The commercial property sector is about to be exposed to the full force of the Competition Act 1998. Michael Grenfell examines the implications The UK’s commercial property sector is about to be fully exposed to UK competition law for the first time. The Government has announced the revocation this month of an ’exclusion’ that […]
The opening of new oil fields has sparked fresh interest in Africa from international law firms. By Tom Phillips The oil rush is on and this time a UK company is behind it. The discovery of large oil reserves in Uganda and Ghana by Chiswick-based Tullow Oil looks set to drive investment to these […]
According to Tulkinghorn’s contacts in Germany, the annual partners’ retreat for Berlin-based firm GSK Stockmann & Kollegen is a skiing trip to Germany’s snow-capped mountains. One senior lawyer at UK alliance firm Nabarro jokes that you can’t get into the partnership unless you can ski. Apparently the partners spend all day on the slopes then […]
Simon Zinger brings an American can-do attitude and a passion for commerce to his GC role at Aegis Media – and a horde of acquisitions on the horizon will truly test his mettle. When global marketing company Aegis Media’s in-house legal team was restructured in November 2009, general counsel Simon Zinger was moved from […]
In an article in the issue of 22 February entitled ’Carry on in court’ about a complex trust case in Jersey by one of the Jersey advocates in Bedell Cristin instructed by the plaintiff beneficiaries, the nature of Sheikh Abdullah Alhamrani’s defence was not adequately conveyed. The Lawyer and Bedell Cristin wish to make clear […]
The M&A market is yet to show signs of a full recovery, but what work there is is now being spread more evenly between the magic circle and its rivals If this is a recovery, it certainly is not a spectacular one. Figures from Thomson Reuters for the first quarter of 2010 show that […]
Where’s the best place to go if you want to find out what’s really going on in the office? If I find it, I’ll let you know. What was your first-ever job? Vegetable picker. If you’ve never stuck your fingers into the heart of a putrefying cabbage, you haven’t lived. What was your […]
Rosenblatt Solicitors has announced the appointment of Robert Guest as a partner and head of the firm’s funds and financial services division. He joins Rosenblatt from Beachcroft Solicitors, where he was a partner in the financial institutions group. Move of the week He has previously held the position of general counsel and compliance director […]
Partnership gives impetus to firm’s FTSE managed legal services plans. Luke McLeod-Roberts reports The deal that Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has struck with its client Thames Water, which will see the utility transfer the majority of its legal function to the City firm (TheLawyer.com, 25 March), is a major coup for the firm. Relationship partner […]
Addleshaw Goddard, DLA Piper and Hammonds have completed an all-Yorkshire private equity transaction for Phoenix Equity Partners. Hammonds acted for Phoenix in its investment in automotive parts wholesaler Andrew Page Limited in a transaction valuing the business at £100m. Hammonds partner and head of Leeds Jonathan Jones headed a corporate team that included senior associate […]
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer grabbed a prize mandate advising Chinese company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group on its $1.8bn (£1.21bn) acquisition of Volvo from the Ford Motor Company. A large multijurisdictional team from Freshfields acted for its new client on the deal – the first time a major car manufacturer has been taken over by a Chinese […]
Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) has advised Dubai retailer investor Retail Arabia International (RAI) on a franchising deal to open the first House of Fraser in the Middle East. Joint head of franchising and licensing Mark Abell led the deal for FFW, acting for longstanding client RAI. The deal is the latest in a string of […]