23 July 2007
The Lawyer
5RB on hold for BT litigation
Media set 5 Raymond Buildings (5RB) is considering whether to sue BT for damages after the telecoms company reassigned its main switchboard number to an energy company for four days.
Addleshaws and Freshfields clean up in carbon emission league table
ADDLESHAW Goddard and Freshfields Bruckahus Deringer have emerged as the firms with the lowest carbon emission counts, at 5.8 tonnes per lawyer and 8.7 tonnes per lawyer respectively, when compared with other top 20 firms.
ADR: Skills transfer
Mediation may require slightly different skills to litigation but barristers can still put their all into the work. By Beverly-Ann Rogers
Aegean Airlines’ IPO goes way of Shearman
Shearman & Sterling has advised Aegean Airlines on its Athens Exchange IPO, which closed earlier this month. The IPO, which involved 25 per cent of the airline’s share capital, raised around €125m (£84.55m). The proceeds will go towards financing the airline’s €1bn (£680m) fleet renewal programme, which will see its entire Boeing fleet replaced with new Airbus A320 aircraft. The Shearman team acting on the deal was led in London by US capital markets partner Richard ...
Associates in management: Hear today, here tomorrow
As firms seek to retain talent, associates are increasingly being given a voice
Banks turn to Lovells Dubai for major Saudi sukuk
A TEAM from Lovells’ Dubai office has closed its first major deal since the firm opened in the emirate in May.
Beiten brings in Linklaters counsel
German firm Beiten Burkhardt has recruited Linklaters counsel Dietmar Müller-Boruttau to its Berlin employment practice.
Bingham benefits from latest Asahi departure
Bingham McCutchen has strengthened its global restructuring and insolvency capabilities with the addition of antitrust specialist Hiroshi Iyori from Asahi Law Offices.
Bird & Bird bolsters Hague presence with fourth hire
Bird & Bird has boosted its office in The Hague with a raid on Houthoff Buruma for energy head Michelle de Rijke.
Blackstone tackles Man U in Heinze dispute
Blackstone Chambers has scored its second instruction on a disputed football transfer, after being brought in to secure Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze's release from Manchester United FC.
BLG set to stem exits with lockstep rethink
BARLOW Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) has overhauled its lockstep following heavy partner losses over the past two years.
BLP handed Bank of Scotland mandate
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has acted for Bank of Scotland Corporate on its £460m refinancing of Kandahar Real Estate. The refinancing included arranging a facility of up to £212m for the Drake Circus Shopping Centre in Plymouth and further loans of approximately £249m for around 40 other retail and restaurant properties across the UK. The BLP team acting on the deal was led by real estate finance partners Simon Kildahl and Laurence Rogers. On the commercial real ...
Boots targets five firms in post-merger adviser review
ALLIANCE Boots’ head of legal will kick off a closely watched panel review for the former FTSE100 company now that its £11.1bn buyout has all but completed.
BP Collins posts 16 per cent turnover hike
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE & Thames Valley firm BP Collins has boosted turnover by 15.9 per cent, from £8.2m to £9.5m, during the last financial year.
Brick Court and Blackstone take Hammers to High Court
Leading sets Brick Court Chambers and Blackstone Chambers have bagged the lead roles on the dispute between the agents of Argentine football star Carlos Tevez and his current club West Ham United FC.
Bristows suffers dip in financials as office move takes its toll
REVENUE at IP boutique Bristows has taken a downward turn, falling by £100,000 to £20m, in a year of massive upheaval for the firm.
Burges Salmon hit by TLT swoop
BRISTOL-based TLT Solicitors has hired the sole dedicated corporate restructuring and insolvency partner at local rival Burges Salmon.
Burges Salmon poaches Bevan Brittan waste projects partner
Bristol's Burges Salmon has bagged waste projects partner Nigel Campbell from local rival Bevan Brittan.
Call to bar will not be deferred until pupillage complete, says BSB
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has rejected proposals to defer call to the bar until after a barrister has completed pupillage.
CC kicks off US push with Pillsbury partner hire
Clifford Chance has underlined its commitment to its US practice with the addition of a finance and restructuring partner in Washington DC.
CC shakes up business development function
Clifford Chance has appointed a new global head of business development ahead of the impending departure of incumbent Charles Doyle.
CC swoops on Camerons for high-flying Moscow hires
Clifford Chance has raided CMS Cameron McKenna's Moscow office for two of its most high-ranking partners.
CC to become American idol
Don’t doubt the extent of the magic circle’s ambition. With the UK elites’ average profits now outpacing all but a few on Wall Street, that old dream of cracking the US suddenly looks less of a joke.
City firms must acknowledge the importance of treasurer relations
Treasurers are key players in any deal and firms must ensure they build strong ties. By Julia Berris
Clifford Chance Italy votes in new corporate head
Clifford Chance has appointed Paolo Sersale as head of its Italian corporate practice, taking over from partner Alberta Figari.
Clifford Chance to take on Wall St in US relaunch
Magic circle firm plots fresh New York assault after record year
Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act gains approval
The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act received its Royal Assent today (26 July) after 10 years of campaigning by unions and pressure groups.
Court of Appeal to decide Shambo's fate
Brick Court Chambers and 11KBW went head-to-head at the Court of Appeal today (23 July) over the fate of one of the UK's most famous bulls – Shambo.
Cravath hikes London cost of living allowance
Cravath Swaine & Moore has raised the cost of its living allowance (Cola) for London office associates from $85,000 (£41,000) to $110,000 (£53,000), The Lawyer can reveal.
Direct access adds £500K to Outer Temple’s coffers
OUTER Temple Chambers’ furrow into direct public access (DPA) is becoming a goldmine, with the set adding £500,000 to its balance sheet in the last six months.
DLA Piper strengthens Italian presence with addition of employment lawyer
DLA Piper has beefed up its Italian operation via the hire of Aldo Calza as partner and head of its Milan employment, pensions and benefits practice.
DLA Piper, Eversheds named on easyJet’s first legal panel
BUDGET airline easyJet has created its first-ever legal panel, with DLA Piper and Eversheds among the 10 firms appointed.
DMH seals home win for Seagulls
Much of Britain might be under water at present, but on the South Coast a little ray of sunshine has crept through the clouds.
DMH Stallard secures permission for Seagulls’ new home
South East firm DMH Stallard represented Brighton & Hove Albion (FC) on its successful planning application for a 22,500-seat stadium at Falmer, on the outskirts of Brighton.
Dubai launch imminent for HBJ
Anglo-Scots firm HBJ Gateley Wareing is to open an office in Dubai, the firm's first base outside the UK.
Dutton to replace Vos as Bar Council chair
Timothy Dutton QC of Fountain Court chambers has been elected to take over as chair of the Bar Council when Geoffrey Vos QC stands down.
DWS leads on sharia-compliant securitisation
Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) has bagged a role on the first securitisation of sharia-compliant mortgage equivalents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Eversheds rescues Kwik Save in nine-hour race against the clock
EVERSHEDS, North West firm DWF and Linklaters have all acted in an against-the clock bid to save supermarket chain Kwik Save from collapse.
Fladgate scores Feri rating divestment
Fladgate Fielder is advising German independent research and wealth management company Feri Rating & Research on the sale of part of its business to Reuters. Subject to approval from the German Federal Cartel Office, Reuters will acquire Feri Fund Market Information and its fund database subsidiary FI Datenservice for an undisclosed amount. The Fladgate team was led by corporate partner ...
Floored thinking
Crowing about its new London office opposite St Paul’s, a recent press release from Morgan Lewis & Bockius said that the new space in Condor House “has been designed to be both energy and environmentally efficient, with over 75 per cent of waste building material recycled and all deliveries to the building measured for CO2 emissions.”
Freeth Cartwright gears up for Birmingham push
FREETH Cartwright is to open an office in Birmingham, the only major Midlands market in which the firm does not already have a presence.
French boutique splits over strategy
FRENCH public law boutique Huglo Lepage has split in two, with four partners leaving to set up a new firm called Genesis Avocats.
Freshfields sweats on Bloxham claim verdict
THE HEARING of age discrimination claims brought by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ex-insolvency partner Peter Bloxham against his former firm came to an end last week with news that all parties would have an agonising wait for a judgment over the summer.
Freshfields wins early role advising Bahraini power plant
Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer has won the lead mandate advising the government of Bahrain on the development of a national power plant.
FSA and industry define RSP credo
THE FINANCIAL Services Authority (FSA) has released its guidance on provider and distributor responsibilities just days after an alliance of industry bodies launched its retail structured products (RSPs) principles last week (10 July).
FSLA board hikes in-house contingent
THE FINANCIAL Services Lawyers Association (FSLA) has bolstered its advisory board with the addition of Citi general counsel Brad Gans.
Gordons’ acquisitions and equity curb push PEP through £500K barrier
YORKSHIRE law firm Gordons saw its average profit per equity partner (PEP) figure break the £500,000 barrier in the past financial year after it rose by 20 per cent to £547,000.
Government runs the rule over attorney general role
A consultation into the role of the attorney general was today (26 July) launched by the Government.
Hammersmith residents fight to halt legal centre funding cut
The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham is being sued by three legal advice centre users to stop it cutting grants to the local law centre.
Harneys bolsters Latin America practice
Offshore firm Harneys has hired Marco Martins as a senior associate to head its Latin America practice.
Herbies and Linklaters act on Friends Provident mega-merger
Herbert Smith and Linklaters have landed key roles advising on the proposed merger of life office giants Resolution and Friends Provident.
Hidden agenda
Trowers & Hamlins may have won the coveted Law Firm of the Year prize at this year’s Lawyer Awards, but the partners remain shy, retiring types.
Hunton treads different path in London
US firms are hardly famed for their UK real estate and litigation practices. London managing partner Bob Goldspink has a healthy litigation team at Morgan Lewis & Bockius and former Richards Butler partner Lista Cannon took her busy contentious litigation practice to Fulbright & Jaworski, but her presence alone will not concern market leader Herbert Smith. And as for real estate, Paul Hastings Janofsky &Walker has made some inroads and former
Hyping error
The curse of the hyped-up press release struck Latham & Watkins recently, resulting in a well-aimed slap on the wrist.
James Ellington: Standard Chartered
A recent reshuffle has extended Standard Chartered group head of legal James Ellington’s remit. But he’s relishing the challenge. By Julia Berris
Judiciary shake up sees seven in new roles
The judiciary is set for an overhaul, with the control of seven posts changing hands.
K&L Gates closes in on Texan merger
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis (K&L Gates) has announced it is in merger talks with Texas-based Hughes & Luce.
Kemp Little trumpets 27 per cent rise in turnover
TECHNOLOGY boutique Kemp Little has posted a massive 27 per cent turnover rise following the completion of a wide-ranging strategic overhaul.
Law Society ponders appeal over updated legal aid fees
Updated fixed fees for civil legal aid cases will be introduced as planned from October 2007 following a High Court judgment today (27 July).
Legal profession most stressful in City: The Priory
The law is one of the most stressful professions in the City and clients are largely to blame, according to Marco Martinez, business development director of corporate services at The Priory.
Legal recruiter joins asb law
Justin Ede, the founder and director of legal search company Carrington Legal, has joined asb law as head of its commercial litigation practice.
Lenovo appoints senior vice-president
Personal computer manufacturer Lenovo has appointed Michael O’Neill as senior vice-president and general counsel.
Linklaters fields multijurisdictional team for landmark Indian IPO
Linklaters has scored the advisory role in a key Indian real estate IPO.
Linklaters names new Swedish managing partner
Linklaters Sweden managing partner Jörgen Durban is standing down to make way for Stockholm's M&A corporate chief Peter Högström.
Litigation and ADR
Those in the dispute resolution world are all abuzz with rumours that an economic downturn is just around the corner. Traditionally, when noncontentious law crashes litigation booms, but many in the legal profession are questioning whether this will be the case this time around.
Litigation: Hearing aid
Solicitors must be given greater freedom to take their clients’ cases all the way to the High Court. By Simon Davis
Litigation: Plan of actions
As class actions look to take off in the UK it’s worth considering the role they can play for claimants. By Vincent Smith
Littleton hiring spree will add 10 to the fold
LITTLETON Chambers has kick-started a recruitment drive that will see the commercial employment set grow by a quarter in three years.
Looking south
Listen up: firms want to compete on a level playing field. Alan Campbell reports
Lovells guides Axa through motor insurance securitisation
Lovells has strengthened its ties with insurance company Axa by advising on its latest securitisation.
Macfarlanes bags 3i deal for Bestinvest
Listed private equity outfit 3i has appointed City firm Macfarlanes to advise the group on its acquisition of independent financial adviser Bestinvest.
Martineau takes PR firm to market
Birmingham and London firm Martineau Johnson has advised its own PR company on its admission to AIM. Freshwater UK was admitted to the junior market earlier this month and raised £4m, which will be used to grow the business organically and through acquisition. Despite employing the PR company for its press-related work, Martineau won the IPO instruction following a tender. The firm has previously advised Freshwater in connection with a number of acquisitions. Martineau’s ...
MBRM faces action over Refco debt 'cover-up'
Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw (MBRM) has been landed with a $245m (£119.2m) lawsuit from buyout house Thomas H Lee Partners, a creditor of bankrupt derivatives trader Refco. Lee is alleging a cover-up by MBRM.
Michelmores embarks on associate development programme
Exeter-based Michelmores has launched a development programme for non-partners who want to develop their management and leadership skills.
Monckton forces Euro Commission into £30m payout to UK workers
MONCKTON Chambers has scored a victory at Luxembourg’s Court of First Instance (CFI) that will see the European Commission pay out almost £30m in damages to UK workers.
Networking tool set up for sole in-housers
The Commerce & Industry (C&I) Group has invested in software to allow its sole in-house lawyer members to network online.
New Law Soc head promises support in time of change
FIONA Woolf last week (19 July) stepped down as the president of the Law Society to make way for immigration lawyer Andrew Holroyd.
No5 seals tie-up with City’s sole China firm
NO5 CHAMBERS has launched a groundbreaking exclusive alliance with the only Chinese law firm operating in London, Zhonglun W&D.
Norton Rose scoops £1.5bn China Bank-Barclays role
Norton Rose and Lovells have played key roles in injecting Chinese and Singaporean cash into Barclays.
OFT kick-starts bank charge proceedings
The Office of Fair Trading's High Court bid got underway today (27 July) with all the City's leading litigators participating.
Partners make frosty departure from Camerons
Moscow saw a high-level defection today. A bitter wind blew through the Moscow offices of CMS Cameron McKenna today with news that two of its top-drawer partners were bidding 'do svidanya' to the firm, and were bound straight for Clifford Chance See story.
Pension legislation shift puts Sackers in the UK 100 mix
NICHE pensions firm Sacker & Partners has boosted its average profit per equity partner (PEP) by 29 per cent to £874,000, a figure matched only by the magic circle and Ashurst.
People
•Morrison & Foerster has appointed tax practitioner Michael Frank as a partner in its Palo Alto office. Frank was previously a partner at DLA Piper.
Peter Smith J case: the first test of judging the judges
THE REFERRAL of Mr Justice Peter Smith to the Office of Judicial Complaints (OJC) over his conduct has led to the inevitable question: what is going to happen now?
Pinsent Masons: David Ryan
‘Every one matters’ is Pinsents’ new mantra. Managing partner David Ryan tells The Lawyer just how he plans to put those words into practice
Proskauer launches in São Paulo
New York firm Proskauer Rose has launched a São Paulo office, marking its first physical entrance into Latin America.
Rodrigo Uría dies of heart attack, aged 66
Rodrigo Uría, the president of Uría Menéndez, has died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Uría, aged 66, was on holiday in Croatia when he died. He began his career in 1973 when he became partner at his father’s firm. After taking over the reins at Uría Menéndez five years later, he converted it into one of the most successful business law firms in Spain. ...
Room with accrue
On a related subject, there was some much-needed comic relief in what has become the tragic opera of Bloxham v Freshfields.
Russell-Cooke turnover in 11 per cent jump
LONDON-based Russell-Cooke has posted an 11 per cent rise in turnover to £23.7m for the last financial year, which ended on 30 June.
Scot property
Scottish property legislation is no longer just toeing the UK line. Denis Garrity and Nick Scott report
Scotland
The current progress of the Legal Services Bill through Parliament in Westminster is being watched closely not just by lawyers in England and Wales. North of the border there are plenty of Scottish lawyers with concerns about the potential effects of the wide-ranging legislation that is likely to be passed later this year.
Scotland the green
There is no lack of funds or determination to increase energy efficiency in the Scottish marketplace. By Euan McVicar
Shambo shambles - the 'low'down
Today the fate of the UK's most famous bull hung in the balance at the Court of Appeal – will Shambo live or die? (see story)
Shambo to be put down following Court of Appeal ruling
11KBW has won a Court of Appeal ruling that gives the Welsh Assembly the right to have the ‘sacred’ bullock Shambo slaughtered.
SJ Berwin boosts CMT team
SJ Berwin has hired consultant Stewart White from communications company Bell Pottinger into its communications, media and technology (CMT) team.
SJ Berwin puts finance team at top of agenda
SJ Berwin puts finance team at top of agenda" /SJ BERWIN plans to double the size of its global finance department, putting the practice on an equal footing with the corporate team.
SJ Berwin worst for CO2 emissions
SEVEN of the country’s top 20 law firms have released their carbon emission counts, with SJ Berwin spewing forth the most carbon at 19.2 tonnes of CO2 per lawyer.
Slip-sliding, howay
Ever the showman, former Watson Burton senior partner Andrew Hoyle can even make loading a car boot an event.
Slow fraud cases prove SFO’s ‘nightmare on Elm Street’
THE LEGAL profession is at loggerheads over how to cut the amount of time it takes to get major fraud and corruption cases into court.
Sofa, no good
Expect Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer to continue its culling – of the outdated interiors, that is. It started with the carpets, but Tulkinghorn can reveal the decor overhaul will extend to the furniture too.
Split decision
The conviction of the former Zambian president for corruption vindicated the decision to hold the trial in the UK, says Janet Legrand
Take a leaf out of your own book
Forget your beach reads. All lawyers need for literary inspiration this summer is a quick look at their own firms. And there are so, so many undiscovered authors out there, are there not?
Takeover Panel gives lawyer a look-in
Some potentially heartening news has arrived from the Takeover Panel as far as lawyers are concerned: one of their own will be the panel’s director general in the new year.
Teaching old partners new tricks
Continuing professional development is essential at all levels within an organisation. At the top there are few born leaders. There are even fewer people who become leaders who could not improve further with the right coaching and development.
Travers unseats Herbies in West Ham’s Tevez saga
TRAVERS Smith has installed itself as West Ham United FC’s lead firm after the £105m takeover by Eggert Magnusson, advising the club on the protracted transfer of Carlos Tevez to Manchester United FC.
Tribunal Service deals with 600,000 cases in first year
The Government's Tribunal Service dealt with almost 600,000 cases in its first full year, its annual report revealed today (24 July).
Trowers chief dismisses new Middle East competition
Trowers & Hamlins senior partner Jonathan Adlington has dismissed claims that top City firms launching in the Middle East pose a threat to the firm’s own local practice.
UBS sues Simmons for negligence
SIMMONS & Simmons will be facing Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) in a High Court showdown over negligence.
US firms make headway in Paris against UK and domestic rivals
US FIRMS in Paris are gaining ground on their UK and French rivals, with White & Case and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton posting turnover increases ...
Web week
•Courtly love
West Ham given short shrift by Shear
If there was ever a short footballers XI, Graham Shear at Teacher Stern Selby would be their solicitor and Brick Court silk Charles Hollander QC would be their barrister.
Work Life Quiz: Philip Rodney, Burness
Working towards a healthy (business) climate
Anthony Hobley, head of climate change and carbon finance, Norton Rose
