28 June 2010

Ireland in the sun

While one report predicts that Ireland’s recovery from the recession will be slow, the queue of international law firms looking to open offices there suggests evidence to the contrary.  Ireland’s descent into recession was sudden and severe. Its recovery will be ’tentative and largely jobless’ according to a report published by Ernst & Young […]

Philip Young

Cooke Young & Keidan

For many litigators across the City, the prospect of working in a high-powered litigation boutique is attractive. One recent example of this was the ­decision taken by Addleshaw Goddard head of ­litigation, Simon Twigden, and partner Pietro Marino, to set up their own shop. Gerald Cooke retired from Baker & McKenzie in 2004 to launch litigation boutique […]

Nicole Paradise
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Work Life Quiz: Nicole Paradise, Nabarro

What’s your favourite ­restaurant? Cecconis in Mayfair. What was your first-ever job? Sales assistant in Sacha shoe shop, King’s Road. What was your worst ­experience as a trainee? Being followed by a private detective hired by the wife of the firm’s client, who thought I was the other woman in his divorce. I have not […]

James Knox

People moves

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has taken on James Knox as a senior equity ­partner in its real estate practice. Move of the week   Knox joins BLP from Linklaters, where he was a partner in its real estate group. BLP’s head of real estate Robert MacGregor said: “James has a fantastic ­reputation in the market […]

Money never sleeps

While there is complex regulatory reform taking place in the UK, much of the reform action is taking place abroad and financial institutions are facing huge changes. By Robert Finney Earlier this month the ­Financial Services Authority ­published its annual report for 2009. This recorded another busy year (perhaps ’hyperactive’ is more apt), as the […]

Natural selection

While we’re not out of the credit crunch woods just yet, M&A in the Asia-Pacific region is likely to continue to rise, as many seek safety in natural resources. The rush of corporate activity in the energy and natural resources sector is perhaps not unexpected. Especially, when you consider natural gas prices are up over […]

Shaking that asset

For law firms on both sides of the Irish Sea, the latest phase of the The National Asset Management Agency process presents the most significant opportunity yet. By Tom Phillips The national Asset Management Agency (NAMA), the government agency designed to stabilise the nation’s banks by taking property loans off the banks’ books, is now […]

Rupert MacInnes

Capital’s gain: Rupert MacInnes, Capital One Bank

Particularly where litigation and regulation are concerned, business is booming for Capital One Bank general counsel Rupert MacInnes. If you find those no-win, no-fee ads on daytime TV annoying then spare a thought for Rupert MacInnes, general counsel at Capital One Bank. Claims management companies promising to write off credit cards and loans are now commonplace and have […]

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Trio of firms arrange sale of Addleshaws’ HQ

Dewey & LeBoeuf, ­Herbert Smith and SJ Berwin have arranged the sale of Addleshaw ­Goddard’s headquarters to a Middle East investor as part of a highly secretive deal. The purchaser, whose identity is shrouded in ­mystery, was advised by Dewey counsel Nicholas Shepherd, having been brought to the firm by partner Camille Abousleiman. The corporate partner has acted for a number of Middle East clients in […]

City firm helps acquire Harry Potter for Russian TV

Russian TV company TNT Broadcasting Network has turned to City firm Padva Haslam-Jones for advice on a deal to air Warner Bros material including the latest Harry Potter film. Katerina Haslam-Jones, name partner at the firm, guided her long-standing client on a deal that will allow it to acquire a library of feature films over a two-year […]

Marie-Eleni Demetriou
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Brick Court Chambers barrister wins transsexual pension appeal

A Brick Court Chambers barrister has successfully appealed an earlier decision which found that a male-to-female transsexual should not receive a pension from the age of 60. Marie-Eleni Demetriou, who was instructed by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner William Robinson, acted for Christine Timbrell in her case against the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Timbrell, who was born […]

Eversheds and Linklaters pave the way for BA and Iberia deal

Eversheds and Linklaters have advised on a crucial pension recovery agreement between British Airways (BA) and its two final salary pension funds that should clear the way for the airline’s merger with Iberia. Linklaters partner Rosalind Knowles advised the company on the deal with Eversheds pensions chief Anthony Arter and partner Harold Lewis acting for the trustees […]