Julia Berris
The Lawyer
Human interest
A broader remit has meant Old Mutual GC Meekal Hashmi has had to develop broader shoulders.
Lovells aids Pearl Group on £4.5bn Palal revamp
Lovells has been drafted in by Pearl Group to advise on the £4.5bn restructuring of subsidiary Phoenix & London Assurance Limited’s (Palal) with-profits fund.
Structural shift: Mohaimin Chowdhury, European Islamic Investment Bank (EIIB)
EIIB legal chief Mohaimin Chowdhury says Islamic finance will emerge from the downturn in rude health.
Quartet of corporate partners quit Mayer Brown
Four corporate partners have resigned from Mayer Brown’s London office as the US firm announces plans to cut up to eight associates from its office in the capital.
Dewey shuns London in scaled back promotions round
Dewey & LeBoeuf is the latest US firm to cut its partner promotions round, with six making the grade this year compared to 20 in 2008.
Sidley promotes 15 to partnership, one in London
Global partner promotions at Sidley Austin have halved this year, dropping from 34 in 2008 to 15.
Reed Smith adds one new partner in London in 18-strong round
Reed Smith has added just one new member to its London-based partnership as part of its latest round of promotions.
GTM turns to SJ Berwin for latest hire
Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) has bulked up its corporate and securities capabilities with the hire of SJ Berwin corporate partner Laura O’Neill.
Virgin turns to IBM to fill associate GC role
Virgin Media has hired IBM in-house lawyer Toni Vitale as an assistant general counsel.
White & Case makes up six City partners in 33-strong round
White & Case London has received three times as many partners in this year’s promotions round when compared to last year.
Weil's Schwartz closes trio of high yield deals
Weil Gotshal & Manges’ London capital markets partner Peter Schwartz has scored lead roles advising on a trio of international high-yield bonds.
Lack of promotions rebuts recovery
London offices left behind in US firms’ latest partner rounds. By Julia Berris
US and UK firms line up to thrash out Almatis takeover
A group of US and UK firms have won lead roles advising on the battle between Oaktree Capital and Dubai International Capital (DIC) to acquire alumina company Almatis via a restructuring of its $1bn (£590m) debt.
Weil Gotshal makes up three in lean promotions round
Partner promotions at Weil Gotshal & Manges have decreased for the second year running.
Latham promotes two in London as part of 23-strong global round
The number of lawyers making partner in Latham & Watkins’ London office have dropped from six last year down to two this year.
Ropes London acts on first high-yield mandate
Ropes & Gray’s new London office has secured its first mandate since its launch last month, advising on the financing of Liberty Global’s €3.5bn (£3.12bn) acquisition of Unitymedia.
Lovells acts on renewable energy plant development
Lovells has secured a lead role advising on the establishment of a £400m 30-acre renewable energy plant in Peterborough.
Vernalis unveils new counsel
Biotech research company Vernalis has promoted in-house lawyer Alison Hood to general counsel and company secretary.
Watson Burton partners inject cash to open up equity
Watson Burton’s senior equity partners have injected over £1m into the firm to enable more junior partners to enter the equity ranks.
Biotech group Vernalis replaces departing GC with internal promotion
Biotechnology research company Vernalis has promoted in-house lawyer Alison Hood to the position of general counsel and company secretary.
Fried Frank bolsters City finance practice with A&O hire
Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson has hired former Allen & Overy leveraged finance partner Mark Wesseldine to bulk up its practice in the City.
Al Tamimi launches in Kuwait
Al Tamimi & Company has launched in Kuwait after hiring former DLA Piper Kuwait head Alex Saleh.
Three partners leave Halliwells to launch Manchester office for Plexus
Plexus Law has hired a three-partner insurance liability team from Halliwells to launch an office in Manchester.
Bickerton triumphs as Clifford Chance London boss
Clifford Chance capital markets head David Bickerton has been elected by the firm’s partnership to become London managing partner.
Ashurst streamlines US strategy with six-firm list
Referral network created to work alongside UK firm’s US practices
Cahill on European bond red alert
As high-yield dealflow returns, US boutique remains opaque over reports of City arrivals
Camerons, DLA Piper brought in on Lloyds’ £400m bid forCPA
CMS Cameron McKenna and DLA Piper have scored lead roles advising Lloyds TSB’s private equity arm Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) on its £400m bid for outsourcing company CPA Global.
EIB’s legal function gains double vision
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has split its in-house legal team in two, with one group now focusing on operations and the other on corporate.
Simmons hardest hit in mixed interims
Early indications are that law firms are bearing up reasonably well at the half-year stage after firms across the board suffered heavy turnover and profit drops in the 2008-09 financial year.
Clifford Chance loses eight fee-earners through redundancy
Clifford Chance has shed eight fee-earners from its capital markets practice via redundancy.
A&O turnover down 7 per cent at half-year stage
Allen & Overy’s (A&O) global revenues are down seven per cent year-on-year for the first half of 2009-10, with turnover standing at £511m.
Winston hires four-partner team from Nixon Peabody in New York
Winston & Strawn has bulked up its New York private equity practice by hiring a team of four partners from Nixon Peabody.
Cahill to bulk up London base ahead of expected high-yield revival
Cahill Gordon & Reindel is preparing to relocate a team of associates from its New York office to London to take advantage of the anticipated resurgence of the European high-yield market.
Herbies and Lovells join Slaughters on Treasury's go-to team
A trio of UK firms has won places on HM Treasury’s legal panel after competing with City rivals in a beauty parade.
Ashurst, Links, Bingham swap Gala Coral’s debt for equity
A trio of firms has scored lead roles on Gala Coral’s debt restructuring, in a deal that saw the bingo chain’s lenders write off £540m of debt in a debt-for-equity swap.
Hammonds replaces lost employment head
Hammonds has appointed partner Matthew Lewis as its new Leeds head of employment.
RBS and panel firms lock horns over secondees
Tension is growing between RBS and the firms pitching for its legal panel as the bank tightens its secondment criteria and firms struggle to manage their streamlined teams.
Ropes’ UK team visits US HQ for City powwow
Ropes & Gray’s newly hired London team is visiting the firm’s US headquarters this week to draw up plans for the development of the London arm and to sign up a number of secondees.
SJ Berwin's international growth continues with Shanghai launch
SJ Berwin has launched its second Asian office, setting up a base in the Chinese city of Shanghai.
First White & Case partner relocates to Africa under new plan
A White & Case London structured products and capital markets partner is relocating to Johannesburg as part of the firm’s new focus on Africa.
Crowell hires 29-lawyer team for San Francisco launch
US firm Crowell & Moring is to launch an office in San Francisco after hiring a 29-lawyer team from US litigation firm Folger Levin & Kahn.
Shearman relocates two Rome partners for Milan launch
Shearman & Sterling is relocating two of its Rome partners to Milan to launch its second office in Italy.
Freshfields and Slaughters set the Standard on Barclays deal
Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May have snared lead roles on Barclays’ £226m acquisition of Standard Life Bank.
Ashurst, Herbies lead on Battersea project
Ashurst and Herbert Smith are advising on the £5.5bn proposed redevelopment of Battersea Power Station in London.
Hammonds considers patent services tie-up as partners exit
Hammonds is in talks with German firm Gulde Hengelhaupt Ziebig & Schneider about setting up a patent prosecution referral relationship following the departure of two partners from the UK firm’s Munich office.
Kirkland replaces City restructuring leadership
Kirkland & Ellis London partners Kon Asimacopoulos and Partha Kar have taken over management of the firm’s City restructuring practice following the departure of Lyndon Norley.
Ropes goes head-to-head with Kirkland on Bain work
Kirkland & Ellis’s core relationship with Bain Capital will come under threat when fellow US firm Ropes & Gray launches a UK office, as first revealed on The Lawyer.com (22 October).
Allen and Goetz to launch UK base for Boston's Ropes & Gray
Ropes & Gray has hired finance partners Maurice Allen and Mike Goetz to spearhead its London office launch.
Hammonds seeks German patents tie-up following double defection in Munich
Hammonds is in talks with German firm Gulde Hengelhaupt Ziebig & Schneider about setting up a patent prosecution referral relationship following the departure of two partners from the UK firm’s Munich office.
Dickie Dees senior partner leaves for GC role at Middlesbrough FC's owner
Dickinson Dees senior partner Robin Bloom is leaving the firm to become general counsel at Middlesbrough Football Club’s owner Gibson O’Neill Limited.
Can A&O and CC break US firms’ stranglehold on Euro high-yield?
Magic circle firms have much to prove if they hope to challenge Latham, says Julia Berris
Clifford Chance hands Amsterdam management to capital markets partner
Clifford Chance has elected partner Bas Boris Visser as its new Amsterdam managing partner.
Kirkland gains three City partners in latest promotions round
Kirkland & Ellis has added three to its London-based partnership in its latest round of promotions.
Greenberg turns to Dundas for latest London hire
Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) has hired Dundas & Wilson partner Ewan Robertson to bulk up its corporate capabilities.
A&O in bid to dominate US work in London
Allen & Overy (A&O) has moved to bulk up its US capability in London with the hire of an equity capital markets partner from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.
Control returns to HQ as CC duo square up for global litigation head battle
Clifford Chance London managing partner Jeremy Sandelson and former Asian litigation head Denis Brock are going head-to-head to win the title of global head of litigation, in what is sure to be one the most hotly-contested elections the firm has seen for years.
Crowell & Moring boosts London office
Washington DC-headquartered Crowell & Moring has bolstered its London office with a hire from fellow US firm Debevoise & Plimpton.
Former Fox-Pitt counsel targets China
The former general counsel of boutique investment bank Fox-Pitt Kelton has launched a UK law firm focused on the Chinese market.
Lovells, Akin score lead roles on Lukoil facility
Lovells and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld have scored lead roles advising on a $1.2bn (£760m) Lukoil loan facility.
SJ Berwin associates demand recognition for non-legal work
SJ Berwin’s Associate Solicitors Forum (ASF) is debating how to reward and motivate junior lawyers for doing non-legal work.
Hammonds says goodbye to two partners at the end of six-month lock in
Two partners have resigned from Hammonds at the end of the firm’s latest six month lock-in period.
Covington gains one City partner in latest promotions round
Covington & Burling’s London office has gained one new partner in the firm’s annual promotions round.
Sandelson, Brock go head to head in Clifford Chance litigation vote
Clifford Chance partners Jeremy Sandelson and Denis Brock are competing for the role of global head of litigation at the magic circle firm.
CC, Bakers, Hammonds brought in for Denso pensions buyouts
A trio of UK firms has scored lead roles on the buyout of three Denso Manufacturing Midlands (DMML) pension schemes.
Childs: percentage of female partners at CC is ‘not good enough’
Clifford Chance is pledging to increase its percentage of female partners to 30 per cent.
Pinsents’ legal outsourcing strategy moves up a gear
Pinsent Masons is gearing up to expand its outsourcing initiative with outsourcing company Exigent.
Shearman shores up beleagured Brussels office
Last year Shearman & Sterling sent New York M&A partner Creighton Condon to London to lead the firm’s European network.
Wachtell suffers crash backlash
Does the elite firm need to soften its aggressive tactics? asks Julia Berris
Morgan Lewis to eschew UK litigation as London chief steps down
Morgan Lewis is to reduce its exposure to litigation in the UK when London managing partner Robert Goldspink, a litigator, retires at the end of the month.
Shearman to rebuild Brussels with relocation of German team
Shearman & Sterling has relocated a four-lawyer team from Düsseldorf to Brussels in a bid to rebuild its competition practice there.
Fasken Martineau opens in France via local tie-up and Dewey hires
Canadian firm Fasken Martineau has launched in Paris after acquiring local firm Gravel Leclerc & Partners and a hiring a four-lawyer team from Dewey & LeBoeuf.
Dewey guides Caster Semenya through IAAF gender testing
Dewey & LeBoeuf is advising South African athlete Caster Semenya to ensure her human rights are upheld during gender testing by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Clifford Chance launches awards to highlight corporate responsibility
Clifford Chance is putting corporate responsibility (CR) at the top of every employee’s agenda by launching an awards initiative to recognise excellence within the firm.
Eversheds gives associates stronger voice
Eversheds is launching an associate forum in its London office to tackle issues affecting junior lawyers at the firm.
Signy plays key role as Simpson Thacher advises Blackstone on Broadgate deal
Former Clifford Chance heavyweight Adam Signy has scored his first major deal since joining Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, advising Blackstone Group on its acquisition of the Broadgate estate.
Chadbourne rehires partner who defected to Dechert
A former Chadbourne & Parke partner has rejoined the firm after defecting to Dechert’s Moscow office earlier this year.
Clifford Chance splits CEE management role
Clifford Chance has divided its Central and Eastern Europe and Russia managing partner role in two after incumbent Michael Cuthbert announced that he will retire from the firm at the end of the year.
Australia's Freehills signs Chinese alliance
Australian firm Freehills has signed a strategic alliance with Chinese firm TransAsia.
White & Case third quarter distributions drop 29 per cent
White & Case partners’ quarterly profit distributions for the third quarter of this year have fallen 30 per cent on the same period last year, with the total pool dropping from $35m (£21.2m) to $25m (£15.2m).
The Lehman collapse: the banking sector analysed
Before the collapse of Lehman Brothers banking teams were holding their own, but since then they are united in their battle to stay on top.
Former Clifford Chance associate rejoins firm as partner in Italy
Clifford Chance is looking to rebuild its Italian practice after rehiring as a partner a Milan associate who left the firm in April.
Equity capital markets provide much-needed work in real estate
A select group of firms are using established relationships to tap into fresh seams.
Eversheds outsourcing scheme will save £2m
Eversheds has forecasted that it will save £2m a year following the implementation of a UK-wide secretarial outsourcing project.
Herbies partner goes in-house at Barclays
Barclays has hired Herbert Smith corporate partner Michael Shaw as its deputy general counsel.
Kraft work gives hope to CC NY
Can the bid for Cadbury bring CC’s US practice back from the brink?
Watson Burton pair quits to set up family boutique
A Watson Burton partner duo has quit to launch a family and professional indemnity (PI) boutique.
Wolf Theiss, Hasche Sigle see through FutureLAB sale
Wolf Theiss and CMS Hasche Sigle have scored lead roles advising on BC Partners’ e300m (£263.69m) acquisition of medical diagnostic company FutureLAB.
White & Case London chief wins seat on global board
White & Case London head Oliver Brettle has been appointed to the firm’s executive committee, replacing New York partner Dimitrios Drivas.
Greenberg continues to add to London with double partner hire
Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) has continued its hiring drive after adding one partner apiece from Mayer Brown and Watson Farley & Williams.
Eversheds to outsource UK-wide secretarial jobs
Eversheds will shed up to 95 secretarial staff as the firm prepares to outsource its documentation processes with outsourcing company Exigent.
Eversheds launches fourth round of job cuts with further 22 to go
Eversheds has launched its fourth redundancy consultation with 22 real estate lawyers at risk.
Clifford Chance bags sweet role for Kraft
Clifford Chance has bagged a lead role advising Kraft on its $16.7bn bid for Cadbury.
Barclays installs Herbies partner as deputy GC
Barclays has hired Herbert Smith corporate partner Michael Shaw as its deputy general counsel.
Cost of living
Cutting costs has been the theme of the past financial year as the national firms struggle to come to terms with the economic uncertainties. By Julia Berris
Ashurst, Slaughters join US duo on Songbird refinancing
Two UK and two US firms have been drafted in to advise on the £836m recapitalisation of Canary Wharf Group owner Songbird Estates.
Dewey heads Redbell’s acquisition
Dewey & LeBoeuf has won a lead role advising Russian company Redbell on its purchase of oil company Timan Oil & Gas.
WilmerHale aims to triple headcount in Frankfurt
WilmerHale has vowed to triple the size of its Frankfurt office after its move to larger office space in the German city.
Disney turns to Dewey in billion-dollar comic deal
Three US firms have won lead roles on Walt Disney’s $4bn acquisition of US comic company Marvel Entertainment.
Herbert Smith bolsters Asia arbitration with Hong Kong move
Herbert Smith is ramping up its Asian arbitration practice, relocating partner Justin D’Agostino to Hong Kong.
C&I Group establishes group for City bank lawyers
The Commerce & Industry (C&I) Group is setting up a sub-group aimed at providing support for London-based in-house banking lawyers.
CC holds fire on litigation successor
Clifford Chance has delayed the appointment of a global litigation head to replace Mark Kirsch as it seeks to redefine the role.
Eversheds heads effort to increase diversity
?Eversheds has teamed up with City rivals and three recruitment firms to tackle the issue of diversity in legal recruitment.
GTM bags Paul Hastings tax lawyer
?Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) has hired Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker’s London vice-chairman to bulk up its tax practice in the City. Justin Hamer is the seventh partner to join the US firm in London since it launched in June. GTM launched with Mayer Brown co-vice-chair Paul Maher. Maher was joined by Mayer Brown partners Fiona Adams and Cate Sharp before hiring a capital markets trio from White ...
Local heroes
Ignoring the lure of international expansion, the Greek legal market remains primarily made up of family-run firms focused on the local market.
Revealed: gloomy prospects fail to deter wannabe partners
YouGov survey finds greater proportion of junior lawyers coveting partnership in year that promotions nosedive
Cobbetts starts flexi-working in bid to save jobs
Cobbetts has introduced a four-day week across its transactional practice groups in a bid to avoid making and further job cuts.
McGrigors bulks up in Belfast with local merger
Edinburgh-headquartered firm McGrigors has merged with Irish firm L’Estrange & Brett, its second merger in a year.
Shearman Brussels left partnerless by Arnold & Porter hires
Shearman & Sterling’s European network has been hit by the defection of two Brussels antitrust partners to Arnold & Porter.
Eversheds pensions head becomes London senior partner
Eversheds pensions head Anthony Arter has been named as the firm’s next London senior partner.
Milbank builds up City practice with Ashurst hire
Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy has hired an Ashurst restructuring partner to bulk up its capabilities in the City.
Mayer Brown names new competition head
Mayer Brown has promoted partner Gillian Sproul to head of competition and antitrust in its London office.
Weil Gotshal London hires A&O tax partner
Weil Gotshal & Manges has hired an Allen & Overy tax partner to bulk up its London office.
White & Case helps draft Kazakh restructuring laws
White & Case has scored a lead role advising the Kazakhstan government on the creation of new restructuring laws in the country.
Clifford Chance faces law suit from redundant German partners
Two former Clifford Chance Germany partners have accused the firm of unfair dismissal in the wake of its global partnership restructuring.
Addleshaws bolsters litigation with double Winston & Strawn hire
Addleshaw Goddard has hired a litigation partner duo from US firm Winston & Strawn.
Clifford Chance appoints Kiev managing partner
Clifford Chance has named Kiev partner Jared Grubb as managing partner of the office.
Greenberg adds to hiring spree with W&C partners
Rapidly growing Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) has snared a brace of capital markets partners from White & Case.
Bakers' London partners bear brunt of PEP drop
Baker & McKenzie’s London office saw turnover drop by just over 3 per cent during the last financial year, down from £119.8m to £115.7m.
Ashurst installs partner duo to head Milan after walk out
Ashurst has appointed two new Milan heads in the wake of a four partner departure from the office.
Ashurst votes on White & Case partner hire
Ashurst is in advanced talks with White & Case restructuring partner Dan Hamilton, with the expectation that he will join the firm’s London office.
Hammonds invites office heads to join the board
Hammonds has overhauled its management structure to give more power to office heads.
K&L Gates boosts arbitration in Asia
K&L Gates is looking to build up its Asian arbitration practice after hiring a Watson Farley & Williams partner to lead the group.
Macfarlanes gains mandate as ITV sells Friends Reunited
Macfarlanes and Lovells won key advisory roles on ITV’s sale of loss-making social networking site Friends Reunited.
Schillings adapts to defamation cost-capping
Media boutique Schillings is shifting its target client focus in anticipation of the introduction of cost-capping on defamation cases.
Teacher Stern to boost litigation after BLP raid
Teacher Stern plans to ramp up its corporate litigation and real estate teams in the wake of star partner Graham Shear’s departure.
Walker Morris’s PEP tumbles by 27 per cent
North East firm Walker Morris saw average profit per equity partner (PEP) drop 27 per cent in 2008-09 on the back of a turnover drop of 8 per cent.
Why Clydes is bonny in the US
Clydes is succeeding where many a magic circle firm has failed, but will its strategy outlive the downturn? asks Julia Berris
Simmons bolsters Frankfurt with Haarmann hire
Simmons & Simmons has hired Haarmann founding partner Jan Wildberger to bulk up its Frankfurt office.
Greenberg bulks up London office with lateral hire
Greenberg Traurig Maher has hired former White & Case capital markets partner Tim Jeveons as it begins to build its nascent London office.
BLP hires Teacher Stern sports litigator Shear
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has hired Teacher Stern sports and media litigator Graham Shear.
Finance duo Allen and Goetz quit Freshfields
High-profile banking partners Maurice Allen and Mike Goetz have left Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer just over a year after joining the magic circle firm.
PEP falls 27 per cent at Walker Morris
North East firm Walker Morris saw average profits per equity partner (PEP) drop 27 per cent in the last financial year on the back of a turnover drop of 8 per cent.
Blake Cassels sets up Middle East outposts
Canadian firm Blake Cassels & Graydon has established two offices in the Middle East.
CC to energise practice areas with sector focus bid
As part of its global reorganisation, Clifford Chance has begun using the banking industry model to market the firm to clients, creating 13 industry-focused groups that sit across practice areas.
Ex-Links energy head joins Akin for City disputes push
?Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has become the latest US firm to bulk up its London presence after launching a City disputes practice under former Linklaters energy and infrastructure disputes head Justin Williams.
Greenberg to control Rentokil’s legal advice
Greenberg Traurig Maher has secured business services company Rentokil Initial as a regular client.
Hammonds dragged to Court of Appeal
The bitter dispute between Hammonds and former partner David Jones could be close to reaching a conclusion as the Court of Appeal prepares to hear the case.
SJ Berwin keeps the faith after profit gets sliced in half
Average profit per equity partner (PEP) at SJ Berwin has almost halved during the past financial year, dropping from £801,000 in 2007-08 to £410,000.Turnover at the firm decreased by 14 per cent over the course of the year, down from £215m to £184m.
What NY firms want from the Valley
Cooley is the latest West Coast firm to fall prey to the New York invasion.
Freshfields installs new US chief
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed New York-based corporate partner Julian Pritchard to the role of US regional managing partner.
Paul Hastings real estate boss to head London office
Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker has named global real estate head partner Phil Feder as head of its London office.
Paper trial
If there’s one thing that defendant and claimant defamation lawyers agree on, it’s that more judges are needed to oversee large scale defamation cases.
SJ Berwin's PEP plummets 50 per cent
Average profits per equity partner (PEP) at SJ Berwin halved during the last financial year, dropping from £801,000 at the end of 2007-08 to £410,000.
Cadwalader office move sees firm downsize in City
?After scouring London for the perfect home, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has found a new UK base.
CC structured finance partner latest to defect as UK firms face tough time in Italy
Former Clifford Chance Italy co-managing partner Luigi Chessa has left the magic circle firm.
Clifford Chance mulls expansion in Turkey
Clifford Chance is examining its options in Turkey after establishing a toehold in the country, The Lawyer can reveal.
Edwards Angell haunted by ex
Sacked partner takes US firm to court over unrealistic billing expectations.
King & Wood expands
King & Wood has merged with Hong Kong firm Arculli Fong & Ng, becoming the first People’s Republic of China practice to launch in the former UK dependent territory.
Lovells, Slaughters bag roles on Icelandic banks’ recapitalisation
A group of UK and US firms has landed key roles advising on the $2.1bn (£1.28bn) recapitalisation of the Icelandic banking sector.
Schillings, Akin Gump team up in the US
Schillings has teamed up with US firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to tackle the issue of enforcing UK court orders in the US.
Teacher Stern provides timely assist on Man City’s Tevez swoop
Teacher Stern Selby has advised on footballer Carlos Tevez’s transfer to Manchester City FC.
Cadwalader downsizes as it opts for new Bank home
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft is moving to new premises in Bank which will see the firm almost halve its office space in the capital.
Simpson, Cravath, Bredin Prat scoop top roles on KKR listing
Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett, Cravath Swaine & Moore and Bredin Prat have scored lead roles advising on Kohlberg Kravis Roberts’ (KKR) merger with KKR Private Equity Investors (KPE).
Lawyers predict changes to privacy pay-outs after News of the World scandal
Lawyers are gearing up for potential changes to invasion of privacy compensation in the wake of the News International phone hacking scandal.
Ashurst lengthens road to lockstep after PEP fall
Ashurst has mooted extending the length of time it takes for junior equity partners to gain senior status, dropping the value of an equity point by a third.
Cadwalader to reduce City office space by up to half
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has signalled its intent to permanently downsize its London operations by finalising an office move that will see it reduce its space in the City by almost half.
Eversheds man leads Cornish green team
Eversheds local government partner Stephen Cirell has been seconded to Cornwall Council to lead its green agenda.
Freshfields targets quality litigators
UK firm adopts cautious approach to pinpoint the right US laterals. By Julia Berris
M&G calls on Lovells to launch fund for recession-hit companies
Lovells has advised M&G, the investment management arm of Prudential, on the launch of a £1bn company financing fund.
Shearman strikes rich vein of work in Abu Dhabi
Shearman & Sterling has seen some significant changes of late: the US firm overhauled its management structure last year, electing new practice and office heads; it has made layoffs in the US and UK this year; it also relocated some of its most senior partners to overseas offices.
Stephensons bags ex-Ashurst partner
Stephenson Harwood has bulked up its London corporate team by hiring former Ashurst partner Duncan Stiles.
Ward Hadaway asks property staff to cut hours to stave off job losses
Ward Hadaway is encouraging staff in its property department to take 13 days unpaid leave during the summer in a bid to keep staffing costs down.
Linklaters raids Clifford Chance for German restructuring star
Linklaters has again turned to its magic circle rivals for a key German hire, snaring a leading restructuring partner from Clifford Chance’s Frankfurt office.
Mills & Reeve's revenues increase by 7 per cent
Mills & Reeve has reported a 7 per cent revenue hike for the last financial year.
Bingham and McKee: match-fit
Bingham might be seen as McKee’s saviour, but is nevertheless gaining a valuable asset
Hammonds Direct to disclose accounts
The Hammonds Direct partnership has been ordered to disclose its accounts as the row over the £2.3m cash call continues.
Travers strengthens Bridgepoint ties with Pets at Home IPO
Travers Smith is understood to be advising on Bridgepoint Capital’s float of retailer Pets at Home.
White & Case partner quits over strategy
White & Case securities partner Tim Jeveons has left the London office amid disagreements over the firm’s strategic direction.
Privacy lawyers scramble to advise celebrities on tabloid phone hacking claims
Lawyers are gearing up for litigation stemming from the News International phone hacking allegations.
Hammonds PEP falls by 25 per cent
Hammonds has reported a 25 per cent drop in profits for the last financial year, from £367,000 to £276,000.
Ashurst says goodbye to the million-pound PEP club as profit drops by a third
Ashurst has reported a 35 per cent drop in profit per equity (PEP) for the 2008-09 financial year.
Bingham snaps up McKee in US merger
Bingham McCutchen has acquired 120-lawyer US firm McKee Nelson.
Cleary throws caution to the wind with City push
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is in growth mode in London.
Hammonds creates firm network to boost cross-selling of practices
Hammonds has set up a partner and associate forum in its London office designed to aid business development and the cross-selling of practices at the firm.
Italian lawyers quit UK firms as magic circle feels repercussions of mass cuts
A number of UK firms have been hit by a significant amount of defections from their Italian offices.
Mayer Brown goes for Smoke
US firm in talks to fortify London in wake of sweeping governance changes.
Norton Rose, Lovells work on Bahrain sukuk
Lovells and Norton Rose have won lead roles advising the Government of Bahrain on the creation and listing of a $750m (£457.96m) sovereign sukuk.
Ward Hadaway suffers as PEP diminishes by 53 per cent
Ward Hadaway has announced a 53 per cent decrease in average profit per equity partner (PEP) during the last financial year.
Ashurst’s corporate dept misses budget by 20 per cent
Ashurst’s corporate practice missed budget by around 20 per cent for the last financial year, dropping to around £60m.
Canada Special report: Canadian shield
Canada’s traditional cautiousness served it well when the crunch hit and its law firms are now taking advantage of their domestic clients’ newfound sense of adventure.
Eversheds keeps South Central rail deal on track
Eversheds advised the Department for Transport on its £534m South Central rail franchise, which has been awarded to Dickinson Dees client Southern Railways.
Gibson Dunn wants its fill of Brazil
Inherent cautiousness means new office is not the product of whimsy.
Hammonds refocuses on financials, global liaisons
Hammonds’ London office has created the role of finance director in a bid to encourage better cash collection by partners, while also naming five international office liaison partners to improve communication and referrals throughout the network.
Mayer Brown in advanced talks with A&O leveraged finance team
Mayer Brown is in advanced talks with teams from several firms in London to significantly bulk up its capital markets and corporate practice groups in the City
Pinsents – first firm to offshore work of qualified UK lawyers
National firm to outsource litigation work to South Africa as offshoring revolution gathers pace
A&O, Links advise on Sainsbury's capital raising
Two magic circle firms have secured lead roles on Sainsbury’s £445m capital raising.
Gibson Dunn prepares ground for Sao Paulo launch
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is gearing up to launch an office in Sao Paulo and will relocate one New York partner to Brazil.
Hammonds debt collection spin-off Drydens bought by ex-DLA partner
The partners of Hammonds’ debt collection spin-off Drydens have sold the business months after another Hammonds spin-off, Hammonds Direct, went into administration.
Apple goes rotten for CC as NY litigation team falls apart
It is mass exodus time at Clifford Chance New York. Eight months ago, and a year after the UK-headquartered firm laid off a handful of structured finance associates, it embarked on its first major round of layoffs in the US. When it was over, 20 litigation associates had gone.
DWF raids Dickie Dees for pensions triumvirate
DWF HAS bolstered its pensions practice after hiring a three-strong team from Newcastle-based Dickinson Dees.
Hammonds’ litigation implosion continues with York, lease feuds
Hammonds just cannot seem to distance itself from partner disputes. After largely resolving a High Court battle with a group of former partners relating to overdrawn profits, news of Hammonds Direct going into administration prompted a number of disputes between the law firm and the partnership of the failed conveyancing business.
Kirkland and Sidley take charge of Bain finance deal
Kirkland & Ellis and Sidley Austin have scored lead roles on Bain Capital’s cash injection into Chinese retailer Gome Electrical Appliances.
Viguié Schmidt hires CC securities litigator
Newly merged French boutique Viguié Schmidt Peltier Juvigny has hired former securities litigator Frédéric Peltier from Clifford Chance.
Yanks eye City tie-ups for Euro push
US mid players see downturn as opportunity to trawl UK for big fish. Julia Berris reports
Watson Burton senior partner relinquishes management duties
Watson Burton senior partner Rob Langley given up his managerial responsibilities as the firm finalises its tier-one equity structure.
CC New York litigators take partnership at Gibson Dunn
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has hired a trio of litigators who have left the New York office of magic circle firm Clifford Chance.
CC loses six partners from capital markets
Clifford Chance has seen the partner headcount in its derivatives and capital markets practice decrease by six since May.
Hammonds enforces corporate sabbaticals
Hammonds has introduced mandatory sabbaticals for all associates in its corporate department in a bid to cut costs.
Hammonds partner quits Direct board
Hammonds partner David Armitage has stepped down from the Hammonds Direct partnership committee while it tries to settle a property dispute with the law firm, where he is also a partner.
Lovells energises EDF’s coffers with e1bn bond issue
Lovells has won a role alongside magic circle firm Clifford Chance advising on French company EDF Energy’s e1bn (£870m) bond issuance.
US firms retain majority of London qualifiers
It is early in the recruitment cycle for US firms, but recent announcements suggest that several US firms’ London offices are holding up despite the pressures of the downturn.
McDermott cuts 70 more jobs in the US
McDermott Will & Emery has cut 25 associates and 45 support staff in its second round of layoffs in the US.
Shearman wins another GM-related role
US firm Shearman & Sterling has won a lead role advising on the acquisition of General Motors business Hummer.
Weil Gotshal cuts 79 US support jobs
Weil Gotshal & Manges has laid off 79 support staff across its US offices due to the pressures of the economic downturn.
Two more partners leave Mayer Brown London
Mayer Brown has suffered two more departures from its London office with a corporate partner and an environment partner both choosing to leave the firm.
SRA unveils firms on disciplinary panel
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has appointed 16 firms to its revamped disciplinary proceedings panel.
DocGenix snares lawyer from parent A&O
US derivatives IT company DocGenix, which is majority owned by Allen & Overy (A&O), has turned to the firm for the hire of its first UK-based in-house lawyer.
Eversheds puts equity on pedestal
EVERSHEDS has introduced more stringent appraisal measures for fixed-share partners who have aspirations of entering the firm’s equity.
Freshfields secures South African media merger role
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has been instructed by South African company MTN Group to advise on its merger with mobile operator Bharti Airtel.
Hammonds takes Direct action in lease wrangle
Hammonds Direct committee denies lease liability in face of pre-action letter
K&L Gates hires ex-Ashurst Dubai head as international expansion gathers pace
K&L Gates has hired the former head of Ashurst’s Dubai office as it prepares to open its first office in the Middle East.
Lovells reaps rewards of poor pound as rivals toil
The first financial results from firms in the top 10 have started trickling out, with the massive impact of sterling’s decline against the euro and the dollar helping bolster Lovells’ 2008-09 revenue figure.
Watson Burton risks rebellion with elite equity level
WATSON Burton is overhauling its equity partnership less than a year after it restructured its remuneration system.
White & Case cull silence is sapping partner morale
Mystery surrounds the White & Case partnership cull. Earlier this year the US firm announced it would be shedding 15-20 per cent of its global partnership, as well as 200 associates and 200 from its support staff workforce (TheLawyer.com, 10 March).
Clifford Chance global litigation chief quits firm
Clifford Chance’s global head of litigation Mark Kirsch has left the magic circle firm in the midst of the global partnership restructuring.
Mayer Brown completes management overhaul
Mayer Brown has completed the restructuring of its management team after electing the final five partners to its 12-member partnership board.
Jones Day scores seven-strong team from Kirkland
Jones Day has boosted its US restructuring practice with the hire of a seven-lawyer team from Kirkland & Ellis.
Ashurst revenues down by 7 per cent
Ashurst has reported a seven per cent drop in global revenues for the 2008-09 financial year.
Eversheds PEP falls by 27 per cent as revenue drops to £366m
The financial cost of funding three rounds of redundancies has seen Eversheds’ average profit per equity partner (PEP) figure drop by 26.8 per cent over the last year while revenues have fallen by six per cent.
K&L Gates turns to Clifford Chance for New York corporate hire
K&L Gates has hired Clifford Chance US corporate partner David Bernstein for its New York office.
CC’s US litigation team gets slimmer and slimmer
IT HAS been a bleak few months in Clifford Chance’s US practice.
Clifford Chance sets up partner appeals body
CLIFFORD Chance has created an independent appeals body for partners who are cut as part of its global restructuring.
Eversheds staff face axe if outsourcing pilot successful
Further support staff roles could be cut at Eversheds if a documentation outsourcing scheme is implemented at the firm.
Linklaters tipped to win mandate for AIG’s float of AIA in Asia
Linklaters is emerging as a frontrunner to win the mandate advising on the IPO of AIG’s Asian life assurance arm.
Simpson Thacher, Links land Alliance Boots roles
Linklaters and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have won instructions on Alliance Boots’ £400m debt buyback.
Skadden looks on the bright side
IT IS rare to see partners leave Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, so Manhattan’s legal community was set chattering recently when it witnessed three partner defections in the less than a week.
Skadden loses third partner in a week
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has lost its third partner in a week, with restructuring partner Jan Baker defecting to Latham & Watkins.
Mayer Brown governance structure in limbo as Maher quits
Mayer Brown’s co-vice-chair Paul Maher has officially resigned from the firm after announcing that he would be taking a leave of absence to consider his options.
Skadden suffers rare partner loss as duo defects to Kirkland
Kirkland & Ellis has hired a Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom partner duo in its New York office.
CC, Links land roles on Travis Perkins rights issue
Clifford Chance and Linklaters have scored lead roles on Travis Perkins’ £300m rights issue.
Hammonds Direct partners set for court showdown
Battle commences as one partner rejects £2.3m cash call following collapse of volume business
O’Melveny exodus continues
But optimism at the firm is the official line.
Trinity International makes first addition to its partnership
London-based boutique Trinity International has made its first-ever partner promotion with the addition of corporate lawyer Conrad Marais.
Turkey Special Report: Access all areas
The bid for EU accession is forcing Turkey to rethink its unfriendly attitude to foreign law firms. Julia Berris reports
Clifford Chance boosts Kiev office with Moscow partner transfer
Clifford Chance has relocated Moscow-based banking and finance partner Jared Grubb to its Kiev office.
Skadden hires three-partner team from O'Melveny in US
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has hired a three partner team from O’Melveny & Myers in Washington DC.
Eversheds uses Tyco model to win new client
Eversheds has won another Tyco-style contract with a role advising FMC Technologies on all of its European, Russian and Asia Pacific work.
Litigation bears the brunt as Clifford Chance wields axe
Clifford Chance’s New York office is preparing for large-scale partner cuts in its litigation practice as the firm thrashes out its partnership restructuring.
Malaysia moves to open up legal market receive a muted response from UK firms
Magic circle firms will not extend their Asian network into Malaysia despite moves to open up the legal market to international firms.
Simpson Thacher’s City gent
NY giant continues global advance as CC’s Signy signs up for the ride. By Julia Berris
Weil, Cleary, Baker Botts star in US media merger
A trio of us firms have scored lead roles on DirecTV’s merger with Liberty Media Corporation.
Clifford Chance hit by more departures as four top NY litigators walk
A four-partner New York litigation team has defected from Clifford Chance to launch a Manhattan-based arbitration boutique.
Clifford Chance star Signy quits for Simpson Thacher
Clifford Chance (CC) corporate partner Adam Signy has defected to the London office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Hammonds shrugs off exits with pensions vow
Hammonds has vowed to invest in its pensions business following the departure of London head and pensions star Jay Doraisamy, who becomes the latest in a series of defections from the practice.
Taylor Wessing aims for Polish merger
Taylor Wessing is gearing up for a merger with new Polish affiliation firm BSJP, The Lawyer can reveal.
US lawyers unite against ‘draconian’ UK Budget
US lawyers hit out last week at the UK Government over the new 50 per cent tax band introduced in the recent Budget.
Jones Day, Cads win key roles on Chrysler bankruptcy
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft and Jones Day have secured leading roles advising on Chrysler’s bankruptcy.
Taylor Wessing launches Polish venture
Taylor Wessing has launched a strategic alliance with Polish practice BSJP following a longstanding informal relationship with the firm. Through the formal alliance Taylor Wessing now has corporate, banking and finance, real estate and infrastructure, IP and technology capabilities on the ground in Poland.
Hammonds loses another pensions partner to Eversheds
Eversheds has hired Hammonds pension star Jay Doraisamy to bulk up its London pensions practice.
Maher takes leave of absence from Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown vice chairman Paul Maher has issued a highly unusual statement regarding his future at the Chicago-headquartered firm, announcing his decision to take a leave of absence following the firm’s recent leadership elections.
Dewey Paris head quits for King & Spalding
Atlanta-based King & Spalding has hired Dewey & LeBoeuf Paris-based arbitration head Eric Schwartz to launch in France.
Hadef cuts six from lawyer line-up as firms reassess Middle East strategies
United Arab Emirates (UAE) firm Hadef Al Dhahiri & Associates, which has rebranded as Hadef & Partners, has laid off six corporate finance lawyers as it bids to reposition itself during the downturn.
New dawn at Mayer Brown as firm goes back to US roots
The power base at Mayer Brown is set to return to the US as London-based vice-chair Paul Maher exits the firm’s management.
SJ Berwin scores role for British Land on sale of Broadgate estate
SJ Berwin is understood to be advising property company British Land on its potential sale of a 50 per cent stake in its £2.5bn Broadgate office estate in the City of London.
Skadden and Latham lead on Qatari bond issue
A duo of US firms has won lead roles on the State of Qatar’s recent $3bn (£2bn) sovereign bond issuance.
Ward Hadaway puts Manchester office launch on back-burner
Ward Hadaway has shelved plans for a Manchester office launch, preferring to ride out the recession before making a firm commitment.
Watson Burton moots Middle East expansion
Watson Burton is looking to expand its focus beyond North East England with a Middle East launch slated for the next 12 months.
Maher overlooked in Mayer Brown rejig
Mayer Brown’s London-based vice-chair Paul Maher has been overlooked in the firm’s management rejig with his US-based counterpart winning the newly created role of firmwide managing partner.
Eversheds asks trainees to defer and lays off 10 in real estate
Eversheds has announced that it is asking its forthcoming trainees to defer their start dates at the same time as making cuts in its real estate practice group.
Muckle promotes one to partnership
North East firm Muckle has made up one new partner in its latest round of promotions.
CC boosts Asia private equity team with City partner transfer
Clifford Chance London private equity partner Simon Cooke is relocating to the firm’s Hong Kong office to work alongside Hong Kong private equity head Andrew Whan.
Cads offers less slices of equity pie
Cadwalader hopes fewer shares of greater value will prove more attractive to partners
Cadwalader manipulates shares to hike recruitment
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has reduced the number of shares available to its equity partners in a bid to raise each share’s value so they can be used as a recruitment tool.
CC, Macfarlanes, Travers secure Bridgepoint-Hermes mandate
A trio of UK firms has won roles advising on private equity house Bridgepoint’s appointment as manager of Hermes Private Equity’s funds.
Freshfields’ flexibility heads off job losses
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has introduced a range of flexible working options for its support staff as it strives to avoid making redundancies.
Jomati strengthens ties with US and Asia
UK legal consultant Jomati has cemented a formal alliance with US counterpart Altman Weil and Professional Development Asia in Hong Kong and Beijing.
Maher to lose vice-chair role in Mayer Brown rejig
The proposed overhaul of Mayer Brown’s management is likely to see the firm establish a seven-member management committee and abolish its two vice-chairman roles.
Links installs former UBS man as US co-head
Linklaters has hired a UBS managing director to co-head its US practice and head up its tax practice group.
Mayer Brown elects chair to replace Holzhauer
Mayer Brown has nominated Chicago private equity partner Bert Krueger to succeed James Holzhauer as chairman, with the incumbent stepping down after two years at the helm.
A&O, CC postpone promos due to partner culls
Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy (A&O) have postponed their annual partnership promotions due to their global restructurings.
Herbies launches Hong Kong restructuring practice
Herbert Smith has launched an insolvency and restructuring practice in Hong Kong after hiring Appleby partner Michael Barker.
Clifford Chance sheds 10 associates in Amsterdam
Clifford Chance has blamed the global recession for cutting 10 associate jobs in its Amsterdam office.
McDermott elects two to chairmanship
McDermott Will & Emery has elected partners Jeffrey Stone and Peter Sacripanti as joint chairman of the firm.
Bryan Cave seeks London law firm
US firm Bryan Cave is on the hunt for a UK merger partner to expand its presence in London.
Find Lovells at King’s Cross with Herbies, DAC
?A trio of UK law firms has landed the leading roles advising on the restructuring of the investment vehicle for the multibillion pound King’s Cross Central regeneration scheme in Central London.
SJ Berwin ditches European brand with Gulf push
SJ Berwin has reinforced its move towards becoming an international firm by setting up an office in Dubai less than a month after launching in Hong Kong.
White & Case partners to forge fresh African links
White & Case is to relocate a number of London-based lawyers to Africa as part of a push into the continent.
White & Case tight-lipped over partner consultation
White & Case’s London partners have been left in the dark about the criteria being used to cut partners in the firm’s global partner cull.
Mayer Brown lays off 45 more lawyers in US
Mayer Brown has cut 45 lawyers and 90 support across its US offices.
Skadden promotes two to London partnership
US firm Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has promoted two City associates to its partnership.
Hammonds sees four defections at end of lock in
Four partners resigned from Hammonds yesterday after the firm’s lock-in period for the last six months came to an end.
MoFo cancels Broadmoor retreat
Morrison & Foerster has postponed its 2009 partner conference, which was due to be held at Broadmoor in June.
Dewey City partner sets up new office in Madrid
Dewey & LeBoeuf is preparing to launch a Madrid office, with a London partner spearheading the initiative.
Latham's City revenue takes 12.8 per cent hit
Latham & Watkins’ London office reported a 12.8 per cent drop in revenue for the last financial year.
Quinn Emanuel desperate for Dan
Was A&O’s Dan Cunningham’s exit perfect timing for all concerned? asks Julia Berris
Slaughters, A&O score Cadbury bond issue
Allen & Overy (A&O) and Slaughter and May have won lead roles on Cadbury’s £300m bond issuance.
White & Case partner quits ahead of cull
White & Case UBS relationship partner Rachel Hatfield has left the firm after becoming disaffected with its strategy.
Former TTP GC guilty of insider dealing
The former general counsel of technology company TTP Communications has been found guilty of insider trading in the first insider dealing criminal prosecution brought by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
LG launches Moscow base after winning Lukoil panel role
LG has launched an office in Moscow after merging with local Russian firm Aurora.
McDermott City partners anticipate cold shoulder as trio vie for chairman post
US firm McDermott Will & Emery is gearing up for a leadership election. But the firm is not facing a revolution any time soon - all three candidates vying to replace chairman Harvey Freishtat form part of the firm’s traditional core.
New Skadden chief still thinks big
Executive partner inherits a firm that seems capable of defying the crunch.
Quinn Emanuel bags A&O partner
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges is preparing for the pickup in finance-related litigation with the hire of Allen & Overy (A&O) structured finance star Dan Cunningham.As TheLawyer.com revea-led (19 March), the A&O US senior partner is defecting to the litigation firm in July. Cunningham joins as a partner in New York in the firm’s complex structured products and bankruptcy and restructuring groups.
Skadden advises American Apparel on Lion’s share
Two US firms have secured the lead roles on American Apparel’s sale of an 18 per cent stake to private equity house Lion Capital.
