26 September 2011
The Lawyer
Allen & Overy turns its back on Canada
Allen & Overy (A&O) has put a Canada launch on the back-burner. Partners rejected the Canada proposals in favour of focusing on Australia.
BT real estate legal chief switches role
The head of BT’s real estate legal team Geoffrey Beedham, who took up his role just last year, is moving to a new role in the telecoms giant.
China’s second-largest firm poised to launch in London
Yingke also puts Hong Kong, US, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Middle East on its shopping list
Easy as PII
The PI insurance market is in a transitional phase, with new entrants heralding better times for smaller practices and fewer firms ending up in the assigned risks pool. By Martin Hall
Focus: European firms in London - The English channel
London’s global hub status means many big European practices are enhancing the capabilities on offer at their City bases. By Joanne Harris
Freshfields racks up fourth victory for Turkey on investment dispute
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has sealed a major arbitration victory for the Republic of Turkey in one of the largest investment disputes on record.
Green fingers, Michael Webber: Clydesdale Bank
As head of legal services at Clydesdale Bank, Michael Webber is pleased to be an integral part of the business - and he still has time for his garden, says Joshua Freedman
HFW mulls shorter lockstep, mandatory retirement age
Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) is considering cutting the length of its modified lockstep from seven to five years as, in a separate move, it plans to introduce a mandatory partner retirement age of 62.
Hong Kong to Norfolk – the long way round
hen it comes to a healthy commute, cycling to and from their place of work is about as far as it goes for the average office worker.
Links coughs up £13m in negligence settlement
Linklaters is understood to have paid £13m to settle a professional negligence claim brought by former client Levicom, a Baltic telecoms company.
Links, Slaughters lead on De Beers’ Botswana move
Linklaters and Slaughter and May took the lead roles advising on an agreement between the world’s largest producer of diamonds and the government of Botswana.
Nabarro guides Great Portland on purchase of Royal Mail site
Nabarro has become Great Portland Estates’ go-to firm as the developer continues to snap up prime central London real estate.
New kids on the box
For eight years Clifford Chance senior partner Stuart Popham inhabited an exalted place in the great-and-goodery, with no trade mission or pro bono initiative complete without his presence.
Norton Rose lures Links employment specialist
Norton Rose has hired Linklaters employment partner Catrina Smith, filling the gap left by the departure of former practice head Peter Talibart.
On the move
Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) has netted insurance partner Victoria Sherratt from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, where she was also a partner.
Opinion: The Russian Bear is calling, but approach with caution
The spotlight of foreign investment is shining brightly on Moscow following a recent trade visit that saw the announcement of £215m worth of deals and the creation of almost 500 UK jobs.
Porter Dodson
Dorset and Somerset firm Porter Dodson effected two mergers in the last financial year, but did not manage to increase its revenue from the £7.6m it generated in 2009-10.
Property consultant takes £18m High Court hit
The High Court has upheld a professional negligence claim against commercial property consultant Drivers Jonas, ordering it to pay £18.05m to claimant Capita Alternative Fund Services (Guernsey).
Real estate embarks on slow road to recovery
The real estate sector has a long way to go before it regains the healthy levels of three years ago. James Swift reports
Reasonable clout: why Dundas needs Bircham
It was fast becoming one of the worst-kept secrets in the legal market. For months rumours had been circulating that Scottish heavyweight Dundas & Wilson and Westminster firm Bircham Dyson Bell were in merger talks, yet both sides continued to be economical with the truth, repeatedly dismissing the stories as nonsense.
RPC’s quality drive on track as Bristol beckons
When Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) makes a strategic move it is usually intended to send a clear message to its insurance industry peers.
Singapore firms flex regional muscle
UK firms such as Olswang, Taylor Wessing and Withers may have been making a splash in Singapore, but a number of the city-state’s domestic players are also unveiling their pan-Asia ambitions.
The Finn-betweeners
With a reduction in activity by some of Finland’s largest companies, the changing economic focus is forcing law firms to think creatively. Dale McEwan reports
Tulkinghorn: Money for old rope
If you happened to glance up at London’s law firm skyline on Friday 16 September, there’s a decent chance you’d have seen a variety of strange creatures suspended from the roofs on ropes.
Work Life Quiz: Robin Moira White, Old Square Chambers
