13 May 2013

Antitrust/competition

The centre of gravity in antitrust law is shifting as we witness the globalisation of regulation and enforcement. In this environment, many of the world’s leading companies are turning to Allen & Overy as their preferred competition counsel. We have been involved in some of the most high-profile and ground-breaking cases in antitrust enforcement in […]

Cat Griffiths index

Cash alone does not tempt associates

Last year we launched our inaugural City associate attitudes survey. The findings surprised anyone who assumed that junior and mid-level lawyers were obsessed with money; the firms they consistently ranked top were not the stony Wall Street practices but genial internationalists like Baker & McKenzie. A year on, austerity has, perhaps, made respondents more outspoken. […]

insurance
1

Aviva takes tough line in panel review

A&O joins Slaughters on Aviva’s plc roster; insurer insisted on discounts Aviva demanded a 15-25 per cent headline fee discount for firms pitching for its plc panel, which advises the insurer’s board. The company is hoping to cut its legal spend this year. This should be easy – last year it spent £35m on disposals […]

Asia Pacific
1

Dipping a toe into the Asia Pacific

Associations are the way in for Western firms to dip a toe in the Asian market Everyone knows how much potential the Asia Pacific legal services market has, but it is also widely acknowledged that many Asian jurisdictions are stringently regulated, high-risk and low-fee. Sailing into these uncharted territories, although increasingly attractive, can be daunting. […]

Linklaters
1

Links odds-on to get Glenstrata work

Glencore dominance in super-miner sees Linklaters take pole advice position Glencore and Xstrata’s $64bn (£41bn) merger completed on 2 May, more than a year after tie-up talks first emerged. But the deal has changed significantly since early 2012 when the duo confirmed they were in discussions. Those changes could have implications for the main legal […]

horlicks
1

Collyer Bristow supports its support staff

Collyer Bristow gives support staff the opportunity to shine In today’s climate it is widely acknowledged that the average graduate is expected to do unpaid work in the basement of a canning factory for six months before being considered for any sort of full-time, paid job, but every now and then you hear a success […]

Parkerindex

Avoid DPAs American-style

Before DPAs become law, we should scope out the pitfalls in the US system and learn from them quickly Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) will now be part of the law of England and Wales, so we must pay attention to the American experience and heed the warning signs. DPAs should be used as a complementary […]

Gerrard

The Lawyer Management: Quadrant Chambers

Tim Gerrard joined Quadrant Chambers as chief executive in 2009 from Jersey-based trust manager Hawksford International, where he was chief operating officer. Early on in his career he was in the administrative branch of the Royal Air Force, where he attained the rank of Wing Commander. What are the key elements of your role? I […]

OwersIndex

Talk is not so cheap for employers

A CoA decision against Commerzbank is a warning that common law contractual rules are alive and kicking Last month 104 former Commerzbank bankers met with resounding success when the Court of Appeal (CoA) dismissed the bank’s challenge to a decision that it was contractually committed to providing its employees with a minimum bonus pool because […]

BatesIndex
1

Snags in the great legal sell-off

If Whitehall lawyers are to be part of a civil service spin-out, there are state and EU legalities to consider Earlier this month, The Independent reported that Whitehall’s lawyers are to be part of the ‘great civil service sell-off’ along with IT and personnel. These functions are to be spun off into joint venture companies […]

Laidlaw

Learns the lessons of disasters

With global profits should come global corporate responsibility The collapse of the eight-storey Rana Plaza factory building near the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, has now claimed over 1,000 lives. The tragedy, one of the most deadly industrial building collapses anywhere, has raised questions about the liability of western retailers for the working conditions of those in […]