Online December 2015

Best of three: Blixen, Percy & Founders and Bellanger

These days, I find that clients often want to be taken somewhere less formal, more relaxed; a place you might simply order a main course without feeling the pressure to go the full nine yards, especially at lunchtime.

world

Skadden tops global M&A rankings as Freshfields and CC compete with US leaders

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom was involved in more M&A transactions in 2015 than any other firm, with Clifford Chance joining Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as the only magic circle representatives in the global top 10. According to data from Thomson Reuters, Skadden advised on 279 deals worldwide last year worth $1.1tr (£744bn). Overall 2015 […]

europe

Dentons is Europe’s biggest hirer as recruiters focus on Germany

Dentons was the biggest lateral recruiter of any firm operating in Continental Europe in 2015, exclusive analysis by The Lawyer has shown. The firm picked up 15 partners during the course of the year across Europe as it opened in Milan and bulked up in Budapest. The figures do not include the firm’s planned merger […]

royal courts of justice

Top 20 cases 2015: the results of a year in court

The New Year brings with it the annual publication of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases. This eagerly-awaited feature outlines which disputes are likely to dominate the courts in the forthcoming year. Of the Top 20 Cases for 2015, judgments have been delivered in six and a half (including a partial settlement); four and half have […]

Cleary Gottlieb appointed to investigate BHP Billiton Brazil dam collapse

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is running an external investigation on behalf of BHP Billiton, Samarco and Vale into the recent Brazilian dam disaster which killed 17 people. In early November, two waters burst at the Samarco Mineração iron ore operation in Brazil, of which BHP Billiton and Vale each hold a 50 per cent […]

new york

US duo win lead roles on Zurich’s $1bn agricultural insurance deal

Locke Lord and Willkie Farr & Gallagher have won the top roles on Zurich’s $1bn (£670m) agricultural insurance deal to strengthen its position in the USA. Willkie Farr chairman and New York based Thomas Cerabino led the transaction for Zurich American Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group. He was supported by corporate partner Rajab Abbassi, […]

Former A&O senior partner Hepkema named in Brazilian corruption probe

Former Allen & Overy (A&O) Dutch senior partner Sietze Hepkema has been charged by the Brazilian Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) in relation to a probe into contracts between Petrobras and the Dutch company SBM Offshore. Hepkema joined SBM Offshore in 2012 as chief governance and compliance officer, tasked with overseeing an investigation into alleged bribery […]

Addleshaws, Freshfields and HSF win places on British Land’s first panel

British Land has unveiled its first formal panel, listing firms including Addleshaw Goddard, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, Jones Day, King & Wood Mallesons, Mayer Brown and Simmons & Simmons as advisers. The FTSE 100 property company will also take advice from a number of other firms providing advice in specialist areas, including Shepherd […]

Solar companies draft in Asserson to bring claim against DECC

A group of UK solar companies have turned to Asserson Law Offices to launch legal action against the UK’s Department for Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) decision to end grandfathering for solar projects under the Renewables Obligation. The claim centres around the removal of grandfathering for solar projects under 5 MW that were not accredited […]