9 May 2005
The Lawyer
15 New Bridge St barrister fights for justice in Trinidad
Anand Beharrylal, a barrister of Trinidadian parentage who practises at specialist criminal set 15 New Bridge Street, is considering a possible forthcoming instruction.
A&O names new Beijing head
Allen & Overy (A&O) has appointed dispute resolution specialist Peter Thorp as the new managing partner of the magic circle firm’s Beijing office.
A&O scoops Kaupthing's purchase of UK bank
Allen & Overy (A&O) has muscled in on longstanding Slaughter and May client Kaupthing Bank.
A&O's Duncan takes helm in banking shake-up
Allen & Overy (A&O) has overhauled its banking executive team and ditched the three-pronged structure in-troduced just two years ago.
ABP counsel flies the nest to airline insurer
Associated British Ports (ABP) general counsel Stephen Walsh has quit the listed company to return to the airline sector.
Addleshaws' employment head jumps ship to Eversheds
Eversheds has scooped the head of Addleshaw Goddard's Leeds employment team Colin Tweedie.
Baker Botts hires White & Case star for new HK base
Houston-based Baker Botts has raided White & Case to appoint a partner for its brand new Hong Kong office.
Bar stall
Many study, few succeed. Becoming a barrister is harder than ever, with a tidal wave of applicants competing for a shrinking number of pupillages. But the stats still aren't putting students off. By Jon Robins
Beachcrofts makes the FedEx list of advisers.
Beachcroft Wansbroughs' Leeds employment team has been appointed to shipping giant FedEx 's informal UK roster of legal advisers.
Bevan Brittan nabs health team
Regional player Bevan Brittan is accelerating its push into the health sector with the hire of a team from Beachcroft Wansbroughs.
Bingham wins accelerated debt case for Elektrim bondholders
Bingham McCutchen has won a landmark case in the House of Lords for the Elektrim bondholders. The ruling reduces the burden on banks and trustees when they are accelerating debt.
BPP Law School London: 'excellent' or just 'very good'?
BPP Law School's London branch could lose its 'excellent' rating after the latest round of Law Society grading visits, The Lawyer can reveal.
Camerons awaits vote fraud appeal
CMS Cameron McKenna has been fighting the side of the Returning Officer in the saga of alleged postal voting fraud in Birmingham.
Careers: In brief
The New York-based CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution, a not-for-profit alliance of the largest global corporations, law firms, scholars and public institutions, has published two guides to resolving costly patent and trade secrets disputes: The Patent Mediation Deskbook and the 'CPR Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration of Patent and Trade Secret Disputes'.
Careers: People
Newcastle-under-Lyme's Knight & Sons Solicitors has hired four associates: personal injury specialist Richard Harris, tax lawyer Robert Fearnley, commercial property lawyer Russell Coddington and matrimonial expert Cath Longshaw.
CC lands Barclays instruction on £2.9bn SA bank acquisition
Clifford Chance is celebrating after landing the lead role advising Barclays Bank on its biggest ever foreign acquisition.
CC moves all Paris staff to Place Vendôme
Clifford Chance is set to relocate its Paris office to the prestigious Place Vendôme in a move that will give it 50 per cent more space.
CC reveals new Dutch managing partner
Clifford Chance has elected banking specialist Jan ter Haar as its new Dutch managing partner. Ter Haar, who replaces Tom de Waard as head of the Amsterdam office, began his three-year term on 1 May. He will continue as head of the Dutch finance and capital markets practice, which he has led since 2001. He was formerly Frankfurt managing partner between 1993 and 1997.
Cleary Gottlieb votes in new managing partner
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has elected Mark Walker to become its new managing partner, as first revealed on www.thelawyer. com (5 May).
Competition Commission makes double selection
Shearman & Sterling's only London competition partner Chris Bright and former Slaughter and May partner Laura Carstensen have both won appoint-ments to the Competition Commission.
Cripps in client-friendly structural shift
South East firm Cripps Harries Hall has restructured its operation along client-focused, industry sector lines, replacing its existing legal practice areas. There are now eight 'business streams' covering the client base, including housebuilder/developer, ...
Diane Scott: Cancer Research UK
Its own research facilities, 650 retail outlets, 34 per cent of income derived from legacies. Cancer Research UK is a huge charity with a host of legal issues. By Deborah Rothfield
DLA, Masons, Eversheds on Manchester Uni firm panel
The University of Manchester has unveiled its new legal panel, appointing DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary for the first time and reappointing Eversheds and Pinsent Masons.
Doing the due
Lawyers involved in capital markets deals are reviewing their procedures for due diligence following Judge Cote's decision in WorldCom. By Peter Ruhlin
Eversheds corporate team in Mills & Reeve defection
Eversheds' corporate team in Norwich has quit for local rival Mills & Reeve.
FFW drafted in on controversial ID card plans
Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) has won tenders to advise the Government on two of its largest IT projects, including the controversial ID cards scheme.
Firm profile: Keeble Hawson
At the end of last year, Yorkshire firm Keeble Hawson beat off stiff competition from 20 other bigger players in the national legal market to bag a particularly lucrative instruction as the leading legal adviser for Standard Life's new pension product. The firm is now the insurer's key adviser concerning the commercial property investments for its new flagship pension product, the Standard Life Sipp (self-invested personal pension).
Float like butter, sting like a brie
Tulkinghorn was delighted to come across a spanking new copy of a book penned by his very own (at least occasionally) hack Alex Wade. Wade, for the uninitiated, is a former Carter-Ruck lawyer turned journo. He's also a proponent of the fine art of white-collar boxing (remember that?). His welterweight tome, entitled Wrecking Machine, is not a comment on the practices of law, but rather "a tale of real fights and white collars". It also devotes an entire chapter to one of Tulkinghorn's ...
Freshfields beats Slaughters to Lehman's Le Meridien capture
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has landed a major role advising Lehman Brothers on its acquisition of Le Meridien, the troubled London-based hotel group.
Gide guides ACP states through banana fight
French international firm Gide Loyrette Nouel has been picked as legal counsel for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
Ginestie Magellan in Milan launch
DLA’s former French ally Ginestie Magellan Paley-Vincent has continued its expansionist streak, opening its debut office in Milan.
Grapevine
CC London head options: charmer, assassin or horse?
Herbert Smith staff offered tax-free childcare vouchers
Herbert Smith is launching a childcare voucher scheme for its UK-based staff.
Herbert Smith's disclosure in Equitable called into question
Herbert Smith last week found its disclosure record in the Equitable Life case under attack from Mark Hapgood QC, lead counsel for the mutual society's former auditors Ernst & Young.
Holman Fenwick bolsters partnership by five
Holman Fenwick & Willan has promoted five associates to partner, boosting practice areas across the board.
Insolvency ace quits Hammonds for SJ Berwin
Hammonds has lost its first fixed-share equity partner since the 14-month lock-in for non-fixed-share equity partners was introduced. Insolvency specialist Michael Woollard is leaving to join SJ Berwin, along with Laura O'Neill, a lateral hire from Clifford Chance. Hammonds did not ask its fixed-share partners to sign ...
Legal Widow
Do you know what might actually make the Lawyer turn his back on the profession after a grimly loyal adherence of some 25 years? Would it be the assistants who think that eight essays on the social effects of recent legal developments qualify them to make real commercial decisions? Or the realisation that hours are never going to go down, and that 4am starts to clear the desk ...
LK Shields' change at the top forms springboard for growth
Mid-sized Irish firm LK Shields has made its first managing partner change since it launched in 1988.
Lovells' Milan office gains fresh banking talent
Lovells has added a new banking partner to its Milan office.
Lovells wins Appeal Court battle for Miss World over sponsorship booty
Lovells has walked away with a victory for the organisers of the Miss World pageant in a dispute over the sponsorship of a gala dinner.
Malta's Ministry of Finance picks FFW
Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) has beaten off competition from a number of UK and Portuguese firms to scoop the lead role advising the Maltese Ministry of Finance on its newly-unveiled PPP initiative.
Mark of the covenant
Having failed to reform US patent law in the 1990s, the authorities are doing a better job of convincing everyone this time round. William Rooklidge reports
Monckton Chambers adds duo
Leading competition and public law set Monckton Chambers has added two new tenants including a Scottish silk.
Nauta Dutilh scoops P&O Nedlloyd acquisition
Slaughter and May best friend Nauta Dutilh and Clifford Chance have landed the lead roles on the potential multi-billion pound offer by leading Danish shipping group Möller-Maersk for Royal P&O Nedlloyd.
OFT forced to pay costs on Pernod's Bacardi row
In a highly unusual ruling, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has been ordered to pay the bulk of the legal fees incurred by Pernod Ricard in its appeal on the Bacardi dispute. This is a second blow to the regulator in the long-running case.
Opinion
Companies House has been forced to protect companies from being stolen in their entirety
Outplacement: a different solution
Outplacement is a growing trend among executives and professionals that are looking for a job change. It offers counselling and careers advice, often to redundant executives, and the service is paid for by their previous employers.
Pact brokered for NY firms to disclose diversity record
More than 60 US firms have agreed to reveal their diversity profile to clients after a pact brokered by the New York County Lawyers’ Association.
Pinsent Masons add 19 to partnership
Pinsent Masons has made up 18 new partners in its first round of partner promotions since the recent merger of legacy firms, Pinsents and Masons.
Retired City exec fights extradition to US as lopsided treaty comes into play
Bow Street Magistrates' Court will this week play host to an extraordinary extradition hearing in which the US will seek to further extend its long arm into the UK.
Russell-Cooke, Harrison Curtis tie the knot
Russell-Cooke has merged with media and entertainment boutique Harrison Curtis. It is the former firm's second merger this year, following March's takeover of niche personal injury and clinical negligence practice Evill & Coleman. Harrison Curtis was founded in 1998 by partners Lawrence Harrison and Tim Curtis from legacy firm The Simkins Partnership. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 4 May
Separated at birth
The real reason for Midlands firm Freeth Cartwright's 30 per cent profit hike can be revealed. The firm is headed by acid-tongued blonde bombshell Lily Savage (aka Paul O'Grady), albeit in the more refined form of alter ego Peter Smith. Woe betide any fee-earner that fails to keep his WIP down. Still, with turnover also up by double digits, a verbal lashing from Lily is unlikely. As Smith/Savage put it: "One of the things that's important for us is sustained growth." You said it, girlfriend.
Serle Court adds two new tenants
Commercial and chancery set Serle Court has taken on two new tenants i.
Shearman senior partner joins Morgan Stanley
Shearman & Sterling has lost its senior partner to US investment bank client Morgan Stanley. David Heleniak has quit the New York firm to become vice chairman, managing director and a member of the management committee of Morgan Stanley. John Madden, who is currently co-managing partner, will take over from Helenaik as Shearman & Sterling's acting senior partner pending an election to appoint ...
Spending spree leaves Law Society £6.4m down
The Law Society reported a £6.4m loss for 2004, it emerged today as the solicitors’ body published its annual accounts.
Stephenson Harwood makes up three partners
Stephenson Harwood has made three partner promotions to continue its growth strategy. Corporate lawyer Tony Edwards, banking and finance specialist Lucy French and pensions expert Philip Goodchild have all been made up.
Sumption outwits Grabiner in battle of the urns
Brick Court Chambers’ joint head Jonathan Sumption QC has won the first battle of 2005 against old rival Lord Grabiner QC, head of chambers at One Essex Court.
That shrinking feeling
It was with a sinking heart that Tulkinghorn read the latest press release from Howrey & Simon last week. Not a deal, not a new partner, not a new office... Nothing like that at all, in fact. The firm has a new name and a new logo: it's now called Howrey.
The biggest names in the City join judging panel for The Lawyer Awards 2005
The Lawyer has unveiled a stellar cast of judges for The Lawyer Awards, comprising some of the biggest names in City, commercial and academic life. Co-chairing the panel are Ian Gray, director at Candover and The Lawyer editor Catrin Griffiths.
The work-life quiz
Andrew Holderness, head of corporate, Clyde & Co
Training Review ends UWE's takeover of Exeter Uni's LPC
The University of the West of England (UWE) has abandoned plans to take over the running of Exeter Univ-ersity's LPC amid uncertainty over the future of legal education, The Lawyer can reveal.
UK mid-market firms post record rises in PEP figures
BLP smashes targets with thirty-four per cent PEP hike to £570K; magic circle growth modest
University of Haifa instructs Mishcons in libel fight with AUT
Mishcon de Reya has garnered a new instruction from the University of Haifa in its dispute with the Association of University Teachers (AUT).
Water torture
The dedication shown by two UK Sidley Austin Brown & Wood partners to make it to their annual partnership conference beggars belief. Consider this a lesson to all slack-jawed, mealy-mouthed whiners complaining about a late night in the office.
Wedlake Bell adds private client firm to stable
Wedlake Bell has acquired boutique private client firm Beattie & Co. Beattie & Co's two partners, Jennifer Beattie and Jeremy Curtis, are both joining Wedlake Bell, Beattie as a consultant and Curtis as a partner. The merger brings the number of private client specialists at Wedlake Bell to 14, including six partners. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 4 May
Weil creates specialist diversity placements throughout Europe
Weil Gotshal & Manges has unveiled a new diversity initiative that will see trained diversity officers appointed across the firm's European network.
When is profit not real profit?
When is profit not real profit? When it's based on a tiny equity partnership, according to an increasing number of lawyers. The pressure to deliver ever-higher profits may start skewing partnership structures out of control. Our research shows that of the firms reporting more than £400,000 profit per equity partner (PEP), many of them operate increasingly restricted access to the senior levels of the partnership.
Work shy?
Since the implementation of the Human Rights Act, only seven employment disputes have involved the right to a private life - and all of them have failed. Tim Johnson reports
