5 March 2007
The Lawyer
People
Southampton-based Eric Robinson Solicitors has appointed its first environment officer. Nigel Riches, a solicitor in the firm's wills and probate team, will investigate the ways its five branches can be more eco-friendly.
SJ Berwin ties up Tories
Does SJ Berwin real estate head Bryan Pickup know something the rest of us don't? Is SJ Berwin aligning itself for a changing of the colours in No 10? And does Pickup want to do the legals on the lease? You bet he does.
A&O fights BSkyB's corner in Ofcom takeover inquiry
Ofcom has launched the first public interest inquiry of Allen & Overy client BSkyB following a ministerial intervention, it emerged last week.
A&O Italy banking team caught cold by winters of discontent
February is the cruellest month as far as Allen & Overy’s (A&O) Italian arm is concerned. Last month saw the firm lose banking and finance head Giancarlo Castorino and partner Davide Mencacci. In February last year projects head ...
All accord?
Insurers and reinsurers across the EU await the forthcoming Solvency II regime with bated breath. Martin Mankabady reports
Amy Tu: Boeing
As Boeing looks to spread its wings, international counsel Amy Tu has been charged with ramping up her in-house team and finding external advisers in the UK. By Caroline Binham
Arnold & Porter picks NY chief
US firm Arnold & Porter has chosen a successor to longstanding New York managing partner John Willett.
Ashurst and finers reunite on tragus job
Ashurst and Finers Stephens Innocent have reunited to advise Tragus, the owner of the Café Rouge and Bella Italia chains. The firms acted for Tragus on its £14.14m acquisition of Ma Potter's restaurants. Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham, led by partner Nick Brown, advised the sellers on the sale of the 16 bar and restaurant sites. Ashurst, led by corporate partner Bruce Hanton and senior associate ...
Ashurst cements Blackstone ties with £1bn Tussauds deal
Ashurst has consolidated its position as private equity group Blackstone’s firm of choice when it comes to European theme park acquisitions.
Background knowledge is vital for Saudi success
Saudi Arabia is developing at an astonishing rate. In a country with an unusually young population (60 per cent are under the age of 21) there is a pressing need for the increased production of electricity, drinking water, industrial processing facilities, new roads and railways, wider telecommunication coverage and new housing and schools.
Bakers wins key BBC role
Baker & McKenzie has won a role as the BBC Trust’s key regulatory adviser, after pitching for the work last year.
Bristol's Burges Salmon makes up five
Bristol-based Burges Salmon is to promote five new partners across the firm’s core practices.
Bristows breakaway opens as Powell Gilbert
Five breakaway partners from IP firm Bristows have today launched their own boutique firm, called Powell Gilbert.
CAAT secures key High Court ruling against BAE and Government
The High Court last week ordered BAE Systems to produce a sworn affidavit divulging how the aerospace giant obtained a confidential and legally privileged document belonging to pressure group Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT).
Cambridge becomes Charles Russell's fifth UK office
Charles Russell opened its Cambridge office last week (1 March), making the City firm the first to have a presence in both Oxford and Cambridge.
Camerons raids BLG to net corporate duo
CMS Cameron McKenna has rocked Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) by poaching two of its leading corporate partners.
CC associates gain skills set boost
Clifford Chance is overhauling its London capital markets practice in an attempt to boost associates' experience and project management skills.
CC lands $1.1bn Meggitt deal
The magic circle proved its mettle on transatlantic aerospace deals, with Clifford Chance landing Meggitt’s $1.1bn (£571m) purchase of K&F Industries.
Central and Eastern Europe
CEE to provide rich pickings for foreign playersThe accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU on 1 January provides opportunities for the many international law firms already operating in the jurisdiction.
Chadbourne scoops former NY governor Pataki
Former New York governor George Pataki, who stepped down last year, has joined US firm Chadbourne & Parke.
Charity firm opens in Cambridge
Charity specialist Stone King has opened an office in Cambridge to focus on providing advice to Cambridge colleges, schools and East Anglia charities.
City firms miss PR opportunity
The annual lovefest that is The Sunday Times' 100 Best Companies To Work For is published this Sunday - and we got a sneak preview.
City Law Soc kickstarts lobbying campaign
The City of London Law Society (CLLS) announced today (5 March) its plan to intensify its lobbying campaigns.
Clifford Chance is strongest legal brand in the UK
Clifford Chance has emerged as the strongest brand in the legal market.
Clifford Chance wins battle of the brands
While Clifford Chance has emerged as the law firm with the strongest brand in the UK (see story), The Lawyer has triumphed as the strongest brand in legal publishing.
Cobbetts' LLP filing reveals full extent of difficult year
Cobbetts' initial set of LLP accounts reveal a turnover of £55.4m and a net profit of £12.9m for the year ended 30 April 2006.
Cobbetts secures two property panel places
Cobbetts' Manchester office has had a lucrative start to 2007, with its residential development team putting in a particularly strong performance by already being appointed to two property panels this year. It began with the team scooping a position on housebuilder Taylor Woodrow's legal panel in January, joining firms including Walker Morris and
Correction
In the 26 February issue of The Lawyer it was stated incorrectly that Baker & McKenzie's total revenue for 2005 was £100.4m. The figure should have read £92.5m.
Court of Appeal slams Collins’ GMC rulings
Mr Justice Collins has been criticised by the Court of Appeal for failing to uphold “the preservation of the public confidence in the profession”.
Covington & Burling
Covington & Burling is one of those solid, full-service national firms that needs no introduction in the US but suffers from a lack of visibility over here. This lack of visibility is perhaps unfair, though, given its headline-grabbing clients such as Microsoft, which it represents on both sides of the Atlantic.
Covington bolsters litigation team with dual raid
Washington DC-headquartered Covington & Burling has made two lateral partner hires to bolster its litigation offering in the US.
DCA drive pays off with diverse judiciary
The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) diversity drive is paying off with black and ethnic minority appointments to the judiciary shooting up 60 per cent last year.
Dewey raids Reed Smith for finance team
Dewey Ballantine’s New York office has hired two structured finance partners from Reed Smith.
Dewey's Italian plans hit by team exit
Dewey Ballantine’s planned alliance and possible merger with Italian boutique Galgano has hit its first hurdle, with Galgano’s Milanese head of tax deciding to leave ahead of any tie-up.
DLA Piper advises on £715m Crest Nicholson bid
DLA Piper client Castle Bidco has agreed a £715m offer for property developer Crest Nicholson after the Takeover Panel extended its offer deadline to today.
DLA Piper lands marine specialist
DLA Piper has moved to bolster its litigation and arbitration group's shipping team, recruiting marine insurance specialist David McKie from niche insurance practice Elborne Mitchell. McKie, who starts today (5 March), coincides his arrival with the launch of DLA Piper's Europe, Middle East and Africa shipping and offshore group to better target clients in the sector, with its geographical spread to ...
Doughty Street aids Guardian victory
The Guardian’s in-house legal team went straight to Doughty Street last night to fend off the Attorney-General’s threat to gag the newspaper’s story on cash for honours affair.
DuPont seeks focus with streamlined Euro panel
Chemicals company DuPont is tightening its groundbreaking DuPont Legal Model to focus on a handful of core firms to advise it across Europe.
DWS to launch shake-up of banking practice
Morris stakes all on turnaround of former flagship team.
Electric Hugh driver
News of a welcome antidote to midlife crisis-suffering managing partners who are perhaps overcompensating for deficits in other departments reached Tulkinghorn recently.There were no Ferraris in sight when the first judge to join a law firm, Sir Hugh Laddie, turned up for his first day of work at Willoughby & Partners. Laddie's first request was whether the firm's garage had somewhere for him to plug in his electric car.Now that's style.
Eversheds lands £1bn citibas development
Eversheds is advising Citibas Investments on one of the largest redevelopment schemes ever undertaken in the North of England. The firm, led by real estate associate Paul Hothi, is acting for Citibas on the estimated £1bn Holt Waterfront scheme in Manchester. Eversheds won the mandate through its previous relationships with Citibas executive directors Mike Appleton and Dave Shelton. Manchester ...
FFW overhauls partnership structure
Field Fisher Waterhouse has revamped its partnership structure to create the new rank of fixed-share partners.
Firms fight Govt money laundering stance
City firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters and Slaughter and May are gathering for a summit meeting today (5 March) to coordinate resistance to the Government's money laundering directive.
Five-partner exodus sees Bristows halt promotions
Bristows’ partnership has been put on hold as the firm assesses the damage from the shock departures of five life sciences partners.
Flexible working answers Vodafone's staffing plight
Newbury-based Vodafone UK has expanded its flexible working programme for in-house lawyers as a means of coping with the drastic shortage of top-class talent.
Foreign & Commonwealth Office IT deal goes to FFW
Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) has fended off Bird & Bird, DLA Piper and Pinsent Masons to win a mandate to advise the Foreign ...
Former Dechert boss found guilty of perjury
Former White House aide and Dechert’s former Washington DC managing partner Lewis “Scooter” Libby was yesterday found guilty of perjury and obstructing justice in the investigation into the outing of a CIA operative.
Free Representation Unit gets chief exec
The Free Representation Unit (FRU) has named Clive Tulloch as its new chief executive. Tulloch, who was a tax partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers until September 2006, has significant experience in risk and regulation. His appointment follows the departure of director Kelly Essery in April 2006. The FRU is one of the UK's largest single providers of pro bono advocacy services for social security and employment law.
Freeth Cartwright grows Manchester base
Midlands-based Freeth Cartwright has revealed an ambitious growth plan for the firm's Manchester office.
Freshfields Asia veteran boosts Carey in London
Offshore firm Carey Olsen has lured its second magic circle partner, taking on a Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer structured finance partner to head up its London corporate and finance group for Jersey work.
Garrigues bolsters Portuguese outpost
Garrigues has beefed up its Portugal practice with the hire of public law specialist Luis Fábrica following a strategy of lateral growth in the region.
Geordie Law Soc chief aims to boost "relevance"
The head of property and planning at North East firm Ward Hadaway has been elected president of the Newcastle Law Society.
Halliwells joins Eversheds, Addleshaws on AA roster
Eversheds, Addleshaws on AA roster" /Halliwells has snared a role on the Automobile Association's (AA) legal panel alongside Addleshaw Goddard and Eversheds.
Hammonds falls prey to DWF swoop for real estate team
DWF has taken on a real estate team from Hammonds as the firm continues to implement its aggressive growth strategy.
Harbottles scores with Steven Gerrard
Media law firm Harbottle & Lewis put the ball in the back of Taylor Wessing’s net when it won the libel match for Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard against the publishers of London Sport magazine.
Head-hunting
Talk to a managing partner about diversity and you're pretty much guaranteed to get 20 interupted, breathless minutes of politically correct, cliché-laden claptrap.
Heller revisits WilmerHale for second raid in the City
Heller Ehrman has made a second raid on WilmerHale to augment the hires of three corporate partners two weeks ago.
Herbies defeats UK, French govts in Eurotunnel arbitration hearing
Herbert Smith scored a historic victory for Eurotunnel (and also law firms) in the first large-scale international arbitration ruling against Western governments.
In-house
In-house boosts aim to tighten purse stringsThe past month has seen a host of new strategies from the top, resulting in a surge of work for in-house headhunters as companies look to bolster their legal teams.
Insurance
Insurance has generated its fair share of sparks in recent weeks. The whole market is talking about financial performance in the wake of American International Group posting fourth-quarter earnings nearly eight times higher than a year ago, with property and casualty insurance the star performers.
Jenkens fire sale prompts merger discussions
The dissolution of Jenkens & Gilchrist's satellite offices was decided as early as last summer, it has emerged.
Let's get you out of these wet robes
Tulkinghorn has heard that Blackstone Chambers discovered its very own knight in shining armour in the form of 3 Verulam Buildings.
Linde turns to Linklaters, DLA Piper for new panel
Linklaters, DLA Piper for new panel" /Gas and engineering group Linde has shunned Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer ...
Linklaters big-hitter takes five for Romanian boutique launch
Linklaters' Central and Eastern Europe practice has suffered a setback, with six lawyers defecting from the firm's Romania practice to launch their own start-up.
Linklaters gears up for Italy push
Linklaters is set to move to larger offices in Milan - a sign that the firm is about to embark on an aggressive expansion strategy in Italy. The magic circle firm signed a lease with property developer Tishman Speyer to rent a 2,600sq m space in the five-storey building on via Santa Margherita. It is understood that the rental agreement means that Linklaters will be pay an annual rent of between €1.2m ...
Linklaters secures deadline on Sainsbury bid
Linklaters and UBS have successfully persuaded the Takeover Panel to issue a ‘put up or shut up’ notice to the private equity consortium circling ever closer around J Sainsbury.
London: Apple crumble
New York's fall from grace as the leading capital markets centre has seen London reap the rewards. But can the City hold on to the lead, or will the Big Apple bite back?
Lovells says yes to LLP conversion
Lovells has voted to convert to an English limited liability partnership (LLP) from 1 May 2007.
Madrid in push to become serious international arbitration player
Madrid has kicked off a campaign intended to make the city a seat for international arbitration.
Martineau to become carbon-unfriendly
Birmingham-based Martineau Johnson is being 'carbon assessed'. For those unfamiliar with this trendy piece of enviro-speak, what it refers to is a calculation concerning the amount of global warming-causing C02 emissions one's organisation, home or business is responsible for.
MBRM to axe 45 from global equity partnership
Transatlantic giant Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw (MBRM) is embarking on a dramatic restructuring as it draws up plans to shed 45 equity partners out of its total of 427 worldwide.
MBRM's equity partners become hot potatoes
Despite the most enduring M&A boom for years, it seems that sacking equity partners is all the rage. The City was just getting over The Lawyer’s February revelation that Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer would be getting rid of 100 partners, when The Lawyer hit the stands today with news of a Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw (MBRM) plan to chop 45 equity partners. See story.
Merged duo target City white-collar crime cases
South East firms Robert Blackford & Co and Francis Lovett are merging with the aim of becoming the number one referral white-collar crime firm for the City.
Mergers pay off as Hill Dickinson's turnover flourishes
Hill Dickinson has filed its first set of LLP accounts - its final accounts prior to the merger with Hill Taylor Dickinson - which reveal a 9 per cent increase in turnover.
MFB wins ECJ date to solve jurisdiction conundrum
Maritime law firm MFB Solicitors has won a referral to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on a key question regarding arbitration governance.
Microsoft's $1.5bn MP3 infringement fine the biggest in history
Microsoft has been hit by the largest patent fine in history after a San Diego jury ruled that Windows Media Player infringed Alcatel-Lucent's patents.
Mob mentality
Tulkinghorn has long suspected as much, but evidence recently reached him that there is something of the mafiosa about Allen & Overy (A&O).
Nabarro follows rivals' lead with partnership alternative
The Newly renamed Nabarro is set to follow the market trend and introduce an alternative career path for associates for the 2007-08 financial year.
New York trio scoops world's largest LBO
A New York triumvirate of Cravath Swaine & Moore, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Sullivan & Cromwell has landed work on what is set to be the world's largest private equity deal.
No compunction over BBC injunction
North-West rivals are the best firms to work for
Pannone has retained the third spot in the Sunday Times 100 best companies to work for list while the biggest riser on the list was Brabners Chaffe Street.
Norton Rose boosts US team with Latham hire
Norton Rose has expanded its US corporate finance practice with the appointment of a Latham & Watkins senior associate to its partnership.
Norton Rose's silent partner
Norton Rose's silent partner" /Where has Norton Rose Dubai managing partner Graeme Muir gone? His direct dial published on the firm's website has been disconnected and his secretary can't find him.
Olympic boroughs to share legal panel
Legal teams at the East London boroughs of Hackney and Greenwich are in talks with those at Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest councils to join their shared legal panel arrangement.
Oxley quits politics for law firm
The co-author of the infamous Sarbanes-Oxley Act has entered private practice, joining Ohio-headquartered Baker Hostetler in Washington DC.
Partnership - how to achieve it
How to achieve partnership is an issue facing many associates. But the bigger question is: can you improve your chances simply by changing the way that you communicate?
Play with your tackle
The institution that is the Lawyers' Fishing Club is casting around for members again. Tulkinghorn is only too happy to help promote the worthy cause.
Playing the claim
A forthcoming review of the whole personal injury claims system can help eradicate false claims and make the whole process more consensual. Lea Brocklebank reports
Portugal: Call of port
As Portugal's economy flourishes, the country's legal market is seeing an influx of foreign firms. But any newcomers will have some way to go to topple the current big-hitters
QC applications drop by a quarter
The number of QC applicants has dropped by a quarter compared to last year, according to figures published by the QC Appointments committee this afternoon (9 March).
Racine absorbs boutique in corporate push
French litigation firm Racine has swallowed up M&A boutique Boisséson & Associés, boosting the firm's transactional capability.
Scottish bar looks to ape England's 'dynamism'
The Scottish bar is making swift efforts to parallel the English bar's marketing and hospitality strategies, despite English efforts to crack down on the practices.
SIF finds replacement chairman
The Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) has recruited former Davies Arnold Cooper managing partner David McIntosh as chair. McIntosh has been appointed to replace Paul Marsh, who recently retired from the SIF board. His appointment comes as the SIF prepares to start returning £25.1m in contributions to the profession. The payment, which must be madebefore 30 September, ...
Simmons declares European intent with Spanish merger
Simmons & Simmons will merge with Spanish firm Mochales & Palacios Abogados to complete the first step in an ambitious European growth strategy it has set out for 2007.
SJ Berwin bags role on bank transfer scheme
SJ Berwin's IT practice group has bagged the main role on a project to speed up the processing of bank transfers. By the end of 2007 bank transfers will take effect after several hours rather than days, thanks in part to the firm. SJ Berwin advised Apacs, the UK payments association representing 13 banks and building societies, on the deal. High street banks to benefit from the deal include Abbey, ...
Slaughters bags £2bn Olympics role
Slaughter and May has landed a role alongside Herbert Smith and Pinsent Masons on the £2bn Olympic Village development, part of the mammoth Stratford City regeneration project.
Taylor Wessing poaches Osborne boss
Taylor Wessing has hired the founder of Osborne Clarke's insolvency department Patrick Cook as the new head of its reconstruction and corporate recovery (RCR) group in London. Cook will join Taylor Wessing in June and take over the running of the RCR group from Alison Goldthorp and Nick Moser. A highly rated ...
The work-life quiz with Sunil Gadhia
What was your first-ever job?
Tough times for IP lawyers
As we report today, IP boutique Bristows has decided to postpone its entire promotion process following the resignations of five patent litigation partners late last year. It seems on the face of it a pretty drastic response: Bristows' IP franchise is not going to be capsized by a team departure, ...
Travers of counsel hire sparks career path rethink
Travers Smith has scooped Citigroup Global’s senior counsel for M&A, prompting a wholesale review of the firm’s career paths.
Treasury to probe private equity tax relief
Private equity lawyers will be following intently the Treasury’s review of tax relief that has enabled the prominence of private equity on the general M&A landscape.
Tribunal slams Equitable Life trio
The Equitable Life saga continued last week (2 March) with a stunning disciplinary sentence for three former executives.
Watson Burton ponders opening up equity to boost retention prospects
Watson Burton is launching an internal consultation on opening its equity structure.
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.
Western firms make themselves at home in booming Saudi Arabia
Firms are now realising that Dubai is not the only gem in the Middle East. By David Middleton
Where's your tax at?
Cross-border insurance transactions are likely to throw up tax problems. Greg Sinfield and John Young look at how Zurich in particular is addressing the issue
White & Case beats Dewey to major Greek telco acquisition
White & Case beats Dewey to major Greek telco acquisition" /White & Case has pipped US rival Dewey Ballantine to land a lead role on Naguib Sawiris's latest Mediterranean acquisition in its first corporate instruction from the Egyptian telecoms magnate.
Wilkinson quits Cadwalader for Goldman Sachs
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft restructuring star Andrew Wilkinson is leaving the US firm’s London office for longtime client Goldman Sachs.
Wilkinson slopes off to Goldman Sachs
Another restructuring legend leaves the law for Goldman Sachs.
You don't have to be mad to work here...
While Tulkinghorn spent the last week sipping sherry, puffing on cheroots and contemplating taxing dilemmas of jurisprudence, the lesser minds of his minions have been occupied with The Lawyer's forthcoming Careers Report.
