Focus: Stuart Popham, Passage to India
Clifford Chance’s ambition of having a top Indian practice received a jump-start with its AZB deal, leaving senior partner Stuart Popham relaxed about waiting for liberalisation. Kian Ganz reports
Gómez-Acebo prepares for Lisbon launch as Uría Menéndez chief quits
Spain’s Gómez-Acebo & Pombo is planning to open in Lisbon in January just as Uría Menéndez’s Lisbon co-managing partner leaves the firm’s office in the Portuguese capital.
Links bolsters Madrid public law dept
Linklaters has appointed José Giménez to lead the firm’s public law and regulated sectors capability in Madrid.
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Simmons & Simmons hits back at ‘CR is PR’ critics
Amid the reaction to news that Simmons & Simmons is putting corporate responsibility (CR) at the heart of its new business strategy (The Lawyer, 19 October), there is a resounding tone of scepticism about the firm’s true motivations.
Safety in numbers
One consequence of the current financial crisis has been a re-examination of financing structures and documents and an assessment of whether they truly deliver their intended results. Syndicated loan documentation, then, has been revised to deal with matters such as debt buybacks and defaulting lenders.
Keeping up with Jones
A recent court decision has muddied the waters as to who is liable for payments made in error. By Tony Anderson
Roots manoeuvres
Many of the self-proclaimed Iberian firms are casting their nets wider than ever before and finding that history is on their side. By Luke McLeod-Roberts
Tulkinghorn: A right royal welcome
Former Skadden litigator extraordinaire Bob Bennett, who joined Hogan & Hartson last month and is based in Washington DC, was delighted – nay amazed – at the lengths his new London-based partners went to to make him feel welcome on his first trip to the city since joining.
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Changing standards: Malcolm Wood, Standard Life
When Standard Life demutualised, the legal team was forced to become much more involved in the business – a challenge that general counsel Malcolm Wood has thoroughly enjoyed. By Julia Berris
Hector George Robinson
If you weren’t a lawyer what would you have been?A DJ.
People moves
Herbert Smith has recruited Allen & Overy (A&O) partner Robert Hunter (pictured) to its partnership. Hunter, who is head of the trust, asset tracing and fraud group at A&O, has been a partner with the magic circle firm since 1990.
Focus: Linklaters, Making both ends neat
The collapse of Lehman couldn’t fail to bring back memories of Enron: both were massive companies, both were gone in a matter of weeks – and Linklaters was there to oversee both administrations