25 February 2008
The Lawyer
Dundas's not so unique selling point
Dundas & Wilson has just launched a specialist outsourcing unit that it claims is the largest in Scotland. As Dundas partner Laurence Ward puts it: "A dedicated outsourcing team of this size is unique in Scotland."
People
• Burges Salmon has hired Emma Davies as head of best practice, having performed a similar role at Hamptons Estates.
A&O signs referral deal with Indian firm
Allen & Overy (A&O) has signed a referral relationship with Indian law firm Trilegal.
Addleshaws set for City relaunch with Milton Gate move
Addleshaw Goddard is expected to move into new offices at MiltonGate in the City as early as next year.
Alston & bird's revenue takes flight to tune of 12 per cent
Alston & Bird, the US firm that is considering opening an office in London this year, posted a 12 per cent jump in revenue in 2007 to $518m (£259m).
Barrister fees for Diana inquest set to top £5m
Total cost of case to exceed £10m as Al fayed's silks bill £575 an hour
Bell & Scott elects new managing partner
Scottish property firm Bell & Scott has made Paul Jennings its new managing partner. Jennings will replace the present incumbent Iain MacDonald in November.
Blakes snares commercial real estate ace
Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons has poached partner Jack Czyzowski from Collyer Bristow to boost its commercial real estate team.
Bredin Prat revenue soars to €85m
Leading French independent firm Bredin Prat has enjoyed one of its best ever years, seeing turnover leap more than 40 per cent to hit e85m (£64m).
Bristows scoops three-partner team from restructuring Howrey
City IP boutique Bristows has recruited a three-partner disputes team from the London office of US firm Howrey.
Broking the law
The introduction of legal broker networks greatly improved legal services in Australia for both consumers and solicitors
Bryan Cave London turnover up 22 per cent
The London office of US firm Bryan Cave has posted a 22.4 per cent jump in turnover for 2007. Revenue climbed to $28.4m (£14.3m) compared with 2006's $23.2m (£11.7m).
BSB, IBC to amend code for support staff
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) and the Institute of Barristers' Clerks (IBC) have entered negotiations to amend the Bar Code of Conduct to give chambers staff more security.
Bupa to slash legal panel
Healthcare giant Bupa is undertaking a wholesale panel review aimed at cutting panel firm numbers and slashing overall legal costs.
Burges guides AGM's grand pier takeover
Burges Salmon has advised AGM Holdings on the multimillion-pound takeover of Weston-super-Mare's most visible tourist attraction, the Grand Pier.
Cadwalader overhauls management and appoints first chairman
Cadwalader has radically overhauled its management, appointing finance head Chris White as firmwide chairman.
Canapéd crusaders
Word has reached Tulkinghorn's perfumed ears about a particular type of training regime at that renowned finishing school Weil Gotshal & Manges. It appears that the young lawyers are given rounded training that includes a session on how to eat a canapé.
Capello: a real man of the (legal) world
There's a familial feel to Grapevine this week. One of The Lawyer's hacks was chatting with Addleshaw Goddard employment partner Malcolm Pike recently when he mentioned that he had advised Fabio Capello on his employment contract with the Football ...
Chadbourne rebuilds after failed merger
Chadbourne & Parke aims to double the size of its London office and focus on its corporate practice group in the wake of failed merger talks with Watson Farley & Williams (WFW).
Children of the revolution
The quasi-feudal partnership structure of law firms has traditionally not always been conducive to democratic ideals.
Children's hour
Its headquarters may be straight out of Pride and Prejudice, but the Children's Trust's work with severely disabled youngsters is bang up to date - and it's the chosen charity for this year's Lawyer Awards
City quartet guides bidders through Sellafield wind-down
Denton Wilde Sapte, Hammonds, Linklaters and Pinsent Masons are advising the four bidding consortia on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) £17bn winding-down ...
Clifford Chance chief berates staff for taxi abuse
Clifford Chance London managing partner Jeremy Sandelson has emailed staff to warn them about escalating taxi costs.
Davis Polk and White & Case advise on blockbuster Visa IPO
Davis Polk & Wardwell and White & Case have landed plum roles on the $19bn (£9.62bn) Visa IPO, the largest ever in US history.
Dewey & LeBoeuf breaks a billion in first results
Dewey & LeBoeuf today (Monday 25 February) announced its first financial results since the merger of Dewey Ballantine and LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae last year.
DIFC courts appoint UK trio and first female judge
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has appointed six new judges to its courts - three of whom are from the UK.
DLA Piper Madrid woos corporate partner
DLA Piper has beefed up its Spanish corporate practice with the hire of engineering company Grupo Ferrovial's corporate legal chief.
DWF bulks up with Cobbetts defectors
The first shockwaves of Cobbetts' dramatic partnership overhaul, as first reported by The Lawyer (28 January), have already been felt with the departure of two lawyers for rival DWF.
Eversheds appoints director of diversity
Eversheds HR director Caroline Wilson has been appointed to the newly created role of director of diversity.
Eversheds targets spring Abu Dhabi move
Eversheds is set to follow the magic circle into Abu Dhabi by this spring.
Fair enough
Fair enough29-Feb-2008Here at The Lawyer tea and chocolate are a way of life, so an excuse to pen a few words on our favourite pastimes was welcome.
Farrers elects new chief during strategic review
Farrer & Co has elected James Furber to succeed Robert Clinton as the firm's senior partner in May.
FAST appoints new GC
The Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) has appointed Julian Heathcote Hobbins as general counsel to help tackle software piracy in the UK.
Ferry nice
Clifford Chance may be the biggest firm in the world, but that is no reason for its lawyers to be both seen and heard on weekends. One of Tulkinghorn's Stateside scribes bumped into such a lawyer during a spot of sightseeing in the Big Apple.
Firms, legal bodies create legal secretary competency standard
Almost 40 firms and professional legal bodies have agreed on a framework of competency standards for legal secretaries in a bid to improve their career paths.
Freshfields appoints new real estate chief
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed John Fordham as the new departmental managing partner for real estate in London, taking over with immediate effect from Mark Wheelhouse, who was at the helm for four-and-a-half years.
Freshfields emerges as the fairest of traders
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has scored a public relations victory over rivals on corporate social responsibility (CSR), becoming the only firm in the Magic Circle to promote Fairtrade Fortnight, the annual event to promote the Fairtrade labelling scheme.
From here to maternity
The issues surrounding maternity from the perspectives of the professional mother, line manager and HR professional can be complex and sensitive.
Gibraltar: non-domiciled
A low tax liability for non-domiciled individuals is just one of numerous benefits the Rock offers residents qualifying for Category 2 status.
Gide partner joins Shanghai court
David Boitout has been selected as the first French arbitrator at the Shanghai Court of Financial Arbitration (SCFA).
Global storming
Practitioners from eight leading offshore firms share their views on how mergers are shaping a rapidly growing and increasingly globalised legal market
Guernsey: Financial crime
Recent changes to Guernsey's financial crime laws have increased the obligations on financial services businesses to disclose their transactions.
Halliwells set to make redundancies in London and Manchester
Halliwells has launched a redundancy consultation process across its London-based corporate team, as a result of the group lagging behind budget.
Halliwells snares DWF partner after four years of courtship
Halliwells has scored a number of new clients with the lateral hire of real estate partner Ross Wellman from DWF.
Hammonds, walkers step up to dolcis sale
Hammonds and Walker Morris have acted on the administration of high street shoe shop chain Dolcis. Prior to being wound up, Dolcis operated from 185 locations across the UK.
Herbert Smith hit by associates' racism claims
Herbert Smith has been hit by accusations of racism from its own community of Indian associates, who feel they have been singled out for cultural integration courses.
Herbert Smith leads litigation giants with mass recruitment of paralegals
Paralegals are increasingly being moulded into solid building blocks in firms' strategies - particularly in document-heavy practice areas such as litigation and corporate.
Herbert Smith oversees London listing of Marshall Wace hedge fund
Herbert Smith is advising Marshall Wace on the London listing of its hedge fund MW Tops, which will take place thanks to updated listing rules.
Herbies' Indian uprising
Blimey. Herbert Smith has really put its foot in it this time. As revealed on the front page, the firm stands accused of discriminating against its own Indian associates.
Hill Dickinson bags holy Scouse nous
Being dumped by a client is never a good thing, so being dumped after 128 years has got to hurt. But that is how long Gamon Arden & Co had been advising the Diocese of Liverpool before the church decided it was better off with Hill Dickinson.
Hong Kong
Its status as a special administrative region of China makes Hong Kong the natural gateway to the People’s Republic - and an ideal offshore jurisdiction.
House call: Richard Shoylekov, Wolseley
Richard Shoylekov was forced to hit the ground running when he took up the reins as general counsel at global building materials supplier Wolseley.
Insurers wade into Akzo row
Insurers have declared that underwriting non-European lawyers looking to run competition cases in the EU would be almost untenable due to the Akzo Nobel ruling.
'Investhotel' developers turn to Howard Kennedy
Howard Kennedy has advised Portugal's largest hotel and leisure group Pestana Group on the sale of new luxury 'investhotel' units in London.
Irwin Mitchell aiming for £150m turnover
Irwin Mitchell aiming for £150m turnover" / Irwin Mitchell managing partner Howard Culley has been re-elected in his 20th year in office and is predicting a 35 per cent rise in turnover to £150m by the end of the financial year.
Isle of Man: International I.P
With IP rights central to its burgeoning knowledge economy, the Isle of Man is determined to remain in step with UK, EU and international law.
Jersey: Companies
Building on the amendments to Jersey's companies legislation in 2006, further substantive changes and refinements in this area were introduced by the States of Jersey in 2008, reflecting international trends.
Law Societies call for Guantanamo closure
The Law Societies of England & Wales, Scotland and 31 other bar associations have signed a joint letter to president Bush calling for the immediate closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp.
Life after law: Rags to riches
Funny then that he ended up collecting other people's junk as a modern-day rag and bone man after spending eight years at various corporate finance outfits such as Rothschilds and Dresdner Kleinwort Benson after qualifying in 1995.
Linklaters wins role advising bank's new board
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's role on the Northern Rock saga has been marginalised after the mortgage lender passed into public hands last week.
London Development Agency to cut £3m from legal spend
The London Development Agencyis preparing to overhaul its legal team and slash its panel from 18 to five firms.
Luxembourg
Recent updates to the grand duchy's tax environment have taken EU proposals into consideration.
M&A bonanza sends Cuatrecasas turnover past €200m barrier
Spanish independent Cuatrecasas has posted a record increase in turnover, boosting revenue by more than 18 per cent to hit e225m (£169m).
McCartney-Mills judgment may be made public
Details of what is expected to be the biggest divorce settlement in history may be made public, Mr Justice Bennett has warned Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.
McDermott launches in Houston with Bracewell raid
McDermott Will & Emery has poached a team of energy lawyers from Bracewell & Giuliani so that it may launch a Houston office.
Mishcon advises UBS on new-style investment
Mishcon de Reya has advised UBS Global Asset Management on the sale of a London property that saw the client deviate from its traditional investment model.
Morley and Dejonghe to lead A&O
Allen & Overy managing partner David Morley has won the backing of the firm’s partnership to pip corporate head Richard Cranfield to the senior partner post.
New technologies: Good news?
With dozens of different definitions flying around and a host of industry experts getting involved in the debate, web2.0 is one of the most heavily discussed technology topics of modern times.
Nun notes
Tulkinghorn is a traditional chap and thinks being a nun is a woman's job. He finds the idea of a bunch of middle-aged men wimpled-up and pretending to be lyrical nuns a little strange. For Ashurst's corporate partners, however, it's a fact of life.
NYSE Euronext recruits legendary Milbank partner as GC
NYSE Euronext has plucked its new general counsel from Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy, hiring legendary outsourcing partner John Halvey.
Offshore
The Lawyer's offshore survey reveals the extent to which the offshore elite have capitalised on their dominance of the sector in 2007. It also shows how much work the sector leaders, Appleby and Maples and Calder, will have to do to hold on to their thrones for another year.
One small legal step and a giant leap for Northern Rock
Northern Rock passed into public ownership last Friday (22 February) following what was ultimately a very simple legal process.
Paul Hastings goes wild in West
The partners at Los Angeles (LA)-headquartered Paul Hastings are celebrating after the firm’s double-digit revenue growth over the past five years saw it leapfrog local rival O’Melveny & Myers and consolidate its lead over a third LA firm, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.
Put clients first - not barristers
The new chairman of the bar Timothy Dutton QC has begun his year in office by proclaiming the primacy of his profession. While at the helm, he told The Lawyer, he plans to "put the barrister first" (7 January).
Record revenue rise sparks Gide London move
French independent firm Gide Loyrette Nouel is set to treble its London office space in a move to new premises, as it sees revenue rocket in the UK capital.
Reed Smith inherits Dewey Ballantine Beijing
Reed Smith has taken the former Dewey Ballantine Beijing office, which didn't sign up to be a part of Dewey & LeBoeuf.
Richard Brown: Lovells
What time do you usually leave the office?In time for Coronation Street.
RPC leads insurance charge to Bermuda
Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) is sending a reconnaissance team to Bermuda to scout the possibility of launching on the island.
Separated at birth
Ricky Gervais went from cheeky comedy midget to world star on the back of his hit TV show The Office in the legendary form of David Brent. But riding on the coat-tails of that success were his co-stars.
Shareholders face £50 fee to sue Govt over Northern Rock
Northern Rock's smaller shareholders, who are hoping to sue the Government over their lost shareholdings, face costs of up to £50 each before any action can get underway.
Simmons beats DLA, Eversheds in Sitel preferred adviser race
Simmons & Simmons has edged out DLA Piper and Eversheds to become the preferred legal adviser for £1bn turnover outsourcing specialist Sitel.
Simpson Thatcher and Weil in frame on Getty sale
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Weil Gotshal & Manges have snared key roles on the leveraged buy-out of Getty Images by private equity house Hellman & Friedman.
Singapore lures West's insurance heavyweights
In September 2006 the prime minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong urged London's leading insurance figures to look east for investment opportunities. The insurance market has since responded with vigour and Lloyd's of London is thriving in the region.
Slaughters completes senior management overhaul
Slaughter's management shake-up is continuing with real estate partner Graham White set to take up the position of executive partner.
Slaughters leads in standard life offload
Standard Life has turned to long-term adviser Slaughter and May in a deal that will see the life insurance giant offload annuity liabilities worth £6.7bn to Canada Life.
Specsavers raids Yum! Brands for Euro, Australian expansion
Specsavers has expanded its legal team with a hire from fast food restaurants giant Yum! Brands to assist with a large-scale business expansion into new markets in Europe and Australia.
Squires goes for European energy expert
Squire Sanders & Dempsey has boosted its European energy practice with the hire of a partner from Troutman Sanders.
Sullivan appoints pair to manage London office
Sullivan & Cromwell has appointed co-managing partners of the firm's London office to take over from William Plapinger, who served as London chief for the past 13 years and who will stay in London as European coordinator.
Sullivan toasts drinks giants' tie-up
Sullivan & Cromwell has cemented its relationship with drinks giant Diageo, advising the company on its $900m (£456.5m) joint venture with Dutch distiller Ketel One.
Taking the Michael
Tulkinghorn likes nothing better than to slouch in his leather armchair with a stiff measure of Glenlivet and stay up till the early hours to watch the Oscars.
The family courts and why Paul McCartney should reveal all
A new family courts pilot scheme poses more questions than it answers.
The luck of the Irish
St Patrick’s Day is still two weeks away, but there was already one happy Irishman in New York last night.
Top cricket role for ex-Clarke Willmott partner
Former Clarke Willmott partner Ian Smith has been appointed legal director of the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA).
Top of the offs
As the top offshore firms seek to maintain dominance, the expansionism of the past two years looks set to turn into a period of consolidation.
Travers committee to suppress conflicts
Travers Smith has set up a dedicated panel as part of a more rigorous approach to potential conflicts of interest.
Trowers takes two from ASB and RPC
Trowers & Hamlins has made two lateral partner hires to its banking and finance and pensions teams, Martin McFall and Paul Flood.
Two hires kick-start Mourant's international expansion
Mourant du Feu & Jeune has kicked off a recruitment campaign with partner hires from Allen & Overy (A&O) and Maples and Calder.
Web week
The Lawyer's Web Week is a weekly commentary on legal activity on the web. This includes an overview of the best of the week's blogs. If you want to direct us to useful links, email webweek@thelawyer. com.
White & Case opens in Romania
White & Case opens in Romania" /White & Case is the newest entrant into the Romanian legal market, opening a Bucharest office with former Linklaters lawyer Todd Shollenbarger.
Wilsons
Wilsons" /Salisbury-based Wilsons has been in operation since the early 18th century, although the firm's major breakthrough occurred in the mid-1970s when it launched a premium private client business. It now boasts a turnover of £13m and has doubled in size over the past six years.
