9 May 2011
The Lawyer
33 Bedford Row team defects to Tanfield
Gray’s Inn set Tanfield Chambers has added a four-member team to its ranks after a raid on 33 Bedford Row.
All we are saying is give mediation a chance
For many years it has been a requirement of public funding in most family cases that the couple attempts mediation before funding is made available for proceedings. This has widely been seen as a success.
Anatomy of a merger
Hogan Lovells’ honeymoon period has seen the firm attempting to integrate cultures and expand its client base. But has it lost something in the process?
Andrew Masraf: Pinsent Masons
What was your first-ever job? Being a white van man during university vacations.
Axed Halliwells lawyer’s Gateley action founders
A former Halliwells property lawyer who was made redundant from the firm while she was in the middle of a three-day labour has failed in her action to recover £66,000 from HBJ Gateley Wareing (now Gateley).
Banking status elevated as Links votes in Elliott
The election of global head of banking Robert Elliott as senior partner at Linklaters represents the apotheosis of a practice that once played second fiddle to the firm’s corporate base.
Blackstone comes through for Ofcom as BT loses CAT appeal
Blackstone Chambers’ Pushpinder Saini QC has won a major dispute on behalf of Ofcom after the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruled that Ofcom held jurisdiction to resolve telecoms providers’ disputes over British Telecom’s (BT) regulated prices.
Capital city
With workflows booming, lawyers in Hong Kong are celebrating. Joanne Harris reports on how IPOs and energy deals are keeping them busy
Chinese rivals challenge UK dominance in HK showdown
Firms from mainland China and US poised to fight for capital markets work in Brit stronghold
City firms seek places on SocGen’s global panel
French investment bank Société Générale has launched a global panel review, with a number of City firms expected to bid for places on the coveted roster.
Hogan Lovells’ equality act
David Harris had his quip all ready at last year’s press party celebrating Lovells’ merger with Hogan & Hartson. “I know this looks like a coalition,” he said, “but neither of us is the Nick Clegg in this relationship.”
Hunters additions set to up firm’s City profile
Hunters is taking advantage of the fallout from the Dawsons-Penningtons merger and the senior management changes at Farrer & Co to ramp up its presence within Lincoln’s Inn.
Kirkland helps Teva win bid battle for Cephalon
US firms Kirkland & Ellis and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom snared the prize mandates on the $6.8bn (£4.12bn) sale of biopharmaceutical company Cephalon to rival drugs giant Teva.
Liberalisation steps out of the limelight at The Lawyer’s public debate on India
As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India is increasingly becoming a focus for investment and a source of capital for foreign businesses.
Lockstep on radar as Links’ new chief takes reins
Linklaters’ senior partner-elect Robert Elliott has hinted that the firm’s lockstep system could be open to change following an election in which the issue was raised repeatedly.
Maclay uses new laws to protect Scotch whisky brand
Maclay Murray & Spens and Axiom Advocates acted for the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) against a drinks manufacturer that branded its products falsely as Scotch whisky.
Montagu sticks with Macfarlanes for establishment of buyout fund
Macfarlanes has won an instruction acting for Montagu Private Equity on the creation of its e2.5bn (£2.25bn) pan-European buyout fund.
Norton Rose adds two to Africa practice prior to merger in SA
Norton Rose has expanded its burgeoning Africa practice with two major corporate partner hires ahead of its South African merger next month with Deneys Reitz.
On the move
Winckworth Sherwood has hired Bird & Bird construction and engineering co-head Colin Hall (left), making him the third partner in its construction and engineering group.
PA Group looks within for head of legal appointment
PA Group, the parent company of the UK Press Association, has appointed Kelvin Barker to the newly created role of group head of legal.
Past is ever-present for BLP man
Law firms are forever looking for ways to entertain and impress clients.
Poppleston Allen
Nottingham-headquartered boutique Poppleston Allen has built a reputation both for licensing work and embracing change since it launched in 1994. So much so, in fact, that one of its most recent clients, Paddy Power, found its way to the firm via Google.
Project practices power through the downturn
Energy and infrastructure teams have lined up some strong bids for The Lawyer Awards 2011, says James Swift
Same difference
The gap between Chinese and Western law firms is narrowing. Joanne Harris reports
Saving case
Raquel Agnello QC and Thomas Robinson report on the implications of a ruling that helps to clarify the relationship between the Upper Tribunal and the Pensions Regulator
Small change
?Stephanie Biggs and Lisa Cawley ask whether the proposed shake-up of financial regulation in the UK is really as dramatic as it seems
Squire Sanders duo poised for MAB move
Squire Sanders Hammonds London associates Charny Sanghera and Andrew Bowden-Brown are to join Matthew Arnold & Baldwin (MAB) as partners in its asset-based lending litigation team.
Standard bearer: Palwinder Hare, Standard Chartered Bank
Palwinder Hare, head of legal, M&A/corporate at the acquisitive Standard Chartered Bank, heads a small but important team. By Gavriel Hollander
Tulkinghorn: A knight at the game show
Tulkinghorn holds little truck with alternative business structures.
Vinson launches Riyadh operation
Vinson & Elkins is expanding its Middle East practice with a new office in Riyadh.
Walkers’ management rejig lays bare aspiration to build global presence
Offshore firm Walkers is reaffirming its commitment to a global footprint as it undergoes a management shake-up.
