Shearman profits from Linklaters conflict on Selfridges

Shearman & Sterling has scooped instructions from new Linklaters’ client Robert Tchenguiz, because the magic circle firm was conflicted out of after advising on a competing bid for luxury department store chain Selfridges.
Shearman corporate partner Adrian Knight is leading, alongside finance partner Caroline Leedsruby. Shearman has connections to Lanphere, who was previously at Advent and used the US firm on the HMV-EMI joint venture. Many City firms are conflicted out of the Selfridges deal, but the instruction is nevertheless a coup for Shearman.
Meanwhile, Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw’s London office has won instructions to advise Weston. Although Weston has been a client of Mayer Brown in the US for some time, this is the first time the firm has advised Weston out of its London office. Historically, the UK side of the Weston family has instructed Herbert Smith for UK-based deals.