4 December 2006
The Lawyer
CEO or no for Littleton?
Littleton Chambers is looking for a new chief executive. So far, so dull. However, the twist in the tale is that the incumbent, David Douglas, hasn't actually resigned yet.
LeBoeuf raids Freshfields' Paris office
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's Paris office lost its second partner to LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae last week as the magic circle firm's former Paris head Yves Huyghé de Mahenge left for the US firm. De Mahenge, who also founded Freshfields' Italian office, had only become a consultant at Freshfields on 1 November to take advantage of changes to the firm's pension scheme. He joins ...
People
Browne Jacobson has hired IP specialist professor Paul Torremans as a consultant in its IP team. Torremans is a professor at Nottingham University.
3'S general counsel leaves in shake-up
The general counsel of mobile operator 3, Paul Vickers, will be leaving as part of a reorganisation of the company that will result in 130 lost jobs.
A different class
State-passed consumer protection acts have changed the legal landscape for product liability cases, say Allison Alcasabas and Joaquina Lazaro
A&O in Japan push with Freshfields bengoshi hire
Allen & Overy has boosted its Tokyo office by hiring its first Japanese qualified lawyers, raiding Freshfields of a corporate partner.
A&O lures back Dewey CEE partner ahead of merger
Allen & Overy has moved to bolster its Central and Eastern Europe presence with the hire of a Dewey Ballantine corporate partner in Warsaw.
A&O, DWS and Freshfields take on Polestar job
Allen & Overy, Denton Wilde Sapte and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have bagged lead roles in the restructuring of the heavily-indebted printing company, Polestar Group.
Alcoa axe forces LeBoeuf to close Pittsburgh
Alcoa, the world's largest aluminium producer, has dumped LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae as its retained litigation firm after 13 years, in favour of Hunton & Williams.
Allens Arthur Robinson elects new managing partner
Allens Arthur Robinson, the Australian best friend of Slaughter and May, has elected litigation head Michael Rose to succeed the retiring Tom Poulton as managing partner.
Ashurst and Weil bag £1bn Premier deal
Ashurst and Weil Gotshal & Manges have scored the lead roles on the £1bn approach for RHM by Premier Foods.
Ashurst confirms Stockholm merger
Ashurst is to merge with Swedish M&A specialists AJB Bergh effective from 1 January 2007, creating the firm’s first office in Scandinavia.
Ashurst moves in Dubai for full-service push
Ashurst has relocated to larger Dubai premises as the firm looks to significantly beef up its Middle East capability.
Ashurst's White City win underlines property surge
Ashurst has continued a stellar year for its real estate department, securing the latest in a string of high-profile pre-lets for the £2bn Westfield London development at White City - London’s largest shopping centre.
Associates to bag bumper package
With attrition rates still sky high at many City law firms, one boutique is trying to steal a march on its big brothers.
Bakers advises Bank of Georgia on LSE listing
Baker & McKenzie's London office has acted for the first Georgian company to list its shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
Bar Council lobbies for wider privilege in bill
The Bar Council is calling for more clarity in the clause of the Legal Services Bill concerning legal professional privilege, saying that as it currently stands it does not cover all situations.
Bar to boost transparency in major strategy overhaul
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) laid out an extensive strategy last Thursday (30 November) that will see the regulator make a series of changes over the next three years.
BarCap bucks FTSE100 trend with new trainee recruitment strategy
Barclays Bank's investment banking arm is joining the handful of FTSE100 companies that offer training contracts within their inhouse legal departments.
BLG shores up after losses with Richards Butler hire
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) has begun to rebuild its non-contentious capabilities with the hire of insurance restructuring partner Jon Yorke.
BLG wields the axe to halt three-year slump
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) is axing partners, radically overhauling its management structure and converting to limited-liability partnership (LLP) status as it struggles to cope with a declining litigation market.
Boutique offers associates billings-based salary
Technology boutique iLaw Legal Services is aiming to attract associates by offering to pay them more than half of their billings.
BPI pushes government to ignore Gowers Review
The Gowers Review into the UK’s intellectual property framework was published today (6 December) and has concluded that the copyright period on sound recordings should not be extended from the current 50 years.
Brabners expands property team
North West firm Brabners Chaffe Street has made its second property hire in three months by luring partner Chris Parkinson from DLA Piper's Manchester office. Brabners' 98-lawyer property group also snared associate Jo Mills from Walker ...
Brand management
What do you wear if you're an SJ Berwin partner on the management board and you're meeting your senior management for a discussion on strategic direction? If you're real estate partner Jon Vivian, a Berwin & Berwin suit. What else?
Brum rush
With a number of firms looking to establish themselves in Birmingham, the battle for clients is set to intensify. But is there enough work to go round?
Camerons enjoys cash reserves boost
CMS Cameron McKenna's limited-liability accounts have revealed a jump in cash reserves from zero in 2005 to £6.5m last year.
Campbell Hooper ramps up corporate
Campbell Hooper has bolstered its corporate and commercial team with the hire of David Ramm as a partner. Ramm, a specialist in corporate and IP, joins from London-based firm WilmerHale, where he was counsel in the corporate department. Ramm joins a five-partner corporate team at the Westminster-based firm. The hire comes just one month after the firm poached regeneration partner Peter Stockdale and ...
CC converts to LLP but omits 23 offices
Clifford Chance has converted to a UK LLP, almost seven years after becoming a New York LLP on its merger with Rogers & Wells.The firm has been discussing the possibility of changing its status for some years, but has taken until now to finally make ...
CC, Ashurst assist on Lagardere purchase
Clifford Chance's Paris office landed a lead role advising the Lagardere group on the acquisition of Sportfive Group SAS from Advent International, Goldman Sachs, RTL group and several managers. The Clifford Chance team coordinated advice from its Paris and Düsseldorf offices. Paris-based partner Yves Wehrli led the corporate side and counsel Emmanuel Durand advised on competition aspects. Tax ...
Chicago's influx of national firms puts the wind up locals
Another week, another shake-up of the legal market in Chicago. In the past six weeks, two national firms have moved in to the Windy City, while local players have felt the squeeze.
David Wineman takes over property boutique
One of London's best-known media boutiques David Wineman has launched an aggressive growth strategy with the acquisition of two-partner property firm Parker Thomas.
DCA tells firms to bring down diversity barriers
Legal Services minister Bridget Prentice MP yesterday (Monday 4 December) called on law firms to lead the drive for diversity in the legal profession.
Dentons tees up Dubai deal with Tiger Woods
Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) has scored a lead role in Dubai Holding’s second major sporting deal this week, in an agreement that sees Tiger Woods open his first golf course costing £35m.
Dickinson Dees acquires boutique for Yorkshire launch
Dickinson Dees has merged with York-based corporate boutique Philip Ashworth & Co, creating the North East giant’s first base in Yorkshire. The merged firm will be operational from February 1 next year.The existing Ashworth & Co partners, Philip Ashworth and Christian Rogers, and their team of 10 assistants will form the nucleus of the new office.
DLA Piper raids DWS for litigation boost
DLA Piper has moved to bolster its London litigation practice with the hire of Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) partner Philip Chong. Chong is to join DLA Piper today (4 December) after the firm was able to negotiate an early exit from DWS, which has been known to hold departing partners to 12 months' gardening leave. Chong focuses on international disputes and recently represented Switzerland-based AllSeas ...
DLA Piper steals Q4 AIM client top spot from Norton Rose
DLA Piper has knocked Norton Rose off pole position in the Hemscott AIM client rankings.
DLA, Freshfields go head-to-head on Liverpool FC bid
DLA Piper’s Liverpool office has confirmed its status as Liverpool Football Club’s external advisers of choice, advising it in its talks about a possible £450m takeover by Dubai International Capital.
Driving a deal
The move of the technology team from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) to Bird & Bird has raised numerous questions, not least that of when will the partners (who are on 12 months' notice) escape?
Dundas launches London insolvency team with LawGram raid
Scottish heavyweight Dundas & Wilson is making a dramatic push into restructuring work in London with the hire of insolvency partner John Verrill from Lawrence Graham.
DWS causes friction with local Kenyan firms
A spat between Kenyan firms has engulfed Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS), underlining the difficulties the UK firm has with operating in Africa.
Eastern promise
Despite large-scale development in the Middle East, certain jurisdictions have been slow to impose an adequate legal framework for lenders. John Dewer reports
Eversheds threatened by Paris lawsuit
Two former Eversheds partners have accused the firm of operating illegally in France as they claim unfair dismissal.
Flexibility is the key to financial services law
Tim Plews, joint London head of finance and capital markets, Clifford Chance
Flint Bishop sees 47 per cent revenue hike
East Midlands firm Flint Bishop & Barnett has benefited from a gradual restructuring of its equity that last year helped it register a 47 per cent revenue increase.
Food for nought
Freshfields' drive to line its pockets with filthy lucre have been well-documented in recent weeks.
Gibson Dunn strengthens New York with Bingham hire
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has added to its New York office by poaching Bingham McCutchen’s co-chair of project and structured finance.
Govt turns to magic circle for super panel
The government super-panel L-Cat is seeking magic circle expertise for the first time, paying top market rates for its new 'major projects' sub-panel.
Grapevine
We've always wanted to write about spies.
Halliwells wins Boodle Hatfield partner
Halliwells has poached Boodle Hatfield's head of construction as the national heavyweight continues to boost its London real estate offering.
Hammonds scores reprieve for Lithuanian dancers in drug case
The intervention of Hammonds' sports team proved invaluable for a Lithuanian ballroom dancing couple who scooped world championship gold last week (26 November).
Herbies Asian partners net £1m
A handful of Asian partners at Herbert Smith earned more than £1m each last year.
Herbies scoops former Bircham managing partner
Herbert Smith has made a rare lateral hire into its trusts and charities group, taking on Bircham Dyson Bell’s former managing partner Michael Wood.
Herbies, Slaughters land roles on travel tie-up
First Choice and rival MyTravel have both instructed longstanding counsel Herbert Smith and Slaughter and May on preliminary talks for a potential tie-up worth £500m.
Hodgart and Edge merge with Canadian consultants
A new management consultancy firm has been launched by six principals of Edge International, independent UK consultant Alan Hodgart, and Canada-based Tim Leishman.
HP pays $14.5m to settle investigation
Hewlett-Packard (HP) has paid $14.5m (£7.3m) to settle an investigation by California’s attorney general.
Irwin Mitchell fights government's age discrimination stance
Irwin Mitchell is facing the government in the High Court today (Wednesday 6 December) on behalf of people over 65 who want to carry on working.
Joining forces
As regulatory proceedings increase on both sides of the Atlantic, the pressure is on for legal advisers to work together to protect their clients, say Graham Simkin and Sarah Thomas
Kate Zarmalwal: Power
With TV production company Power looking to expand its remit while dealing with the film industry's new tax regulations, general counsel Kate Zarmalwal has her work cut out. By Ben Moshinsky
Kemp Little overhaul sees focus on new practice areas
Kemp Little overhaul sees focus on new practice areas" /Technology boutique Kemp Little is embarking on a recruitment drive following the recent completion of a wide-ranging strategic review.
Law Society slashes 38 in second redundancy round
The Law Society is set to make a further 38 members of staff redundant as it continues to cut costs, The Lawyer can reveal.
LeBoeuf completes international strategy overhaul
LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae is to open in Hong Kong and is considering at least two more international openings in 2007.
Lovells handed instruction for Indian real estate AIM flotation
Lovells has scored its first Indian real estate AIM flotation off the back of a referral from Deutsche Bank.
Luthra & Luthra
For Luthra & Luthra’s founding partner Rajiv Luthra the future of the firm lies in his young recruits. He is keen to install and maintain high levels of professional conduct in the India-based firm’s lawyers. “We are running a world-class institution where the rules and ethics are kept to the highest standard,” he says.
Macfarlanes and Herbies scoop major AIM float
Macfarlanes and Herbert Smith scored roles on one of the biggest IPOs of the year on AIM, the £580m flotation of specialist life insurer Just Retirement.
Macfarlanes, Walkers act on food deal
Macfarlanes and Walker Morris have bagged lead roles on Vision Capital's proposed £160m acquisition of a portfolio of businesses from Northern Foods. Macfarlanes advised investment firm Vision Capital, which entered four auction processes and made an offer to acquire all four businesses in the one transaction. Completion ...
Making a song and a dance about IP
This week is likely to see the publication of the much-anticipated, and slightly leaked, Gowers Review of Intellectual Property.
Marriott GC quits for private practice
Top in-house corporate counsel Joseph Ryan from Marriott International has been snapped up by Venable as a partner in its Washington DC office.
Maxwell and Winward formalise merger plans
City property firm Maxwell Batley and construction boutique Winward Fearon are to merge, creating a 22-partner firm with an annual turnover of £12m.
MBRM poaches Jones Day partner for HK
Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw (MBRM) snared Jones Day finance partner Jeff Chen to kickstart its new Hong Kong office, which finally had its licence approved by the Hong Kong Law Society last month. Chen will work alongside corporate partner Stephen Bottomley, who is relocating from London to Hong Kong, to oversee the office. ...
McGrigors creates £1.8m bonus pool as turnover tops £52m
McGrigors has posted year-end results that show turnover rose to £52.1m from £45.4m while average profit per equity partner (PEP) was up from £240,000 to £279,000.
Mental block
A uniform international patent process is still years away, but some US law firms are taking matters into their own hands. Julian Crump and Carl Kukkonen report
Michelmores grows partnership to eight
Michelmores grows partnership to eight" /London and South West firm Michelmores has bagged two private client partners. Jonathan Riley joins from Macfarlanes, where he was an assistant, and becomes the youngest partner ...
Money for nothing?
Although still in its infancy, the introduction of competitive dialogue in public sector spending has served to hinder rather than help. By Andrew Briggs
MOP and Weil advise on biggest Irish deal ever
Dublin’s Matheson Ormsby Prentice (MOP) is celebrating winning a role on what is thought to be the biggest-ever cross-border acquisition by an Irish company.
Murdered lawyer fund reaches £750,000
The fund raised for Tom ap Rhys Pryce, the Linklaters associate murdered in a street robbery in January, has raised more than £750,000.
Nabarros woos the kids with Willy Wonka plan
Nabarro Nathanson has launched a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-style competition as part of its latest grad-uate recruitment campaign.
Nigel Boardman set to Kop some flak
So here's at least one reason for a gigantic international firm to keep the odd regional office open. DLA Piper - the only global firm with an office in Liverpool, as far as we know - has scooped the mandate to advise Scouse FC on its talks with Dubai International Capital (DIC), which is being advised by some firm called Freshfields. See story.
Non-US transatlantic merger shocker
How’s this for novelty value: the latest transatlantic merger doesn’t feature a US firm.
Norton Rose stands firm on strict exit strategy
Norton Rose stands firm on strict exit strategy" /Norton Rose is playing hardball with Herbert Smith as negotiations over a departure date for two Dubai-based partners enter a second month.
O2 bubbles dispute goes to the ECJ
Lewis Silkin and Wragge & Co are heading for the European Court of Justice (ECJ) following a landmark Court of Appeal decision this morning (Tuesday 5 December) in the long-running dispute between mobile phone operators O2 and 3.
Pearson reappointed to lead CC London corporate
Clifford Chance has confirmed the re-election of David Pearson as London corporate practice head for a further four-year tenure.
ProHelp to lobby Law Society for continued CPD recognition
National pro bono group ProHelp is lobbying for the Law Society to grant continuing professional development (CPD) credit points for pro bono work.
Project Finance
Project finance has, until now, been the structure of choice for a plethora of industries in both the public and private sectors. But this method of finance and delivery has not been without controversy.
RJ Reynolds appoints new GC after management overhaul
RJ Reynolds Tobacco, the second-largest tobacco company in the US, has appointed Martin Holton as general counsel.
Roschier nets Linklaters finance star
Linklaters' Stockholm head of banking and finance Frederik Rydin is to join Finnish firm Roschier to expand its Sweden presence.
Salans raids ally for Budapest launch
Salans has split its Hungarian ally to open a new office in Budapest as it seeks to ramp up its presence in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
SJB and Slaughters await Universal BMG probe
SJ Berwin client Universal and Slaughter and May client BMG Music Publishing are waiting to hear whether or not the European Commission will launch a probe into their proposed £1.1bn merger.
Snake alarmer
Tulkinghorn made a shocking discovery recently. Lovells has a Christmas party for staff and lawyers' children every year. But no, that's not the discovery.
Star unstruck
News reached Tulkinghorn last week of the exploits of Any Swing Goes, one of the increasingly numerous legal market bands that are doing the rounds. This one features a Slaughters partner, so in its case 'doing the rounds' means Claridge's ballroom rather than the Bull & Gate.
Stringer-Fasken combine for first Anglo-Canadian merger
London-based life science specialist Stringer Saul is merging with one of Canada’s largest firms, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin.
Taking the mike
A new source of amusement has arisen for Tulkinghorn at Government press conferences. Whereas in the old days hacks were forced to project their voices to ask a question, at the last couple of Department for Constitutional Affairs briefings there have been a couple of flunkies running around with microphones.
Tasting defeat
A bevvy of Tulkinghorn's scribes found themselves under the hallowed arches of one of London's better-known wine-tasting venues recently to go head-to-head in a sampling competition with a crack team of oenophiles from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP).
The missing link
How to put the wind up your partners in one sentence, lesson six. Last Wednesday (29 November) Tulkinghorn had the pleasure of having lunch with a posse of lawyers from technology boffins Kemp Little.
The work-life quiz: Tiffany Cloynes
What was your first-ever job?Working on the checkout at Bishops Foodstores, Rugeley, and, if I was lucky, being on the bacon and cheese counters.
Tiger Woods, George W and the Sheikh
The UK's law firms are focusing on the Middle East more and more, and today's stories on www.thelawyer.com represent the celebrity end of the Middle East market.
Troubling times for BLG
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) has provided more evidence of how tough it is for litigators right now. The firm's core reinsurance team has started to feel the pinch, with at least two partners being politely asked to move on. It is unlikely they will be the last if the market fails to pick up. At the very least, the lawyers in this team will be feeling vulnerable.
Trowers advises Binladin on Mosque of the Prophet
Trowers & Hamlins has won the mandate to advise on the $1bn expansion of the Mosque of the Prophet in Saudi Arabia’s Holy City of Medina.
Trying to strike a balance
Last year it was the barristers; this year, it's the turn of solicitors to go on strike over legal aid. A particularly active bunch have got together, given themselves a name - the Criminal Defence Action Union (CDAU) - and are striking today and tomorrow (Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 December) in protest at the Government's legal aid reforms.
UK scores record promotions at Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw (MBRM) has announced its partner promotions for the year, more than quadrupling the number of London promotions compared to last year.
United States
The UK and US are moving in tandem in many respects, not least in the way their respective financial regulators deal with potential threats to market stability.
Waste matters
As the need for more landfill sites grows by the minute, it is down to commercially funded projects to help ease the load, says James Snape
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 bags Dewey head of energy
White & Case's Washington DC office raided Dewey Ballantine for two star energy partners ahead of Dewey's merger with Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. Dewey's global head of energy markets and regulatory law Earle O'Donnell defected to White & Case to become its new head of energy. He joins with ...
White & Case hires CC funds partner
White & Case has raided Clifford Chance to hire funds partner Matthew Judd as the US firm looks to ramp up its European investment funds practice.
Why firms should embrace CSR
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an increasingly hot topic in the political and business community. It doesn't appear to be such a major issue in the legal community, however.
