6 February 2006
The Lawyer
A&O bags Norton Rose Dutch star
Allen & Overy has swooped on Norton Rose to hire highly rated projects specialist and former Amsterdam managing partner Arent van Wassenaer.
A&O, Slaughters secure OFT OK for Boots-Alliance Unichem
Competition teams at Allen & Overy and Slaughter and May are celebrating a win after the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) indicated it would clear the pending £8.1bn merger between Pharmaceutical giants Boots and Alliance Unichem.
Anthony Robinson: Commission for Racial Equality
The fight for equal treatment for all is a constant battle and one that the Commission for Racial Equality is hell-bent on winning. Joanne Harris reports
Bakers snares Linklaters finance ace
Baker & McKenzie has hired finance lawyer Nick Tostivin from Linklaters into its partnership as the firm looks to rapidly expand its London banking and finance practice. Tostivin, a specialist in acquisition finance, will join as a partner late in March. He was previously a managing associate at Linklaters. ...
Banishing the receivers
National firm in 21st century shocker! Tulkinghorn was rather bemused to receive a press release and follow-up phone calls from eager PR bods spouting the amazing news that Addleshaws had upgraded its video-conferencing to "improve communication between remotely located fee-earning teams". In among all the techno-babble, the firm estimates it will save £60,000 on travel costs because, apparently, a phone just doesn't cut it. Tulkinghorn humbly suggests the firm should consider upgrading ...
Banking lawyers benefit from powerful private equity sector
Private equity houses are holding all the cards in the acquisition finance market. By Catrin Griffiths
Bedell Cristin continues growth with Guernsey launch
Jersey firm Bedell Cristin will launch its fifth office when its opens in Guernsey in April.
Blame the bubbly
Oops. Tulkinghorn thoroughly enjoyed himself at the Hot 100 party the other night, as did, by the looks of it, the assembled throng. But perhaps the champagne was flowing a tad too much, at least for the great man. For although in the flesh it was obvious that the hand-picked guests included the divine Eleanor Evans of Corus Group and the fabulous Lorna Curry of GE Commercial Finance, by the time the photos were developed the next day Tulkinghorn's eyesight had become somewhat blurred.
Bonelli scoops BNP Paribas takeover mandate
Italian firm Bonelli Erede Pappalardo has landed the prime role of advising BNP Paribas on its proposed EUR9bn takeover of Italian bank Banca Nazionale del Lavoro.
BP Collins appoints Tite & Lewis man as COO
Thames Valley firm BP Collins has appointed Karl Wingfield to the newly created role of chief operating officer (COO). Wingfield will report to the management board and will be responsible for implementing the firm's five-year expansion strategy. A qualified chartered accountant, Wingfield was formerly COO at Tite & Lewis. Gemma Westacott
Cadwalader draws a line under London projects
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has wound up its London project practice following the exit of its head, Paul Biggs.
Cadwalader profits top $2.5m per partner
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has scored double digit growth in both turnover and profits for 2005.
CC takes former Merrill Lynch vice chairman
Clifford Chance (CC) has appointed former Merrill Lynch vice chairman Stephen Hammerman as a senior special counsel in the firm’s New York office.
Chadbourne streamlines US operation
CHADBOURNE & Parke will focus reforms on its US operations after the firm saw a dip in both gross revenue and profit for 2005 - but it will spare the London and European offices from cutbacks and partner fires.
Childs set to take the reins at CC
Clifford Chance chief operating officer David Childs is set to be crowned managing partner of the world's biggest law firm after five other nominated candidates declined to stand against him last week.
Clerksroom negotiates takeover of 199 Strand
Innovative practice administration service Clerksroom is in talks to take over the remains of dissolving set 199 Strand, it has emerged.199 silk Robin de Wilde QC is set to join Clerksroom on 1 March, as the organisation takes over the chambers' premises, phone numbers and goodwill. Other 199 tenants are understood to be in talks to follow him.
Coffee nuts
Last week one of Tulkinghorn's hacks attended what is already ranking as one of the most enjoyable, if bizarre, meetings.
Compagnoni capture puts Weil up against Ashurst, CC
Ashurst, CC" /Weil Gotshal & Manges is going head-to-head with Clifford Chance and ...
DCUK recruits from within for legal role
DaimlerChrysler UK (DCUK) has appointed Iain Larkin to succeed outgoing general counsel Chrissi Evans.
Deals comment
Dubai Ports World sukuk funds P&O offerIt was fortunate for Dubai Ports World - and its legal advisers - that the landmark sukuk it launched last month was oversubscribed. The Dubai-based container terminal operator had planned to raise around $2.5bn (£1.41bn), but such was the demand for the bond issue that it was able to issue an extra $1bn (£564m) of ...
Deals roundup
Lovells turns out share offering hat trick
Debevoise hires NY litigator for Paris office
Debevoise & Plimpton has hired a senior international arbitration and litigation lawyer from Shearman & Sterling for its Paris office.
Dechert in seven-partner raid on Dewey
Dechert is ramping up its IP litigation practice with the hire of seven new partners from Dewey Ballantine and is also launching a new office in Austin, Texas.
DLA Philly associates land record salaries
DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary has raised its associate salaries in Philadelphia to some of the highest in the city.
Dutch courage
With profit down and market share under attack from the UK firms, Nauta Dutilh is at a crossroads. Matt Byrne asks: can this Continental giant turn itself around?
DWF implements new management structure
North West firm DWF has revamped its entire management system. The firm has appointed HR group head Andrew Leaitherland as the firm's first managing partner, at the same time as disbanding its former management board in favour of implementing a new strategic team. Senior partner Jim Davies continues in that role, although his day-to-day operational duties have been passed to Leaitherland. First reported on www.thelawyer.com 31 January
DWS pulls plug on Gibraltar operation
Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) is withdrawing from Gibraltar following the sale of its legal business and the continuing negotiations to sell its company administration firm.
EBay legal director steps down to take up global responsibility at Skype Technologies
eBay UK's noted director of legal affairs Robert Miller has left the internet auctioneer to take on the global general counsel role of revolutionary internet communications company Skype Technologies.
Eversheds sets its sights on Europe with radical management overhaul
Eversheds has appointed its first managing partner and overhauled its entire senior management in a dramatic bid to increase the firm's international reach.
Fennemores rocked by group defection to emw
Fennemores has been hit by the defection of a further five lawyers to rival emw law, leaving the embattled Milton Keynes firm's property and corporate groups in tatters.
Firm profile: Harris Hagan
City-based firm Harris Hagan is the first UK law firm dedicated specifically to providing legal advice in all areas of the gaming industry in the UK and overseas.
Fitzgerald to take helm at Winston & Strawn
Winston & Strawn has appointed tax partner Thomas Fitzgerald as the firm’s new managing partner, replacing James Neis who will step down in August.
Four Gianni partners quit firm with twenty associates in tow
Italian independent Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners has been rocked by the shock resignation of four partners and a team of associates.
From shelf space to cyberspace
Despite the digital revolution, the role of law firm librarian is as important as ever. By Susan Doe
Goodwill hunting
When a partner retires from a partnership, goodwill is required on both sides, but does a firm have the power to enforce it? By Clive Greenwood
Goodwin Proctor
Goodwin Proctor's vision "is to be a national firm with international reach", says chair and managing partner Regina Pisa.
Grapevine
Time for Weil Gotshal to call on some old-timers
Herbert Smith gets the nod for BAA bid
Herbert Smith has scooped a role defending BAA from the proposed takeover bid by Ferrovial. as the Spanish construction company completes a beauty parade of potential advisers.
Hogan picks board election candidates
The nominations for Hogan & Hartson's first contested election in recent years for places on its executive committee closed last week, with the vote scheduled for next Monday (13 February).
In brief
Niche commercial property firm Bell & Scott has been awarded Scotland's health at work bronze award for promoting good health in its offices. It is one of the first law firms in Scotland to achieve the award. Initiatives at the firm have included meditation and Indian head massage sessions and a smoothie-making demonstration.
In-house
David Middleton on the month in-house: Amazon, Cable & Wireless and lastminute.com take on new legal stars T-Mobile and ABN Amro cut legal budgets CRE and Granada appoint legal counsel
International eye: Italy
Husnara Begum on the month in Italy:
Latham posts 'record year'
Latham & Watkins has posted a 14 per cent rise in average profit per equity partner (PEP) off the back of a 17 per cent rise in gross revenue for 2005. Average PEP increased from $1.4m (£790,000) in 2004 to $1.6m (£900,000), while revenue grew from $1.2bn (£900,000) to ...
Lawyers hit back at OFT claims of legal hindrance
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has come under fire for its claims that a legal loophole is preventing it from forcing reluctant companies to hand over documents during its investigations.
LeBoeuf hires Coudert project finance lawyers
LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae has taken three project finance lawyers in Paris from the remains of Coudert Brothers. Jean-Claude Petilon, who established Coudert's Africa practice, joins as senior counsel with associates Elizabeth Terron and Liliane Doukouré.
LeBoeuf raids SJ Berwin Paris for tax push
SJ BERWIN has lost one of the founding partners of its Paris operation to US firm LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae.
Legal Widow
The Lawyer has been sweating over the most important application form of his life.
Linklaters loses private equity star to Roschier
Finnish firm Roschier Holmberg has further ramped up its rapidly growing Stockholm office with the hire of Linklaters partner Jens Bengtsson.
Linklaters raids A&O, CC for new Dubai base
Linklaters has raided its magic circle rivals for two senior associates to boost its Middle East practice ahead of the firm's official Dubai launch later this month.
Linklaters report labels global regulations as pro bono thorn
Linklaters report labels global regulations as pro bono thorn" /Linklaters has published a report on the ways in which global pro bono initiatives are hampered by legal and regulatory systems.
Litigation
Wragges sees off Thames Water in MoD costs dispute
Litigation
Cloisters and Mills Kemp earn Lords victory on UK employment wrangle
Losses mount at Winston as Bostrom joins Freddie Mac
Winston & Strawn has lost its banking and finance rainmaker Robert Bostrom to Freddie Mac. Bostrom joins the US mortgage lender as its new executive vice president and general counsel.
Lovells raids Linklaters for disputes partner
Lovells has bolstered its dispute resolution practice with the appointment of a Linklaters partner.
'Mean and lean' Derks shows 9 per cent boost in revenue
CMS Derks Star Busmann beat its estimates in both revenue and profit last year as it commited itself to continuing its full-service strategy.
Munich mover
Hengeler Mueller's rare lateral hire of Freshfields corporate star Hans-Jörg Ziegenhain has caused a stir in Germany's hottest legal market. Lorraine Cushnie reports
New York associate rates continue to rise
Two more New York firms have raised their associate salaries, suggesting the recent wave of rises among West Coast firms is being mirrored in the East.
New York salary war catches Paul Weiss and Cahill
Associate pay war has broken out in New York, with two more Manhattan majors boosting associate salaries.
Ogier promotions makes it six partners in Caymans
Offshore firm Ogier has made two internal partner promotions in its Cayman Islands office.
On your marks - race for first law firm IPO begins
The news that an investment banker is talking to some of the largest firms about an AIM listing brings what is surely an inevitability one step closer.
Opinion
Freeing up the professional services market has highlighted the need for robust ethical codes
Orrick loses funds team to Morgan Lewis
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has lost a three-partner private investment funds practice out of its New York office to Morgan Lewis & Bockius.
Orrick's new London head pledges continued growth
Structured finance specialist Martin Bartlam has been appointed the new head of Orrick’s London offfice.Bartlam, a former Jones Day head of finance who spent two years as head of structured products at Credit Lyonnais (now Calyon) in London, joined Orrick in December 2004. He succeeds Adrian Harris, whose two-year term as office leader expired at the end of last year.Bartlam said Orrick was ...
Outer Temple snaps up more from 199 Strand
Outer Temple Chambers has recruited five senior barristers from dissolving set 199 Strand, bringing recruits in the past two months to 10.
Partnerships
Partnership structures have been at the forefront of the minds of many lawyers as we gear up for the year-end.
Patent dispute looms over BlackBerry
BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) could see its US network shut down or face an expensive settlement, with Virginia-based patent holding company NTP set to file for an injunction in a US district court at the end of February.
People
Beachcroft Wansbroughs has hired Patrick Hill as a partner in its professional and financial risks group. Hill was previously a senior lawyer at Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw.
PERMIRA'S BID FOR HMV
Simmons beaten to HMV role by Freshfields on Permira bid
Projects
Trowers ties up Middle East 'blueprint' double
Pub grubs
News reaches Tulkinghorn - anecdotally of course - that although Cadwalader lawyers are said to be massively aggressive over the negotiating table (who on earth could they be trying to emulate? wonders Tulkinghorn) they are actually lovely chaps in the pub. The answer, surely, is do the deals in the Dog & Duck. Just a quick thought to mull over. Antipodean PRs - are they taking over the City? Discuss.
QinetiQ float to land £2m windfall for legal director
QinetiQ general counsel and company secretary Lynton Boardman stands to reap a £2m windfall when the company lists on the London Stock Exchange next week.
Record year for Cravath sees PEP soar to $2.7m
New York's Cravath Swaine & Moore has posted record results for 2005, with average profit per equity partner (PEP) rocketing 20 per cent to $2.7m (£1.5m).
Shearman & Sterling promotes four in London
Shearman & Sterling has promoted four lawyers to counsel in London, more than doubling the number of counsel in the office to seven. Miko Bradford, Adam Cooper, Stephen Jurgenson and Gregor Page have all been made up. Gemma Westacott
SJ Berwin partner leads Tory fight on law reforms
Jonathan Djanogly, a corporate partner at SJ Berwin and the Conservative spokesman for trade and industry, is spearheading the party's opposition to the Government's company law reforms.
Slaughters in high-yield coup
Slaughter and May and Shearman & Sterling have just completed roles on one of the largest ever European high-yield bond issues.
Standard issue
The opening up of accounting standards have left LLPs with the difficult choice of staying national or switching to IFRS. Steve Gale reports.
Stephenson Harwood in funds push
Stephenson Harwood is continuing to ramp up financial services with the hire of CMS Cameron McKenna's head of funds management Charlotte Hill.
Steptoe rehires Bush trade expert
Former Steptoe & Johnson international trade partner Peter Lichtenbaum has returned to the firm after a stint in President Bush’s administration.Lichtenbaum left Steptoe in August 2003 to become assistant secretary of commerce for export administration. His role covered US dual-use export control policy and a variety of governement-related trade and security initiatives. Lichtenbaum was previously a member of Steptoe’s international trade practice group, where he focused ...
The blight of fashion
Does anyone out there have a leather BlackBerry holder? Apparently these great accessories are all the rage, especially among young executives. They come in stylish colours such as mango, pumpkin and cocoa and are only £45 a pop.If you do own one, please get in touch, as Tulkinghorn would like to run a feature in which owners will in no way get the piss ripped out of them for being sad b******s.
The sum of all parts
The confusion over the UK's new accounting standards has been partially cleared, but many firms still face a large one-off tax bill. By George Bull
The Vision Thing
Henry Ford had it. Margaret Thatcher had it. Nigel Knowles has it. Have you?
The work-life quiz
Nick Davenport, senior partner, Turner Parkinson
Top investment banker woos firms considering floating
The race to become the first publicly listed law firm in the UK entered a new phase last month when one of the City's leading investment bankers began roadshowing a structure for a float.
Ungrateful for small mercies
The gratitude of some people. Last Friday (27 January), a sharp-eyed and kind-hearted cabbie (and no, that's not an oxymoron) spotted a sheaf of important-looking papers on his back seat. The chap had a quick ruffle through and, having spotted words such as 'litigation', 'urgent' and 'you'll need this for the appeal this Friday' plastered all over it, generously returned it to the address neatly typed at the top of the page.
US group sues over Yukos share losses
A GROUP of US shareholders in the besieged Russian oil company Yukos has launched a civil lawsuit against the Russian Federation and state-owned companies in a bid to recoup millions in lost share value.
Weightmans wins Royal Mail in-houser
Weightmans has hired a senior employment specialist from Royal Mail Group as part of a new strategy to expand its labour practice.
West Coast firms celebrate as PEP figures for 2005 soar
The majority of firms in the US's West Coast technology heartland recorded their best overall growth last year since the days of the dotcom boom.
Willkie Farr lures Shearman investment team
Willkie Farr & Gallagher has raided US rival Shearman & Sterling to hire a five-partner investment management team, the largest group it has ever brought on board. Barry Barbash joins as a partner to head Willkie's investment management practice. He joins the Washington DC office along with partner Karrie McMillan. Partners Maria Gattuso, Joel Goldberg and Margery Neale will also join Willkie ...
