Online August 2013

Royal Courts of Justice

Master of the Rolls to preside over Plebgate appeal

The Master of the Rolls Lord Dyson is expected to decide whether the former chief whip, Andrew Mitchell MP, can break a costs order restricting his legal spend on a defamation claim against The Sun to £2,000. Mitchell was told in June that his legal spend for a defamation claim against The Sun publisher News […]

Get set, go

The bar is the preserve of tradition in the profession, but increasingly barristers are being forced to compete with their solicitor counterparts. As the bar considers how best to deal with this transformative period, we spoke to four chambers heads about their vision for the future. Brick Court joint head Jonathan Hirst QC – whose […]

Lloyds Bank
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Revealed: Lloyds Banking Group unveils group legal general counsel

Lloyds Banking Group has unveiled the name of its general counsel for group legal, parachuting corporate and M&A head Hugh Pugsley into the role in the latest in a series of senior legal management moves. Pugsley succeeds former group legal GC Kate Cheetham, who was promoted to deputy general counsel earlier this year. As deputy to […]

energy
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Texas firm Andrews Kurth raids Chadbourne for City arbitration trio

Texas firm Andrews Kurth, one of the latest US oil and gas players to have targeted the UK market, has raided Chadbourne & Parke for a three-person arbitration team in London. Chadbourne arbitration partner Melanie Willems is to join the firm as international arbitration head, bringing with her Chadbourne senior associate Markus Esly,  who joins as […]

Ros Breedy Forsters

Mayfair-firm Forsters makes first lateral hire in two years

Breedy Henderson partner Rosalyn Breedy has joined Forsters and wrapped up the niche private wealth practice she founded in the process. Breedy, who has worked with Forsters for several years, will take up a new partner role in the Mayfair firm, which is best known for its work in property and the private client arena. […]

The Global Market: Abu Dhabi’s new financial-free zone

Following the recent issuance of Abu Dhabi Law No. (4) of 2013 concerning the Abu Dhabi Global Market, the Federal- and Emirate-level legislative framework is now complete to permit the launch of Abu Dhabi’s new financial free zone, the Abu Dhabi Global Market. Allen & Overy has acted as the sole legal counsel, advising on […]

Using the new FATCA registration website: FAQs for financial institutions

The US Internal Revenue Service has opened the FATCA registration website as of 19 August 2013. This web-based system enables financial institutions to register themselves and their branches, if any, electronically from anywhere in the world without the need to print, complete and mail paper forms. Financial institutions worldwide can begin to enter their registration […]

Doing Dubai

Volatility in the Middle East continues, but contrary to expectations, firms that have invested in the region are not necessarily scaling back. The Gulf states are continuing to attract interest from Western firms, as Baker & McKenzie’s latest initiative demonstrates. Getting a larger footprint in the UAE is still a strategic necessity. Baker & McKenzie […]

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DAC Beachcroft loses five-partner team to Capsticks

Capsticks has poached a five-partner team from DAC Beachcroft’s health practice in Leeds, with the planning to join  the firm in 2014. Partners Ian Cooper, Rachael Heenan, Robert McGough, Ron Simms and Claire Reynolds have all resigned – a notable exit from the biggest health practice of any UK law firm. Heenan is the firm’s national […]

Slater & Gordon marches into Liverpool through Goodmans Law merger

Slater & Gordon has topped off a month of merger activity with the completion of a move into the Liverpool market through a tie-up with personal injury firm Goodmans Law. The news comes less than a fortnight after the Australian listed firm announced the acquisition of London and Manchester-based personal injury specialists Fentons alongside its […]

Edinburgh
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Kennedys to merge with Scottish firm Simpson Marwick

Kennedys has confirmed it is to merge with Scottish law firm Simpson & Marwick on 1 November. Talks have been ongoing between the firms since last year, when Kennedys first mooted its desire to find a foothold in Scotland (21 November 2012). Scottish regulations still do not allow non-lawyer partners and part of the delay […]