31 January 2011

UK-Indian firms’ relationships in stasis as liberalisation remains a pipe dream

UK law firms are refraining from strengthening ­relationships with Indian firms as liberalisation of the country’s legal market remains distant.   The breakdown of ­Clifford Chance’s best friends relationship with AZB & Partners earlier this month has made a number of firms examine the market afresh, asking whether the exclusive relationship model is really the right way for an […]

Tulkinghorn: Buffalo lawyer

It’s nothing new to hear about a top corporate lawyer making sacrifices to climb the greasy pole. But it’s rare indeed to find one who gave up a burgeoning career as a reggae DJ in order to burn the midnight oil for his fat-cat clients. So step forward recently anointed Hottie Patrick Sarch of Clifford […]

Melanie Hatton
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Tweet shop: Melanie Hatton, ­Latitude

Latitude GC Melanie Hatton has gone from social media innocent to online aficionado since joining the digital marketing specialist, says Joanne Harris  Melanie Hatton confesses that when she joined ­digital marketing ­specialist ­Latitude in August 2008 she was a novice in the world of social media. “I remember that when I joined a couple of […]

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Work Life Quiz: Michael O’Kane, Peters & Peters

What time do you usually leave the office? Between 7pm and 8pm, but phone calls and emails can go on late into the night with US clients. What was your first-ever job?  Hospital porter, sometimes transporting bodies to the morgue. Working with lifeless souls was excellent training for attending drinks parties at certain accounting firms. […]

James Thornton

Focus – Environmental law: Force of nature

One day after ClientEarth and TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall unveiled their Fish Fight campaign, Tesco announced major changes to the way it sources tuna. CEO James Thornton reveals the new arsenal in environmental campaigning – the force of law The East London offices of environmental law organisation ClientEarth overlook a playground, although its swings and […]

John Bennett
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Why BLP’s push into high-end corporate needs more of a shove

Can BLP find its way out of the AIM ghetto to challenge the top tier? For many firms, keeping corporate turnover at more or less pre-recessionary levels throughout the past 24 months would be a feather in the cap. But at Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), the impression persists that the firm’s corporate arm still plays […]

Eversheds scores sale of AH Medical to Assura Group

Eversheds has acted on a major deal in the healthcare property sector, winning the instruction after original adviser Hammonds was ­conflicted out. Eversheds has acted on a major deal in the healthcare property sector, winning the instruction after original adviser Hammonds was ­conflicted out. Partner Stephen Nash advised the developer and manager of medical centres […]

Hogan Lovells and SH star in LoveFilm acquisition

Hogan Lovells and Stephenson Harwood took the key mandates on the £200m sale of the remaining shares in LoveFilm to Amazon. Stephenson Harwood ­corporate partner Liz Field led the team acting for ­longstanding client LoveFilm on the deal. Tax partner Maryanna ­Sharrock, employee incentives partner Jeremy Glover and head of competition Julianne O’Leary also advised. At Hogan Lovells corporate finance […]

Joe Ferraro

Dewey, Linklaters and Slaughters handle Eskom’s $1.75bn bond offer

Dewey & LeBoeuf, ­Linklaters and Slaughter and May have all advised on South African state-owned electricity utility Eskom Holdings’ $1.75bn (£1.11bn) bond offer. Dewey advised Eskom on US, UK and South African law aspects, with London partner Joe Ferraro leading. He was assisted in London by local partner PK Paran and associates Jason McCann, Patrick Lyons and Nick Quarrie. […]

Herbies, SJ Berwin win main roles on Boparan’s Northern Foods punt

Herbert Smith and SJ Berwin have taken the top mandates on the £342m recommended offer by Boparan Holdings for Northern Foods, as a bidding war continues for the UK food group. Ashurst and Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy also had roles acting for the financial advisers and senior lenders respectively on a deal that leaves […]

Robert Ruyak
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Howrey chair rallies the troops as Winston circles

The latest twist in the ongoing Howrey saga last week saw Winston & Strawn enter the fray, with the Chicago-based outfit reportedly in talks to acquire some parts of the firm. A full-blown merger appears unlikely given the potential for client conflict, but Winston is said to be exploring the option of hiring ­partners from […]

Bill Perlstein

Double-digit PEP rise, revenue flat: a year in the life of your average US firm

Early indications are that cost controls are having the desired effect. The financial reporting ­season for US firms is still in its early stages, but already some trends appear to be emerging. In particular, the cost-slashing efforts that most US firms have embraced enthusiastically look to be reflected in the double-digit increases in average profit […]