of a single EU authority for supervising cross-border financial supervision in Europe as a long-term response to the Parmalat scandal.
Police sexual harassment claims to go ahead
A host of sexual harassment claims made by police officers look set to proceed following a decision by a Croydon Employment Tribunal in the case of Hands v the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
Radcliffes partner exodus mounts as two heads quit
Westminster firm RadcliffesLeBrasseur has lost two departmental heads – making a total of three partners this year. This means that the firm has lost four department heads in the past 15 months.
Real estate deals round-up
SJ Berwin (Jon Vivian) advised Brixton in its £51.5m acquisition of the Northfields Industrial Estate from Burford. The deal included the freehold reversion of long-leasehold property from the British Waterways Board. Clifford Chance (Mike Edwards) acted for Burford.
Roz Groome: The British Phonographic Industry
With internet piracy on the increase, Roz Groome’s role as legal adviser to the British Phonographic Industry has had to change radically. By Steve Hoare
Shell pulls in Debevoise for US court battle
Oil giant Shell has brought in Debevoise & Plimpton instead of its traditional litigation lawyers Cravath Swaine & Moore to fight off a multibillion-dollar claim over alleged overstatement of oil and gas reserves.
Simmons cements Indian dominance
Simmons & Simmons has completed the latest in a long run of outsourcing deals for Indian clients, consolidating its position as the leading firm in this niche market.
Simpson Thacher grabs slice of TDR
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has scored a first instruction from private equity house TDR Capital thanks to the connections of Ashurst old boy Stephen Short.
Sports law titans contest Chambers doping case
Three heavyweights of the sporting bar, all from Blackstone Chambers, went head-to-head last week at the inquiry into doping allegations against Dwain Chambers. After four hours of case presentation by David Pannick QC (left) for the prosecuting body UK Athletics, and less than an hour from Michael Beloff QC for the sprinter, the chairman ...
Sweet talk
Should warring parties be forced to mediate? Jon Lang investigates
Takeover Panel to rock City with war on M&A loopholes
Acquisition financing flexibility comes under threat; Panel set to clamp down on preconditional bids
Tax lawyers warn of double taxation risk
Tax lawyers were warning last week of the risk of double taxation over new Inland Revenue plans to tax married couples and families who make gifts of property and other assets to each other.
The blame drain
The Gulf War veterans are blaming their lawyer for the collapse of their case against the MoD. Jon Robins hears both sides of the story
The end game
Winding up deficient pension schemes is confronting trustees with some hard choices. Michael Furness QC reports
The winds of law
In October, The Lawyer journalist Brendan Malkin heads off to Patagonia in South America for a two-week trek across its windswept plains and frozen glaciers.
Top Brum set raids Pinsents for projects star
Birmingham giant No5 Chambers has continued to grow with the hire of Pinsents construction partner Christopher Kelly, The Lawyer can reveal.
Townsend and LSG join forces
US firm Townsend & Townsend & Crew is to merge with litigation boutique Legal Strategies Group (LSG) on 1 March. Six partners and 12 lawyers will join Townsend’s San Francisco branch, a 150-lawyer intellectual property and litigation practice. LSG focuses on antitrust, trademark and commercial litigation. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com, 18 February
Travers aids Beeson Gregory IPO
Travers Smith Braithwaite has helped broking client Evolution Beeson Gregory implement the next generation of accelerated initial public offerings (IPOs) on a management buy-in of the retail arm of Torex.
US financial results ’03: Kirkland, Weil, Simpson have record years
Kirkland and Simpson Thacher close to $2m average profits - O’Melveny, Gibson Dunn and Weil post 15 per cent profit hikes - Bryan Cave profits up 35 per cent
Vote of confidence from home movers in Home Information Packs
New research published last week revealed strong support among home buyers and sellers for the obligatory home condition report (HCR), which forms part of the Government's home information pack proposals.
Wachtell lands massive M&A hat trick
After snagging a role advising Disney on its defence of Comcast’s hostile takeover bid, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz can boast a role on all three of the bumper deals that are rocking the US M&A market.
