27 June 2011

Deutsche frank

A recent judgment in Germany ups the heat on banks to be upfront with advice on the specifics of derivatives investments. By Roland Hoffmann-Theinert and Wilko Rozman A decision by the German ­Federal Supreme Court (BGH) in the Ille Papier case will have considerable ­consequences for all banks that have offered, or plan to offer, ­structured financial […]

Emmanuel Maurice

Rebuilders’ mate: Emanuel Maurice, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

World events have more than a passing interest for Emanuel Maurice, general counsel at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as they can directly affect his workload. Cataclysmic political and economic events are conspiring to keep general counsel Emmanuel Maurice and his team of lawyers at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) […]

Work Life Quiz: Matthew Feargrieve, Appleby

If you weren’t a lawyer what would you have been? Rich. What was your first-ever job? Trainee solicitor. What was your worst ­experience as a trainee? No one moment stands out – the entire two years were horrendous. Where’s the best place to go if you want to find out what’s really going on in […]

How top associates are closing in on partners

There are many routes to success for assistant solicitors as they take ever more prominent roles, says James Swift One way for an associate to get noticed is to take on – and preferably win – a massive case. Last year’s winner of The Lawyer’s Assistant Solicitor of the Year Award, Bryan Cave dispute resolution […]

SJ Berwin, Nabarro nab £141.5m City property deal

SJ Berwin and Nabarro snatched roles on Invesco Real Estate’s acquisition of Stephenson Harwood’s offices. Invesco is to pay Hermes Real Estate £141.5m for One Finsbury Circus on behalf of the BT Pension Fund and the Royal Mail Pension Fund, acquiring it for one of Invesco’s pan-European funds. The building, formerly Britannic House, is a […]

Travers Smith called in on Southsea wind-up

Travers Smith has been hired to advise on the liquidation of a small mortgage lender that has become the first British bank to be wound up for more than two years. Regulators pushed Southsea Mortgage & Investment Company into liquidation, the first bank or building society to go bust since Dunfermline Building Society in March 2009. Although magic […]

Mills & Reeve takes Ubisense Group through its Aim debut

Mills & Reeve has advised technology company Ubisense Group on its oversubscribed Aim listing after winning the client last year in a competitive tender against City rivals. Mills & Reeve helped Ubisense, which provides location solutions such as tracking devices for companies including Airbus, Aston Martin and BMW, raise £8.6m from institutional investors, giving the company […]

Links, Herbies fight off listing to smooth UBS move to City

Linklaters and Herbert Smith successfully fought UBS and British Land’s ­battle against an attempt to grant listed status to the Broadgate Estate, which threatened to scupper the bank’s plans for a move to the City site. British Land intends to redevelop part of the 1980s complex to make way for the Swiss bank’s new £340m […]

Paul Hastings plans South Korea push as it awaits green light for US free trade deal

Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker is the latest international firm to eye South Korea as a prime location for a future office opening and further expansion into the Asian market. The US-headquartered firm said it intends to open an office in Seoul as soon as the country lifts its restrictions on foreign law firms, and […]

Paul Almy
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Hunters

With its strong private client base and real estate team Hunters is at home in Lincoln’s Inn.  The firm, which has a 200-year history, is attempting to ­accelerate growth without moving away from its roots. In April Hunters merged with Vernor-Miles & Noble, adding three ­partners to boost its private client, property and charity […]