27 February 2006
The Lawyer
Competitive edge
Ofcom is preparing to beef up its legal team. Counsel Polly Weitzman is unafraid to fight her corner, but can she silence the critics?
Deals comment
Macquarie finally throws in the towel for LSE bid
Deals roundup
Sullivan, Skadden land BlackRock merger mandate
2 Harcourt recruits academics to bolster environment team
Public and planning law set 2 Harcourt Buildings is forming a new five-strong academic panel to add extra depth to the services it offers.
20 Essex Street silk wins FCO legal advisory role
20 Essex Street's Daniel Bethlehem QC has won an open competition to be appointed as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's (FCO) new legal adviser.
7 Bedford Row takes on 199's remaining silk
Seven Bedford Row has picked up 199 Strand's last silk Peter Andrews QC in a coup for the set's clinical negligence practice. Andrews joins 7 Bedford Row on 6 March, shortly after 199 closes its doors for good at the end of this month. He will be the mixed civil and criminal set's eighteenth silk and its sixth civil QC. Andrews specialises in catastrophic and clinical injury litigation, including claims for major spinal-cord injury, severe brain damage and birth trauma. Fellow 199 member ...
Accidental zero
It's long been a secret pleasure of Tulkinghorn to watch lawyers (sometimes literally) fall over themselves in an effort to have their names printed on these fabled pages. Indeed, a spot in this column is very much a badge of honour for the modern-day lawyer.So Tulkinghorn listened with great mirth to the recent tale of a
Administrator for BeWise turns to CC for advice
Clifford Chance is acting in the year's biggest retail insolvency so far as the beleaguered sector suffers another casualty.
Arnold & Porter joins quest to clear Da Vinci Code author of plagiarism
Arnold & Porter and London firm Orchard Solicitors will face each other this week in the High Court as litigation over Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code kicks off.
ASB Law's non-replacement of chief exec fuels speculation
The departure of ASB Law's chief executive two weeks ago has set tongues wagging in the South East legal market. As first revealed on www.thelawyer.com (20 February), Christopher Honeyman Brown has left the law firm to pursue "other interests" and will not be replaced as chief executive.
Bankruptcy is big business for the City's best insolvency set
3/4 South Square acts for companies in trouble - but its own future looks bright. By Joanne Harris
Big-hitters bring big problems
Nick Hood reports on why big-hitters don't always suit smaller firms
Bingham completes sixth merger in nine years
Bingham McCutchen has finalised its merger with Washington DC-based Swidler Berlin a month earlier than expected.
Blake Lapthorn merger to create £40m powerhouse
South East firm Blake Lapthorn Linnell is set to merge with Hampshire-based White & Bowker, which will create a new regional giant with an estimated turnover of £40m.
BLP's Eisenberg re-elected to top spot
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) managing partner Neville Eisenberg has been re-elected unopposed for a third successive term and has pledged to expand the firm's international network.
Brand anew
The success of partnering arrangements has supermarkets and banks gearing up to sell more than just home insurance policies to their customers, reports Martin Membery
Browne Jacobson poaches Howes employment director
Midlands law firm Browne Jacobson has snared Howes Percival director Robin Broughton to head up its employment practice in Birmingham.Broughton is set to join the firm from Howes Percival, where he was the director of employment law.Working for bo...
CAT slams unacceptable conduct of Herbies man
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has reprimanded Herbert Smith's head of EU and competition Jonathan Scott for "inappropriate" comments made during a private meeting regarding the alleged cartel activities of an Ashurst client.
CC appoints public affairs consultancy
Clifford Chance has brought in a public affairs company to give its public policy unit greater access to Whitehall.
CC partners choose Childs as global managing partner
David Childs was today confirmed as Clifford Chance managing partner as the firm-wide vote closed this afternoon.
CC raids CMS for Polish real estate star
Clifford Chance (CC) has raided CMS Cameron McKenna for its Polish real estate practice, including regional rainmaker Pawel Debowski.
Chasing the wagon
Tulkinghorn had to blink himself awake this week when contacted by a hypnosis group interested in plying their wares to lawyers. But the words 'cocaine' and 'cannabis' certainly helped focus the mind.
City sticklers
Renowned for their fairness and efficiency, City insurance arbitrators are setting industry standards. By Helen Clark
Cobbetts raids Pinsents' corporate team
Cobbetts has boosted its Manchester private equity team with the hire of a partner and three associates from Pinsent Masons.
College of Law designs unique LPC for BLP
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has teamed up with the College of Law to provide a bespoke LPC for the firm’s future trainees.
Davies Lavery snares BLG insurance head
City firm Davies Lavery has recruited London-based international firm Barlow Lyde & Gilbert's head of general insurance Graham Dickinson. Dickinson will head the firm's London-based catastrophic injuries team. Jon Parker
De Pardieu revenue shows recovery post-Leygonie exit
French independent firm De Pardieu Brocas Maffei is celebrating a stellar 2005, with revenue up 16 per cent to €25m (£17m).
Diageo counsel returns to Hunton to take up managing partner post
Hunton & Williams has taken the unusual step of appointing a new managing partner from outside the firm, luring Diageo North America general counsel Wally Martinez back to the fold to succeed Thurston Moore, who becomes chairman.
DLA Piper snares $10bn PPP Middle East mandate
DLA Piper snares $10bn PPP Middle East mandate" /DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary has won a contract to advise a new Middle East bank on project finance work valued at a possible $10bn (£5.75bn).
Eisenberg seeks friends as BLP catches a cold
Managing partner Neville Eisenberg has been a revelation at Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), boosting profit per equity partner by 120 per cent in the past four years, while dragging turnover up by 40 per cent over the same period. But The Lawyer can ...
Ex-Cadwalader team kicks off solo project
The former projects head of Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft Paul Biggs has taken the unusual step of launching a project finance boutique just weeks after he quit the US firm.
Ex-Covington lawyer lands US DoJ antitrust post
Thomas Barnett has been sworn in as assistant attorney general in the US Department of Justice's antitrust division. Barnett, an antitrust specialist, has been acting in the position since June last year and previously served the division's deputy assistant attorney general for civil enforcement. Before that, Barnett was vice-chair of Washington DC firm Covington & Burling's antitrust and ...
Falconer hangs Damocles' Sword over Manzoor
Legal Services Ombudsman (LSO) and Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (LSCC) Zahida Manzoor has been reappointed for a further three years - although she may be abolished within that period.
Female UK judge to preside over genocide action brought against Serbia and Montenegro
British QC Rosalyn Higgins, who has become the first woman president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), will hear her first case on 27 February when Bosnia and Herzegovina brings genocide proceedings against Serbia and Montenegro.
Five hundred firms slapped with miners' bill
The Law Society’s new regulation and consumer complaints board has written to over 500 firms involved in miners’ compensation cases to persuade them to repay charges paid by clients.
Foot Anstey
UK law firms need to follow the US lead as diversity becomes an increasingly important issue for clients
Freshfields instructs Erskine as P&O saga drags on
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has drafted in Esrkine Chambers to defend P&O as DP World’s plans to takeover the company moves up to the Court of Appeal.
Freshfields to kill off all-equity partnership
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has announced radical plans to ditch its sacred all-equity partnership model.
FSA installs two new enforcement bosses
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has appointed two new heads of department as the authority continues to restructure its enforcement group.
Gas work ignites hot air
It's an accepted fact that corporate lawyers always try to gain credit for advising on an M&A deal. But magic circle rivals Linklaters and Freshfields took this to another level last week.
GdF picks Darrois and Freshfields ahead of Cleary on £44bn Suez deal
French corporate powerhouses Bredin Prat and Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, alongside Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, have bagged the work on the merger between energy giants Gaz de France (GdF) and Suez.
Global storming
The ruthless reign of David Cheyne ensured Linklaters' corporate revival in London. But can global corporate head David Barnes replicate this success internationally? By Husnara Begum
Goodwin launches in San Fran for West Coast tech push
Boston-based Goodwin Procter is ramping up its West Coast presence with the summer launch of a San Francisco office, which it plans to follow up with new offices in Silicon Valley and LA.
Grapevine
Sullivan pins hopes on raising young blood to top post
Herbert Smith advises parents in special needs appeal cases
Herbert Smith is expanding the scope of its pro bono work to include acting for parents of children with special educational needs. The move follows the launch of the firm's advocacy unit in May.
Hill Dickinson re-elects senior partner
Hill Dickinson's senior partner Tony Wilson has been reelected in an uncontested election for a second five-year term. The election comes shortly after Peter Jackson became the firm's new managing partner in late 2005. Wilson was the North West firm's managing partner prior to becoming senior partner in 2000. He has overseen a number of changes, including Hill Dickinson's merger with Liverpool property firm Bullivant Jones in January 2004. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 22 February
Hogan hires life sciences counsel for Brussels
Washington DC-based international firm Hogan & Hartson has a new counsel in its Brussels life sciences and food practice. Elisabethann Wright has experience in food and pharmaceutical law, European law and European court litigation. Most recently she served as senior legal officer at the European Free Trade Agreement Surveillance Authority. Jon Parker
Howard Kennedy launches media team with star Olswang hires
Howard Kennedy is launching a media litigation practice with the hire of two partners from Olswang.
In brief
McDermott Will & Emery tax specialist David Hardy has been elected as co-chair of the International Bar Association's taxes committee. Hardy's term will last until 31 December 2007. He will co-chair alongside Cuatrecasas partner Alejandro Escoda.
International Report: Tanner de Witt
Hong Kong-based firm Tanner De Witt has had a bumper year, which has seen it more than double in size.
International Roundup: Asia
Donna Sawyer on the month in the Asia
J Sainsbury's confirms new head of legal
J Sainsbury's has named Nick Grant as head of group legal services. This formalises the role he has filled on a temporary basis since the retirement of David Thurston last year.
Kelley Drye, Collier Shannon confirm tie-up
New York-based Kelley Drye & Warren and Washington DC's Collier Shannon Scott have confirmed their merger. Collier chairman Paul Rosenthal will be managing partner of the new firm's DC office and two of Collier's 82 lawyers will join the new firm's national management board. Rosenthal said profit per equity partner would not fall in the first year. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 23 February
Key changes spell harmony
The 100-year-old Marine Insurance Act is showing its age and is a prime example of why UK insurance legislation needs to be updated. By Kenneth McKenzie
Light relief
An insight into the humour of City PR chiefs was provided last week when Norton Rose PR guru Sean Twomey related the following to a Tulkinghorn scribe:Q. How many PRs does it take to change a lightbulb?A. I'll get back to you on that.Astonishing.
Liverpool City Council legal head joins Weightmans
National firm Weight-mans has poached Liverpool City Council's head of legal to boost its public sector team.
London2012 restructure splits legal team
Charlie Wijeratna, the commercial and legal director of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog), has dumped his legal role to focus on a new role as commercial director.
Lords to hear Greenpeace protestors' appeal
A five-strong panel of the House of Lords will this week hear appeals from environmental campaign group Greenpeace on behalf of a group of activists who protested at military bases in an attempt to prevent the Iraq war.
Mallesons boosts HK corporate with CC hire
Australia’s Mallesons Stephen Jacques has bolstered its Hong Kong office with a raid on Clifford Chance.
MBR&M posts record 2005 figures
Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw (MBR&W) has posted a record turnover of $979m (£559.9m) for 2005, a rise of more than 7 per cent on the previous year's total of $911m (£521m).
OFT ticks off Law Soc over price disclosures
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has fired a warning shot to the Law Society and its members after it found the Surrey Law Society guilty of anticompetitive pricing practices.
O'Melveny acquires Freshfields former China head
LA-based O’Melveny & Myers has bagged the former head of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s China practise.
Opinion
UK law firms need to follow the US lead as diversity becomes an increasingly important issue for clients
Orrick revamps management team to cope with rapid growth
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has overhauled its senior management structure in Europe and the US, creating a number of new management roles to oversee the firm’s international growth.
People
Philip Mark Pelling QC has been appointed as a specialist chancery circuit judge, assigned to the Northern Circuit.
Phil Michaels: Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth in-house lawyer Phil Michaels forced Gordon Brown into a headline-making U-turn last month. Joanne Harris finds out more
Prosecutor's Office chases 'Japanese Enron' conviction
Michio Masaki worked for the Tokyo Prosecutors Office for 12 years and served as a Tokyo district court judge for three years before leaving to join boutique criminal law firm City-Yuwa Partners, which employs 22 partners and 42 associates, in 2004.
Pure disingenuous
The tagline has long said 'Guinness is good for you', but a revelation from the North American general counsel for Diageo hints otherwise.
Rally to the causes
The annual boozefest-cum-property conference that is Marché International des Professionnels d'Immobilier (Mipim) brings out the best in lawyers and others in the real estate world, producing as it does a number of charity events. Tulkinghorn gives his kudos to the 16-strong team, which includes Linklaters' Christopher Coombe and Norton ...
Revenue appoints CPS man as head of asset forfeiture
The Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) has recruited its first head of asset forfeiture as it increases its efforts in fighting serious organised crime.
Separated at birth
As reported on 16 January, Guernsey-based Collas Day has a new senior partner in Richard Ogier. Are we the only ones to have noticed the absence from our TV screens of Touch of Frost star David Jason ever since? Presumably no less dogged in pursuing new clients than he was at tracking criminals, former down-to-earth street copper Jack Fr… Richard Ogier will, however, ...
Shearman poaches Norton Rose corporate ace Levy
Shearman & Sterling has snared Norton Rose corporate heavyweight Laurence Levy for its London M&A team.
Sir Digby does Dudley
The Confederation of British Industry's Sir Digby Jones swung into action the other day to help out a former partner. The great man winged his way to Dudley in the West Midlands to launch a new firm, Hawkins Hatton. One of the founders, Stephen Garrett, used to be a partner at Edge & Ellison with Jones in a bygone age.
Slaughters flies in to aid BA in global cargo price-fixing case
Slaughter and May has scooped the lead advisory role for British Airways (BA), which was raided last week by officials from the European Commission over suspicions of price-fixing in its cargo business.
SocGen drops Lovells, brings in Linklaters and Orrick for £50m panel
Lovells has lost its place on Société Générale’s (SocGen) global legal panel, while former global advisers Herbert Smith and Denton Wilde Sapte have to be content with local panel places.
Speechly nabs Nabarros man for planning role
City firm Speechly Bircham has a new planning and environmental partner.
Stalk is cheap
Stalking might be bit passé for A-list celebrities these days, but Clifford Chance employees are yet to catch on.On a recent visit to the law firm's offices, one of Tulkinghorn's scribes was told of an internal system that allows the name of any employee to be typed in and for their picture to pop up. And the name of this system? Stalkernet.
Stephensons bags partner from rival in HK IP offensive
Stephenson Harwood & Lo, the Hong Kong arm of Stephenson Harwood, has snared Wilkinson & Grist partner Chloe Lee as head of the firm's IP practice in Hong Kong.
Strong half year set to boost DMH Stallard's profit results
DMH Stallard's profit results" /DMH Stallard is set to see profit jump 12 per cent in 2006 after it revealed its half-year figures.
Super set to launch as star silks quit Hollis Whiteman
A group of star silks are breaking away from Hollis Whiteman Chambers to launch the most significant new set since Matrix Chambers was formed in 2000.
Tods Murray adds £1.4m to overdraft in first year as LLP
Scottish firm Tods Murray's bank overdraft rose by £1.4m between 2004 and 2005, according to its first set of limited-liability partnership (LLP) accounts.
UK Roundup: The bar
Joanne Harris on the month at the bar
White & Case's Simmons capture handles groundbreaking Chinese-based LBO
Hong Kong-based foreign investment lawyer Seung Chong has taken White & Case to a new frontier by acting on China's first leveraged buyout (LBO) just one month after he joined the firm from Simmons & Simmons.
WilmerHale pitch lands firm Optos float on LSE
US firm WilmerHale is building a track record for Scottish technology floats after it advised Dunfermline-based medical technology business Optos on its London Stock Exchange (LSE) IPO.
You're barred!
There were red faces all round last week in New York when Michael Watson, deputy general counsel of New York Life Insurance Company, the largest mutual life insurance company in the US, was found to have never been licensed to practise law. He had previously worked as an associate at the New York offices of Hunton & Williams and Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy. Watson resigned on the spot, while Tulkinghorn thought to himself how glad he is that journalists don't have to sit bar exams…
