Online August 2012
The Lawyer
A summer of discontent
The Olympics may be over but fear not sports fans, the football season starts this week. How did that come around so soon?
A&O and Morgan Lewis lead as Russia's Rosneft signs Arctic gas deal
Allen & Overy (A&O) and Morgan Lewis & Bockius scooped roles as Russian oil major Rosneft completed a strategic joint venture with natural gas producer Itera to jointly develop gas fields in the Russian Arctic.
A&O, Freshfields and Simmons ink pre-pack sale to save Mouchel
Allen & Overy (A&O), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Simmons & Simmons have advised on the financial restructuring of public infrastructure group Mouchel, which involved the pre-pack sale of its assets to its lenders and management.
A&O, Norton Rose handle World Bank group's Togo investment
Allen & Overy (A&O) and a London team from Norton Rose have advised on a deal that sees by the World Bank’s (WB) investment arm buy shares worth $100m (£64.4m) in pan-African banking group Ecobank Transnational.
Addleshaw Goddard cuts 24 fee-earner roles at end of consultation
Addleshaw Goddard has axed 24 fee-earner positions following its second round of redundancies in just over a year.
Addleshaw Goddard loses in mammoth CFA case Berezovsky v Abramovich
Mrs Justice Gloster has thrown out claims totalling $5bn brought by Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky against Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, handing a huge defeat to Addleshaw Goddard.
Americans get all the fun
If things seem a little quiet in the City this week, perhaps you should stick your nose into the American firm next door.
Ashfords CEO steps down ahead of post-merger reshuffle
Ashfords chief executive Ian Daniells is set to return to fee earning following the firm’s bolt-on merger with Rochman Landau and a subsequent management reshuffle.
Ashurst adds Tokyo partner with SNR Denton hire
Ashurst has rehired SNR Denton project finance partner Myles Mantle for its Tokyo office.
Ashurst joins US duo as Axa PE backs French engineering MBO
Ashurst, Latham & Watkins and Weil Gotshal & Manges have all landed roles on the management buyout of French industrial engineering company Fives Group in a deal backed by Axa Private Equity (Axa PE).
Ashurst, DLA, Mayer Brown advise on sale of Goldman Sachs base
Ashurst, DLA Piper and Mayer Brown have advised on the £264m sale of Goldman Sachs’ European headquarters on London’s Fleet Street.
Ashurst, DLA, Pinsents collect Glasgow recycling mandates
Ashurst, DLA Piper and Pinsent Masons have won roles advising on a 25-year contract between waste specialist Viridor and Glasgow City Council to build and operate a recycling centre in the south of the city.
Axiom gears up for India and Singapore launches
Low-cost law firm Axiom is set to launch offices in India and Singapore, just five months after it opened in Belfast.
Baker & McKenzie expands Myanmar practice with new counsel hire
Baker & McKenzie has appointed its first Myanmar-qualified lawyer to its Bangkok-based Myanmar centre.
Baker & McKenzie remains world's largest firm with $2.3bn turnover
Baker & McKenzie has posted a 2.1 per cent rise in global revenue for the 2011-12 financial year, taking total income to a record $2.3bn.
Baker Botts launches in Brussels with double partner hire
US firm Baker Botts has become the latest firm to launch a Brussels office focusing on competition work, with the hire of Hogan Lovells’ local office head Catriona Hatton and Dutch competition specialist Paul Lugard.
Bar growth buoyed by direct instructions
The civil bar saw revenues move upwards at the end of the last financial year, driven in part by growth in the number of direct access instructions from in-house counsel.
Bevan Brittan and Trowers advise on Barnet-Harrow legal merger
Bevan Brittan and Trowers & Hamlins have advised the London Boroughs of Barnet and Harrow on the merger of their legal teams.
Bindmans and Leigh Day fail to convince court on 'right to die' cases
Bindmans and Leigh Day & Co have today lost joined up cases on the ‘right to die’ and assisted suicide after a judge ruled that it was the role of parliament to consider changes to the law.
Bircham Dyson Bell's profit grows following partner cuts
Bircham Dyson Bell’s turnover flatlined in 2011-12, but average profit per equity partner (PEP) 13 rose per cent after the firm asked three partners to leave and cut two support staff.
Birchams exits NFU panel as 15 firms reappointed
Bircham Dyson Bell has left the National Farmers Union’s (NFU) external legal panel “by mutual consent”, as 15 firms have won places on the reviewed roster of advisers.
Bird & Bird posts profit rise for 2011-12 year
Bird & Bird has posted a rise in average profit per equity partner (PEP) of 10 per cent for the 2011-12 financial year on the back of a net profit rise of 8 per cent.
Brave New World?
Proposals for modernising the family courts could cause more problems than they solve, says Zoe Saunders
Browne Jacobson expands into South West with Exeter launch
Browne Jacobson has cemented a record year of growth by launching in the South West with a 25-strong team hired from local firm Veitch Penny.
BSB criticised as barrister cleared of misconduct
A tribunal verdict that a legal disciplinary practice (LDP) barrister conducted litigation in breach of the bar’s codes has been overturned.
Bupa's employment law team launches panel review
Bupa Group’s employment law team is embarking on its second-ever panel review, with three spots expected to be up for grabs.
Burges Salmon partners get cash windfall from 2003 scheme
Burges Salmon has started paying out to partners following a scheme that saw the firm hold back capital to fund its move into new headquarters.
Burges Salmon wins West Coast for FirstGroup as Eversheds, Herbies advise
Ashurst, Burges Salmon, Eversheds and Herbert Smith are among the firms to have advised in the bidding war for the contract to manage the West Coast rail franchise, with FirstGroup today (15 August) revealed as the winning candidate.
Chadbourne partner exits as Bakers makes capital markets push
Baker & McKenzie has added to its finance and capital markets practice in Moscow with the hire of banking and finance partner Simon Morgan from Chadbourne & Parke.
Change is hard for SJ Berwin
Standard Chartered is under the eye of New York authorities, Syria is in turmoil, and British athletes are clocking up Olympic medal after Olympic medal, but we all know what the most exciting news of the day is: SJ Berwin has put off changes to its partner remuneration system that would have encouraged more cross-selling between practices.
City law firm locked out of offices amid landlord dispute
A City-based law firm has been locked out of its offices by its landlords and forfeited its lease after missing its rent deadline.
Clayton Utz and Minter Ellison refuse to close door on foreign mergers
Clayton Utz and Minter Ellison, the two so-called big six Australian firms that remain independent, are keeping their options open, with neither firm’s management ruling out a merger.
Cleary and Linklaters lead as BofA offloads wealth arm to Julius Baer
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Linklaters have taken advisory roles on Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s SFr860m (£565m) sale of its non-US wealth management business to Julius Baer Group.
Cleary on standby as Ryanair plays the Heathrow slots with Virgin
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is advising Ryanair on talks with Virgin Atlantic about the sale of sought-after Heathrow slots.
Clifford Chance and Linklaters among firms on Cinven's £465m pharma deal
Clifford Chance and Linklaters were part of a string of City firms advising on private equity group Cinven’s £465m acquisition of generic drugs company Mercury Pharma from HgCapital.
Clifford Chance on standby to advise Barclays on SFO Qatar probe
Barclays is understood to be seeking further advice from Clifford Chance after the SFO launched an investigation into Qatar payments.
Clifford Chance rehires US arbitrator after Chadbourne stint
Clifford Chance has added to its US disputes practice with the rehire of arbitration partner Ignacio Suárez Anzorena from Chadbourne & Parke’s Washington DC office.
Clifford Chance wins RBS role on IT failure review
Clifford Chance has been instructed by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to carry out a review into a computer failure that left customers without access to information about their accounts.
Clifford Chance, Freshfields and Kirkland seal Travelodge debt deal
Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Kirkland & Ellis have advised on a deal to reduce Travelodge’s debt by transferring control of the hotel chain to three investors.
Coffin Mew asks mystery shoppers to rate service
Hampshire-based Coffin Mew has started a mystery shopping service in a bid to improve client experience and benchmark itself against competitors.
Collas Crill boosts Singapore with hire from fund manager Prosperity
Channel Island firm Collas Crill is strengthening its Singapore office with the hire of Leon Santos from fund management group Prosperity Capital Management.
Cooke Young & Keidan acts as first Libor litigation hits court
Cooke Young & Keidan took a lead role as Barclays yesterday faced court action relating to the alleged mis-selling of complex derivatives.
Cravath, Pepper Hamilton lead as IBM buys Kenexa for $1.3bn
Cravath Swaine & Moore and Pepper Hamilton have taken the helm as IBM acquired human resources management company Kenexa for $1.3bn (£820m) to boost its cloud-based software offering.
Dabbous. It's the D.B.'s
Brecher managing partner Nicky Richmond manages to get a seat at Dabbous – and absolutely loves it
Daily Mail publisher appoints first-ever global GC
The Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) has appointed its first-ever global general counsel and company secretary as part of a legal restructure.
Deadline for Dewey bankruptcy settlement delayed again
Former Dewey & LeBoeuf partners have been given an extra week to sign up to a settlement absolving them of liability from the firm’s estate, with bankruptcy chiefs currently battling to iron out concerns that have caused the plans to raise up to $90.4m (£57.9m) to stall.
Deutsche Bank hires Cleary's von Dryander as German GC
Deutsche Bank has announced the appointment of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton banking veteran Christof von Dryander as its new general counsel for Germany and Central and Eastern Europe.
Dewey avoids Chapter 7 bankruptcy after agreeing $50m settlement
Dewey & LeBoeuf’s settlement plan to raise funds for the defunct firm’s estate and absolve former partners of future liability has passed the $50m (£32m) threshold required to keep the case out of Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Dewey paid top duo $1.1m bonuses on eve of collapse, filings show
Dewey & LeBoeuf paid special bonuses totalling $1.1m each to CFO Joel Sanders and executive director Steve DiCarmine in the months running up to the firm’s collapse, bankruptcy filings reveal.
Dewey pushes for court approval of $70m settlement deal
Dewey & LeBoeuf’s wind-down team has filed a motion calling for court approval of its settlement deal for former partners, arguing that financial commitments were obtained in a short space of time despite the “shock, anger and dismay” resulting from the firm’s collapse.
Dewey revamps terms of settlement deal as carrot for ex-partners
Dewey & LeBoeuf’s wind-down team has amended the bankrupt firm’s controversial settlement deal, with partners now being enticed into the plan by a discount based on how much they bring back to the firm in receivables in the coming weeks.
Dewey tweaks partner settlement plan again
Dewey & LeBoeuf’s bankruptcy team has offered former partners further changes to the firm’s settlement plan, a week after telling them an amended deal was final.
Dewey's UK staff to 'examine' firm at NYC creditors' meeting
Former staff of Dewey & LeBoeuf’s London office have been invited to grill a representative of the bankrupt US firm under oath at a meeting in New York next week.
Disclosure day
There has been no love lost in the bitter battle between Paddy McKillen and the Barclay brothers over the ownership of the prestigious Maybourne Hotel Group.
DLA and Pillsbury score roles on BP's Californian refinery sale
DLA Piper is acting for BP on the $2.5bn (£1.6bn) sale of a Californian oil refinery to Tesoro Corporation, with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman advising the buyer.
DLA and Slaughters lead on Premier Foods' latest brand sell-off
DLA Piper and Slaughter and May have advised on debt-laden Premier Foods’ sale of its sweet spreads and jellies business to US buyer Hain Celestial.
DLA Piper set for Paris expansion with local merger
DLA Piper is preparing to merge with a corporate boutique in Paris in a bid to grow its presence in the French capital.
Duane Morris leads for Heineken in tussle for Asian beer maker
Heineken has instructed Duane Morris’ Singapore joint venture to advise on its ongoing attempt to acquire all the remaining shares in Asia Pacific Breweries (APB), in a deal that could potentially turn into a bidding war.
Dundas appointed sole legal adviser to Anesco
Dundas & Wilson has been appointed sole legal adviser to energy efficiency solutions company Anesco.
Dyson joins the judicial elite
It was only a matter of time before Supreme Court Justice Lord Dyson was appointed second-in-command of the civil justice system as Master of the Rolls.
Dyson to fill Neuberger's shoes as Master of the Rolls
The Master of the Rolls (MR) Lord Neuberger is to be succeeded in the role by Supreme Court Justice Dyson when the former is elevated to Supreme Court president next month.
ENS eyes pan-African domination with launches in Rwanda and Burundi
South African law firm ENS has embarked on a pan-Africa expansion plan with the opening of an office each in Rwanda and Burundi.
Eversheds clients ask for firm's removal from case due to lack of cash
Eversheds is removing itself from a major piece of Irish litigation after its clients said they could no longer fund the firm’s costs.
Eversheds eyes better engagement via staff share scheme
Eversheds is looking into giving all its staff a stake in the firm’s profits in a bid to get better engagement from workers.
Eversheds' former City pensions chief takes role at SNR Denton
Eversheds’ London pensions head Jay Doraisamy has left the firm to join SNR Denton.
Eversheds prepares ground for imminent Beijing launch
Eversheds is gearing up to launch an office in Beijing later this year as it awaits the “imminent” approval of its licence application.
Ex-A&O partner rearrested on child pornography charges
Former Allen & Overy (A&O) partner Edward De Sear has been arrested for a second time on child pornography offences.
Ex-Mayer Brown US information chief charged with $850,000 fraud
Mayer Brown’s former chief information officer (CIO) has been charged with defrauding the firm out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a fake invoices scam.
Ex-Pinsents lawyer gets community service over trainee ABH
The former Pinsent Masons solicitor who put a trainee in a headlock and repeatedly punched him was ordered to do 100 hours of community service at a sentencing hearing on Friday (3 August).
Ex-Simmons Russia chief to join Renova as legal deputy
BP’s Russian joint venture partner Renova Group has made a high-profile addition to its in-house team with the hire of ex-Simmons & Simmons Moscow chief Konstantin Orlov as its legal number two.
FFW scraps formal public-sector focus in industry group rejig
Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) is set to reshuffle its sector-based approach in a decision that sees it move away from a formal focus on its troubled public-sector practice.
Finers Stephens Innocent and Howard Kennedy agree terms for £45m merger
West End firms Howard Kennedy and Finers Stephens Innocent (FSI) are set to merge in a £45m tie-up.
Foreign firms set sights on Israel as legal market frees up
Linklaters, DLA Piper and US firm Zeichner Ellman & Krause (ZEK) are among a raft of foreign firms setting their sights on Israel in response to the liberalisation of its legal market earlier this year and a potential upturn in M&A in the country.
Former Maclays chief leads MBO of employment business
Employment and health and safety specialist Law At Work (LAW) has split from majority shareholder Maclay Murray & Spens following a management buy-out (MBO).
Former NI legal chief Crone arrested by hacking police
News International’s former legal chief Tom Crone is the latest tabloid executive to be arrested in connection with the phone-hacking scandal.
Fountain Court's Brindle QC wins role in Berezovsky litigation
Fountain Court’s Michael Brindle QC is to have a second outing in the mammoth Berezovsky legal battle, having been instructed for the estate of Arkady ‘Badri’ Patarkatsishvili in chancery proceedings due to start in October. The case has already had a six-month outing in the commercial court.
Freshfields and Schoenherr log in for Carlyle's software sale
Clifford Chance, Duane Morris and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer joined Austrian firm Schoenherr advising on Swedish private equity outfit EQT Partners’ $270m (£172m) acquisition of IT company UC4 Software from the Carlyle Group.
Freshfields and Sullivan on call for China Telecom's $13bn asset buy
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Sullivan & Cromwell have joined Chinese firm Jingtian & Gongcheng advising Hong Kong-listed China Telecom Corporation on its $13.4bn (£8.5bn) acquisition of 3G network infrastructure from its parent company.
Freshfields usurps Hogan Lovells on Biffa's £1.1bn debt restructuring
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has replaced Hogan Lovells to advise the senior lenders on the debt restructuring of waste management company Biffa, with Latham & Watkins and Linklaters also winning a role on the high-stakes negotiations.
Freshfields, Linklaters and Morgan Lewis advise as Rosneft teams with Statoil
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters and Morgan Lewis & Bockius have all been retained as advisers as Russian state-owned energy giant Rosneft signed four new joint ventures to explore oil and gas fields in the Arctic and Pacific Oceans with Norwegian rival Statoil.
FSA names former Dechert lawyer as director of enforcement
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has confirmed that Tracey McDermott, a former litigator at legacy Dechert firm Titmuss Sainer Dechert, has been appointed director of enforcement and financial crime.
Game for a laugh?
Employers may have created some risky precedents in their management of staff during the Olympic Games, says Anne Pritam
Gateley signs legal helpline deal with insurer ACE Group
Gateley has sealed a deal with global insurer ACE Group to create a legal advice service for businesses and senior directors and officers (D&O).
GC of US copyright office to help music industry tackle online piracy
The long-standing general counsel of the US Copyright Office is to join music sector trade lobby the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) as head of global policy from 24 September.
Getting a cut of Virgin's wasted £14m
“If you outbid somebody at auction you are smart if you do it by £1, less smart if by £1m & pretty worrying if by £750m!” Sir Richard Branson tweeted this morning after Virgin Trains lost out to FirstGroup in its bid to hold on to the lucrative West Coast mainline contract.
Gibson Dunn, Linklaters opposite global spread of firms on engineering sell-off
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Linklaters and Speechly Bircham are among a raft of firms to have won roles advising on the sale of four Rotary UK businesses to engineering company Lorne Stewart following the administration of Rotary’s Australian parent group Hastie.
Good afternoon, Madam...
Screw team-building days and schmoozing trips, the next decade of the legal market is going to look like an episode of British comedy Fonejacker.
Grayling to replace Clarke as justice sec in Cameron's reshuffle
Employment minister Chris Grayling has been given the job of Justice Secretary as Ken Clarke is moved to minister without portfolio in David Cameron’s first major cabinet reshuffle.
Greenberg partners to pay in capital to create 'equity cushion'
US firm Greenberg Traurig has asked partners for additional capital in a bid to create what it terms a “further equity cushion” during economic uncertainty.
Harbottle & Lewis acts on Prince Harry naked pictures privacy debate
Harbottle & Lewis has been acting on behalf of the Royal Family over the publication of naked pictures of Prince Harry.
Harbottle takes on Harry's bum rap
Harbottle & Lewis partner Gerrard Tyrrell has found himself at the centre of the first big post-Leveson test of the freedom of the British press.
Herbert Smith and Pinsents guide wealth advisers through partnership merger
Herbert Smith and Pinsent Masons have taken lead roles advising on the combination of West End financial advisers James Hambro & Partners and Calkin Pattinson, a merger that sees the latter consumed into Hambro’s partnership.
Herbert Smith poaches Chadbourne team ahead of New York launch
Herbert Smith has hired a group of litigators from Chadbourne & Parke, including litigation chief Thomas Riley, ahead of its New York office launch.
Herbert Smith's Aussie merger partner emerges as highest-earning firm in Oz
Freehills, which will merge with Herbert Smith on 1 October, has emerged as the largest Australian firm by revenue, as revealed by the latest survey from Australian magazine BRW.
Herbert Smith's empire state of mind
Herbert Smith has taken a bite out of Chadbourne & Parke for its long-awaited launch in the Big Apple, hiring six litigation partners (see story).
Herbies FSR chief quits for Linklaters
Herbert Smith’s financial services regulatory (FSR) chief Martyn Hopper is understood to have resigned from the firm and is set to join rival Linklaters.
Herbies' hotel horror
Herbert Smith has come in for some sharp criticism this week in the fall-out from the high-profile Barclay brothers versus Paddy McKillen case.
High Court rejects Health Lottery judicial review bid by Camelot
The High Court has thrown out a judicial review bid by National Lottery operator Camelot in which it instructed Blackstone Chambers’ David Pannick QC to challenge the legality of a rival lottery scheme, the Health Lottery (THL).
History in the making
The Leveson Report should be forward looking and help protect responsible public interest journalism, says Gill Phillips
HMRC goes after the bar as Pershad denies VAT fraud
HMRC is gearing up for a crackdown on the bar as former 39 Essex Street silk Rohan Pershad QC appeared at crown court on VAT fraud charges.
Hogan Lovells brings Paralympics and Haiti together for first time
The Paralympics will be screened in Haiti for the first time this year due to the work of Hogan Lovells lawyer Colin Graham.
Hogan Lovells, Latham advise on Russian bank's capital markets return
Hogan Lovells and Latham & Watkins have advised on the establishment of a $300m (£191m) European commercial paper (ECP) by Russia’s B&N Bank.
How to lose followers on Twitter – a helpful guide for lawyers and legal journalists
Everyone should understand how Twitter works, whether they use it themselves or not
Howard Kennedy FSI: A match made in the West End
The way lawyers talk about mergers is a lot like the language of love.
Independence day
Lord Justice Leveson should recommend a regulator that has teeth under a system that preserves freedom of expression, which will be no small task, says Gideon Benaim
iPhone and iPad use among US attorneys grows at BlackBerry's expense
BlackBerry use among US attorneys has dropped from nearly 50 per cent to 31 per cent, with almost all smartphone users switching to the iPhone, according to the American Bar Association’s (ABA) 2012 Technology Survey.
Irwin Mitchell finally gets keys to ABS warchest
Irwin Mitchell has been given ABS approval and become the first business to be granted multiple licences for the range of businesses within its structure
Irwin Mitchell wins first Macquarie job with property refinancing gig
Irwin Mitchell has landed its first-ever mandate for Macquarie Bank, advising the Australian group on a £21.1m refinancing of a portfolio of 21 residential properties in London.
K&L Gates eyes tie-up with Australia's Middletons
US firm K&L Gates is the latest firm to set its sights on the Australian market with a proposed combination with Australian firm Middletons on the cards.
Keystone Law goes global with Israel and South Africa next on agenda
After already expressing an interest in launching a commercial arm in Australia, Keystone Law has revealed plans to set up similar joint venture structures in Italy, France, Israel and South Africa.
Latham & Watkins relocates London partners to strengthen Singapore offering
Latham & Watkins has relocated corporate partners Rod Brown and Luke Grubb from London to Singapore in a bid to increase its English law capability in South East Asia.
Ledingham Chalmers boosts private client with bolt-on
Scottish firm Ledingham Chalmers has strengthened its private client practice by merging with Aberdeen boutique Esslemont Cameron & Gauld.
Leeds-based ABR plans to become UK's biggest criminal practice
The criminal division of Leeds-based firm Clarion Solicitors is to open two new offices in northern England by the end of the month and another three offices by the end of the year following the acquisition of offices in Harrogate and Huddersfield less than a month ago.
LG and Slaughters finalise £1.2bn Cove Energy takeover
Lawrence Graham (LG) and Slaughter and May have advised on the £1.22bn takeover of Cove Energy by PTTEP Africa Investment after Clifford Chance client Royal Dutch Shell pulled out of the bidding.
Linklaters chief hints at due diligence exchange with South African firms
Linklaters global managing partner Simon Davies has hinted that the firm has exchanged due diligence information with potential alliance targets in South Africa as discussions with outfits on the ground continue.
Linklaters' City real estate head to join Capco in new legal role
Linklaters’ UK real estate head Anne Byrne is to join property investment company Capital & Counties Properties (Capco) as its first legal chief.
Linklaters in talks with South Africa's Webber Wentzel over alliance
Linklaters is in talks with South African firm Webber Wentzel with a view to rolling out an alliance with the local leader in a deal similar to its recent joint venture with Australia’s Allens Arthur Robinson (now Allens).
Linklaters projects partner latest to join Milbank's City base
Linklaters projects partner Clive Ransome has quit to join Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy, becoming the latest in a string of magic circle partners to join the US firm’s London office.
Linklaters targets shadow banking in bid to bolster finance practice
Linklaters has launched a focus group targeting alternative credit providers (ACPs) such as investment managers and corporate lenders in a bid to clinch new sources of fees amid the slowdown in traditional banking work.
Living Social legal chief jumps to King.com
The former international legal chief of deals website Living Social has taken up a new in-house role at online games developer King.com.
MAB and 3VB offer first defence in Barclays test case
Lawyers for Barclays have filed the first defence against claims of mis-selling complex derivatives.
Maclays employee gets community service for embezzlement
A former Maclay Murray & Spens employee been ordered to perform 166 hours of community service for embezzling more than £5,000 while working at the firm.
Maclays, Norton Rose, Taylor Wessing clinch £209m property finance jobs
A raft of firms including Maclay Murray & Spens, Norton Rose, Taylor Wessing and Tods Murray scooped roles as property fund Picton Property Income secured £209m from Aviva and Canada Life to refinance one of its portfolios.
Magnusson moves into Norway through Kluge association
Swedish firm Magnusson has expanded into Norway by entering into an exclusive association with local firm Kluge.
Mayer Brown departures continue with defection to Cadwalader
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has added a structured finance partner to its London base with the hire of Stephen Day from Mayer Brown.
McDermott lures Jones Day's former Shanghai chief
Long-serving Jones Day Shanghai partner Winston Zhao has left the firm for McDermott Will & Emery, citing the latter’s local ally MWE China as a major draw.
Memery Crystal focuses on Africa after strong year
Memery Crystal has had another successful year with turnover rising 14 per cent from £15.1m in 2010-11 to £17.2m.
Merger she vote
There’s been no summer lull at SNR Denton and Salans. The two firms are sizing each other up ahead of a September merger vote.
Mills & Reeve eyes cost savings with Norwich paralegal centre
Mills & Reeve has set up a Norwich-based paralegal support unit in a bid to boost its bottom line.
Names, trains and first-class deals
The Department for Transport (DfT) seemed to know it would be on the receiving end of a legal challenge when it awarded the West Coast Main Line contract to First Group, a deal that gifted roles to Ashurst, Burges Salmon, Eversheds and Herbert Smith.
No bar on growth as chambers trumpet successful year
If adversity precedes growth, as the saying goes, then the bar has embraced the challenges of the recession as well as any in the legal sector.
Norton Rose and Bär & Karrer get slice of action as Domino's goes Swiss
Norton Rose and Swiss firm Bär & Karrer have acted for Domino’s Pizza Group as it reached an agreement to acquire the Domino’s Swiss franchise.
Norton Rose axes compulsory international seat in training contract revamp
Norton Rose is set to axe two of its six trainee seats, including its compulsory international seat, as part of a restructuring of the way it runs its programme for prospective lawyers.
Norton Rose's seating plans
Norton Rose trainees won’t quite be getting their money’s worth like they used to: the firm has scrapped two of its six training contract seats, including its compulsory international seat.
O'Melveny and SJ Berwin join Burness on Lloyds' £1bn private equity sell-off
O’Melveny & Myers and SJ Berwin led alongside Scottish firm Burness on Lloyds Banking Group’s sale of £1.05bn of private-equity assets to secondary specialist Coller Capital.
Ootsourcing
After enviously watching Northern Ireland secure investments from the likes of Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith and outsourcer Axiom, Scotland is launching a charm offensive of its own in a bid to create legal sector jobs.
Overriding interests
Brecher managing partner Nicky Richmond tries to separate the church from the chancel ahead of some key changes that are due to come in next October
Parabis set for expansion after SRA ABS approval
Insurance firm Parabis is set for a £50m cash injection after being granted an ABS licence by the SRA, allowing it to take private equity investment from Duke Street.
Parabis-Duke Street on the ABS express
Like London buses, you wait ages for one major ABS approval and then two come along at once.
Paris Smith to invest six-figures in IT as part of flexi-working drive
Southampton’s Paris Smith is gearing up to invest a six-figure sum into IT programs in order to reduce overheads and introduce flexible working.
Pinsent Masons continues European expansion with Paris launch
Pinsent Masons has planted its second flag in continental Europe by opening an office in Paris.
Pinsent Masons faces lawsuit following trainee assault
A former Pinsent Masons trainee who left after an alleged assault by a colleague in 2011 is mulling bringing a civil action against his old firm.
Pinsents' party snag
“Enjoy the festive season with the peace of mind that you have taken the necessary office party precautions!” So ended Pinsent Masons’ employment law guide to having a trouble-free office Christmas party, issued in 2010.
Plexus among firms on London boroughs insurance panel
Five firms have won panel places to handle insurance litigation claims on behalf of a group of London boroughs.
Public cuts
Public sector cuts have put serious pressure on firms operating in that space; can government bodies still access the quality legal advice they need, asks Bethan Evans
Qatar 2022 lawyer quits as SNR Denton partner
The SNR Denton partner who played a key role in helping Qatar win its bid to host the 2022 World Cup has resigned from the firm.
Quinn Emanuel defeated as Samsung ordered to pay $1bn in Apple damages download
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan client Samsung lost a landmark patent case against arch-rival Apple over the weekend with a US court ordering Samsung to pay $1bn (£655m) in damages for infringing several of the iPhone maker’s designs.
Quinn Emanuel defends decision to send rejected evidence to press in Apple-Samsung trial
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan managing partner John Quinn, whose firm is representing Samsung in the Apple v Samsung trial in California, has defended his decision to send reporters rejected evidence as “lawful” and “ethical”.
Reed Smith wins Co-op relationship with £950m refinancing
Reed Smith banking partners Phillip Slater and Lucy Newcomb have won the firm a new client by securing a role opposite Linklaters on the Co-operative Group’s £950m debt refinancing.
Right to die
As the court rules on the Tony Nicklinson right to die case Yogi Amin looks at the implications of the judgment
Russia's Nadmitov Ivanov signs cooperation deal with Finnish firm
Moscow-based law firm Nadmitov Ivanov & Partners has established a cooperation agreement with Finnish finance boutique Attorneys-at-Law Trust.
Scalpels at the ready for Dewey's London staff
After seeing the firm that employed them go up in smoke, Dewey & LeBoeuf staff will be pleased to be given the opportunity to put their former bosses under the spotlight.
Scotland to compete with Northern Ireland as low-cost law centre
The Scottish government’s economic development wing is courting London-based managing partners in a bid to emulate Northern Ireland’s success in enticing top firms to open low-cost bases in the country.
Scottish firm Gillespie MacAndrew to open office in Perth
Scottish firm Gillespie MacAndrew is to open an office in Perth on 3 September.
Second city is first for banking litigation
Birmingham has been a great place to be this week.
Seeking redress
Can Leveson provide a credible answer to press regulation or a realistic alternative to the court system?, asks Richard Hodge
Seven firms share £2.4m fees on Scottish-Irish oil merger
CMS Cameron McKenna, DLA Piper and Herbert Smith were among seven firms to win roles on the merger of Scottish oil group Melrose Resources and Irish rival Petroceltic International, a deal that gifted an estimated £2.36m in external lawyers’ fees.
SFO loses bribery head to Kirkland & Ellis
The head of the anti-bribery team at the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is leaving to join the London office of Kirkland & Ellis.
Silk in court to face £600,000 VAT fraud charge
Former 39 Essex Street silk Rohan Pershad QC has appeared in court charged with a £600,000 VAT fraud.
Simons Muirhead 2-0 Schillings: McClaren privacy bid against The Sun fails
Simons Muirhead & Burton has scored a victory for press freedom in a rematch with Schillings over The Sun on Sunday’s front page about former England manager Steve McClaren’s alleged affair.
SJ Berwin puts off partner pay vote as assessment scheme approved
SJ Berwin has delayed approving an amended remuneration mechanism that would have built individuals’ success at cross-selling into the partner pay system.
Skadden among advisers on French security deal
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has landed the lead role alongside local lawyers on the acquisition of private security company Neo Security by Fiducial Private Security, a subsidiary of French multidisciplinary services company Fiducial.
Slaughters' Boardman leads on Standard Chartered settlement
Slaughter and May partners Nigel Boardman and Richard Swallow have advised Standard Chartered in its $340m settlement over allegations of hidden Iranian transactions.
Slaughters joins Sullivan legend Cohen on Standard Chartered advice
Slaughter and May and Sullivan & Cromwell have won roles advising Standard Chartered Bank following allegations by a New York regulator that it had concealed $250bn of transactions with the Iranian government.
Slaughters tapped alongside US duo as Diageo eyes tequila buy
Slaughter and May has taken a lead role alongside Cravath Swaine & Moore and Sullivan & Cromwell on drinks company Diageo’s potential acquisition of the tequila brand Jose Cuervo.
SNR Denton and Salans prepare for September merger vote
Salans and SNR Denton have reached the advanced stages of negotiating a £760m merger, with the two partnerships gearing up to approve the deal in a vote next month.
South African firm ENS poaches team from DLA
South African firm ENS has hired a team of three senior lawyers from DLA Piper’s South African affiliate, including the firm’s corporate and commercial head.
SRA slashes intervention panel from 24 to eight
Eight firms have succeeded in winning spots on the radically reduced Solicitors Regulation Authority intervention panel after a competitive tender process.
Stamp of approval for Hogan's Haiti work
“Meet the Superhumans” is the Channel 4 strapline for the Paralympic Games. Just getting some of the competitors to London 2012 has been a heroic task for lawyers at Hogan Lovells.
Standard bearer
Whatever comes out of the Leveson Report, it should be remembered that its author only has the power to recommend, says Charlotte Harris
Sullivan and Wachtell advise on $3.7bn US bank takeover
Sullivan and Cromwell and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz have won roles advising on one of the biggest US bank acquisitions of the year as Buffalo-based M&T Bank agreed to buy smaller rival Hudson City.
Sullivan, Simpson Thacher join local duo on Japan Airlines' bourse take-off
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Sullivan & Cromwell have advised alongside a duo of Japanese firms on the $8.5bn (£5.5bn) IPO of Japan Airlines (JAL), one of the largest listings globally so far this year.
The City's elite take spots on inaugural Prime board
Prime, the first profession-wide scheme aimed at offering quality work experience opportunities to disadvantaged students, has appointed lawyers from some of the City’s top firms to its inaugural board.
The Lawyer European Awards 2012 Shortlist
Tie me law firm down, sport
Given the number of western firms that have tapped Australia for a tie-up over the past couple of years, you’d be forgiven for thinking that by now the country must be sucked dry of independent practices open to mergers. Not so.
Tie-up between Harrow and Barnet legal teams to go ahead after delays
The merger of legal services between the London Boroughs of Barnet and Harrow is set to go ahead in September despite the local authorities originally planning to have the tie-up completed by the end of July.
Travelers hires European legal chief from Flagstone Re
Travelers has hired a counsel from Flagstone Re as head of legal and compliance across its European businesses.
US Congress postpones signing Magnitsky Act
The US Congress has postponed its final vote on the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012.
US quartet says cheese to Carlyle's $3.3bn Getty purchase
Davis Polk & Wardwell, Debevoise & Plimpton, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Weil Gotshal & Manges have all snapped up roles advising on the Carlyle Group’s acquisition of Getty Images from US private equity rival Hellman & Friedman.
Virgin instructs Blackstone and 11KBW silks for West Coast contract battle
Blackstone Chambers’ Michael Beloff QC and 11KBW’s Nigel Giffin QC have been instructed to lead Virgin Rail Group’s High Court action against the Department for Transport (DfT) after the contractor missed out on the bid to renew its control of the West Coast Main Line franchise.
Virgin Media cites 'personal reasons' for GC Dresser's exit
Virgin Media general counsel Scott Dresser has resigned “for personal reasons” a little more than 18 months after taking on the role.
Volume firm Minster Law breaks £100m turnover barrier
Minster Law has boosted its turnover by 27 per cent to break the £100m barrier for the first time, posting an overall turnover of £104.1m for the 2011-2012 financial year.
Weil Gotshal secures victory for Barclay brothers in hotel case
Weil Gotshal & Manges and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan have successfully seen off allegations of dishonesty against their clients in a case related to the Barclay brothers’ acquisition of the Maybourne Hotel Group.
Wiggin lawyer joins Japanese gaming site for rush into Tech City
Wiggin’s computer games head has joined Tokyo-based gaming network GREE as a senior legal counsel in the UK.
William Blair named president on Board of Appeal of ESA's
William Blair has been named president of the Board of Appeal of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), the body responsible for ruling on challenges against the European Banking Authority (EBA), the European Insurance Occupational and Pensions Authority (EIOPA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
William Fry moves into London to boost international profile
Irish firm William Fry is launching a London office in a bid to capitalise on Ireland’s growing international economy.
Winckworth Sherwood converts to ABS
City firm Winckworth Sherwood has said it has no immediate plans to seek external investment despite being officially granted an alternative business structure (ABS) licence.
Yahoo! hands general counsel role to company veteran
Long-standing Yahoo! lawyer and temporary general counsel Ron Bell has been handed the top legal role on a permanent basis with immediate effect.
You haven't missed much. Well, actually...
The holiday’s over, you’re back at your desk and - guess what? - there’s been loads going on while you’ve been away.
