8 August 2011
The Lawyer
A whiter shade of green
Proposed changes to two Government environmental initiatives that affect the commercial property sector should make the schemes simpler to operate - but not much.
Ashurst demotes seventeen in lockstep overhaul
Seventeen Ashurst partners were moved down the firm’s lockstep in the last financial year, while the number of partners at the top of equity almost trebled.
Built to last, general counsel, Colas
Alain Clotte, general counsel at French construction outfit Colas, loves his job so much that he has stuck with the company for 30 years.
Clydes-BLG: merger of equals or wholesale takeover?
Last week’s news that the Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) brand will disappear as part of the firm’s November merger with Clyde & Co (TheLawyer.com, 4 August) supports the argument that the deal is more a takeover than a merger of equals.
Dewey oils wheels for Kuwait debut
US firm Dewey & LeBoeuf is preparing to launch a Kuwait office in October, becoming one of only a handful of international firms on the ground in the oil-rich nation.
Ex-Lovells lawyer’s epic vision
Convincing a bunch of lawyers to don Cinderella costumes is a rare talent, but former Lovells (now Hogan Lovells) lawyer Darren Heath managed it.
Fragomen
US firm Fragomen, founded more than 50 years ago, launched an office in London in August 2003, when London managing partner Alex Paterson joined the firm from Andersen, where she was a senior solicitor in the immigration team. She was tasked with building up the London base.
Herbies disputes group ups pressure for New York base
Litigators fear practice is falling behind after series of departures to international players
Herbies’ remedy
Is Herbert Smith finally waking up to itself? Long known for its schizophrenic approach to international expansion, the firm appears to be taking decisive action.
Litigation funders poised to prove finances in place
Third-party litigation funders may be asked to formalise capital adequacy standards to demonstrate their financial strength, under a code of conduct being drawn up by the Civil Justice Council (CJC).
On the move
White & Case is to reopen its Milan office with the hire of two Latham & Watkins London partners.
Pinsents, 39 Essex St join EON litigation list
EON UK has appointed Pinsent Masons and 39 Essex Street to a new environmental litigation panel after challenging its firms to pitch ideas for better working methods.
Solid foundations
Crystal ball-gazer Eric Rosedale says the real estate sector is looking strong.
Supreme Court sends mixed messages on closed trials
In one of the most eagerly awaited Supreme Court decisions of the year a nine-judge bench has given judgment in Al Rawi v Security Service and Home Office v Tariq.
Tables show firms AIM to make good friends
Firms hope AIM clients will stay true as they move on, but not all do. Joshua Freedman looks at the latest rankings
Taylor Wessing eyes HK, Singapore tie-up prospects
Taylor Wessing is pressing ahead with plans for offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, and has sent delegations to the jurisdictions in its search for a merger partner.
Tel more
Corporate break-ups, a big energy discovery, web entrepreneurs and a legal sector opening up to foreign firms. All are driving the Israeli market forward, says Dale McEwan
Tulkinghorn: Spy-rise location
In the past, James Bond has taken on arch-enemies Le Chiffre in a casino, Goldfinger in Fort Knox and Dr No in his underwater lair.
Up-market struggle
UK firms may still be piling into the traditional private client powerhouse of Switzerland, but the jurisdiction faces stiff competition from Asian upstart Singapore
US pair scout City for London launches
Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell and Troutman Sanders are gearing up for London launches, joining the ranks of US firms intent on conquering the City market.
Work Life Quiz: Hannah Rutterford, Kester Cunningham John
What was your first-ever job? Babysitting. When I accidentally dislocated a two-year-old’s elbow while swinging him around I realised this wasn’t a long-term option.
