6 July 2009
The Lawyer
Appleby abandons Dubai for Bahrain
Expansionist offshore firm Appleby has dropped plans to open in Dubai in favour of a Bahrain office.
Barclays severs Links from three panels
Linklaters has been dropped from three Barclays panels a year after siding with the bank in litigation that destroyed its relationship with JPMorgan.
Berrymans sees profit, turnover figures soar
Insurance liability specialist Berrymans Lace Mawer has continued its growth with a 23 per cent increase in turnover for 2008-09 to £63.8m.
Bindmans chief executive takes a break
Bindmans is on the lookout for a chief executive after incumbent Nick Martin left the firm at the end of June. The firm said Martin was taking a career break.
Camerons and Travers introduce sabbaticals
CMS Cameron McKenna has put its entire corporate department on a rolling sabbatical programme, while corporate specialist Travers Smith has launched a sabbatical scheme for staff in its corporate and real estate departments.
Chadwick Lawrence
West Yorkshire firm Chadwick Lawrence posted a revenue of £10m for 2008-09, representing a slight increase on its performance the previous year.
Charles Russell blames move for PEP drop
Charles Russell has recorded a 39.7 per cent drop in average profit per equity partner (PEP) for the 2008-09 financial year.
FFW, Stephensons to cover Tottel’s takeover by Bloomsbury Publishing
Bloomsbury Publishing has agreed to buy Tottel Publishing, leading to instructions for Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) and Stephenson Harwood.
Fladgate’s financials tumble as core practice areas disappoint
West End firm Fladgate’s financial results have confirmed the dearth of commercial property deals over the past financial year.
Focus: Sainsbury's, Pitched battle
When Sainsbury’s GC Nick Grant asked panel firms to take part in a Dragons’ Den-style pitch, the legal world raised its eyebrows. But the event was, in fact, a surprising success
Gide secures african power instruction
French firm Gide Loyrette Nouel has advised ContourGlobal on its $146m (£88.56m) loan agreement with Overseas Private Investment Corporation (Opic) to fund the expansion of the 100MW thermal power station at Lomé in Togo.
Glasgow athletes’ village builder turns to Burness
Scottish firm Burness has won a choice mandate to advise the preferred bidder for the development of the athletes’ village for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Granatino decision sees English, Welsh courts flirt with prenups
The Judiciary last week handed the Law Commission the task of developing laws that could make prenuptial agreements lawfully binding documents in the English and Welsh courts.
Investment management claims: the turning tide
Since August 2007, when the credit crunch really started to effect the investment community and when liquidity and confidence in structured products began to plummet, there has been surprisingly little litigation.
Law Soc diversity charter set to publish participating firms’ data
Some 30 firms that are signing up to the Law Society’s new diversity charter will have to publish detailed statistics on diversity for the first time.
Linklaters’ financial results herald new world order
Magic circle redrawn; Clifford Chance relegated to third place while its PEP plummets to half of rivals’
Links TMT/IP chief quits for dual roles
Linklaters’ global head of technology, media and telecoms (TMT) and IP has left the firm to take up roles with Bird & Bird and Chinese healthcare group Sinocare.
Magic portions
I’m not quite sure who Ted Burke thinks he’s kidding. Freshfields’ spin on its financials is cute, but not terribly convincing.
Magisters forms CIS best friends network
CIS-based firm Magisters has launched a network of preferred law firms across the former Soviet Union.
Memery Crystal makes the cut for King of Shaves
Memery Crystal has won a mandate advising King of Shaves on its groundbreaking bond issuance programme.
Mishcon’s profit hit as property team struggles
Mishcon de Reya has seen net profit slide by 17.9 per cent at the 2008-09 financial year-end, with the firm’s property practice hit the hardest.
NDA panel review on ice in anticipation of new legal head
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) panel review has been put on hold as a result of a new head of legal being appointed to the body.
Ofcom sparks Herbies vs Ashurst battle in case where Sky’s the limit
The legal wranglings surrounding Sky’s pricing policies are sure to be a great watch. By Kit Chellel
Opinion: FSA bonus code puts spotlight back on banks
?Rob_Moulton
Orrick ‘revolutionises’ US associate pay ladder
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe last week jettisoned lockstep remuneration for its US associates, a move described by the firm as “revolutionary”, but greeted by some in the legal market as little more than a marketing push.
People moves
Edwin Coe has strengthened its corporate team with the hire of Fladgate Fielder partner Andrew Bretherton (pictured). He is the fifth partner to join the London litigation specialist this year.
Pinsents bags pension longevity swap
Pinsent Masons has advised the trustee of one of Babcock International Group’s pension schemes, the Devonport Royal Dockyard Pension Scheme, on a longevity swap.
Public arena: Keith Marriott, NEC Group
Its links with the local council don’t stop NEC Group from working as a fully fledged commercial enterprise. Tom Phillips meets general counsel Keith Marriott
Schoenherr real estate duo to quit after culture clash
Schoenherr real estate heads Alfred Nemetschke and Walter Anderl have decided to part with the firm and operate independently of each other.
SRA appoints intervention panel
Kennedys, Foot Anstey and Hill Dickinson are among 24 firms to win spots on the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) panel of intervention.
The view from campus: law students contemplate a bleak future as jobs dry up
Law students are remaining positive about the prospect of securing training contracts with City firms despite vacancies in the legal sector dropping by 7.5 per cent.
Tulkinghorn: Jukebox fury
Lawyers are well-known for their work hard, play hard attitude to life. Tulkinghorn respects the long hours, as well as the copious amounts of alcohol in which most lawyers indulge to get them through.
TwoBirds rolls out bursary scheme
Bird & Bird has launched a bursary scheme to give students from underprivileged backgrounds financial assistance to study law.
UK firms outpace US rivals in India
Once bitten twice shy - has their experience in the ’90s made US firms overly cautious?
Ukraine forum unites CIS as it faces up to its bribery and corruption demons
The fourth CIS Local Counsel Forum in Ukraine saw more than 150 lawyers and academics, as well as various government representatives and one ambassador, meet in Kiev.
Vinson guides Sinopec through Addax Petroleum acquisition
Vinson & Elkins is advising Chinese oil company Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation on its proposed $8.8bn (£5.3bn) takeover of Addax Petroleum.
Weil Gotshal cuts NQ salary to £85,000
Weil Gotshal & Manges’ City arm has become the latest law firm to take the axe to its newly qualified (NQ) salaries.
Work Life Quiz: Helen Willett, SJ Berwin
?What was your first-ever job?Working in the local dry cleaners.
Working the land
The real estate market might be in the doldrums, but agricultural land is holding its own.
