Online October 2012

Stephen Kon

SJ Berwin chief on merger with King & Wood Mallesons: “The world has changed”

SJ Berwin senior partner Stephen Kon has spoken about how the client shift from West to East has propelled his firm to combine with Asia Pacific giant King & Wood Mallesons – which goes live today (1 November). In a video interview with The Lawyer editor Catrin Griffiths, he said: “The direction of travel has […]

Lord Justice Leveson

Leveson moots arbitration service for resolving claims against the press

Lord Justice Leveson today said a low-cost arbitration service should be established to help newspapers and magazines resolve legal claims. Publishing his long-awaited report into the culture, practice and ethics of the press, Leveson LJ proposed that a statutory body such as Ofcom should take responsibility for monitoring an overhauled Press Complaints Commission. Such a […]

2

Struck off

Ex-Hogan Lovells partner and convicted fraudster Christopher Grierson was struck off the solicitors’ roll yesterday at a Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal hearing, to absolutely no one’s surprise. The SDT refused to confirm on what grounds they dismissed him, but given that Grierson was jailed for three years in May on four offences under the Theft Act […]

Herbert Smith Freehills and MoFo complete standout HK IPO for Fosun

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) have advised on the IPO of Shanghai-based Fosun Pharmaceutical Group on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, a deal that raised HK$3.97bn (£318m). MoFo teamed up with Shanghai-based PRC firm Chen & Co to advise the issuer. The US firm’s team was led by Hong Kong corporate […]

1

A&O’s Düsseldorf founder splits from firm to launch boutique

The partner who spearheaded the launch of Allen & Overy’s (A&O) Düsseldorf office is set to leave the firm to establish his own boutique. Thomas Austmann will launch his new corporate practice, called Austmann & Partners, tomorrow (1 November), taking with him his team from A&O, which comprises Nina Böttger and Sorika Pluskat – a […]

Panel beaters

While half the City enjoys some time off for half-term and Halloween, the world of in-house is not so quiet. While half the City enjoys some time off for half-term and Halloween, the world of in-house is not so quiet. The news last week that Transocean general counsel Nick Deeming handed in his resignation less […]

4

Slaughters cuts annual bonuses amid market uncertainty

Slaughter and May has announced a cut to its bonuses for associates, trainees and support staff, citing market uncertainty for the decision. It marks the second year running in which the City leader has reduced the bonus it pays trainees, who will this year receive a 2.5 per cent salary top-up, down on 4 per […]

Shaheed Fatima
2

The day after yesterday

With the East Coast of America facing up to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Blackstone Chambers barrister Shaheed Fatima shares her experiences of life under lockdown in the Big Apple Tuesday, 30 October: the day after Sandy hit Manhattan. Greenwich Village does not look like itself. There are no lights on, no neon signs. There […]

12

DLA Piper scores hire of Leeds construction duo from Addleshaws

DLA Piper has hired two partners from Addleshaw Goddard, including the latter’s head of contentious construction. Mark Hilton, who currently splits his time between Leeds and London, and Leeds-based Simon Palmer will both join DLA Piper as partners in its London and Sheffield offices respectively. Both partners join DLA Piper’s real estate group as part […]

8

4-5 Gray’s Inn departures benefit Matrix, Landmark and 11KBW

London set 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square has seen the exit of six members including silk Paul Brown QC, with Matrix Chambers, Landmark Chambers and 11KBW adding two new barristers apiece. Brown is set to join planning set Landmark Chambers on Monday. Called to the bar in 1991 Brown took silk in 2009 and is a […]

Fladgate fails to overturn ruling in cricketer’s Twitter libel case

Collyer Bristow has recorded another success in its Twitter libel case for cricketer Chris Cairns. This morning the Court of Appeal (CoA) upheld Mr Justice Bean’s decision in the High Court to award damages of £90,000 to the firm’s client, who was accused of match fixing on the social networking site. Collyer Bristow partner Rhory […]

Norway’s Simonsen and Vogt & Wiig combine to create new powerhouse

Norwegian firms Simonsen and Vogt & Wiig have announced they are merging, forming a firm with 180 lawyers and offices across Norway and in Singapore. The merger will take effect on 1 January 2013. Simonsen brings 95 lawyers and a staff of 35 to the combination, while Vogt & Wiig has over 80 lawyers. Simonsen […]