Online February 2015

Memery Crystal eyes China opportunities with Yingke deal

While firms such as King & Wood Mallesons and Dentons have struck deals to target clients and deals in the upper end of China’s market, some firms, like London-based Memery Crystal, are doing so for clients at the centre of the SME market. Memery Crystal has signed an exclusive cooperation agreement with Beijing-headquartered Yingke. The […]

The state of real estate

The Lawyer has begun a weekly blog on developments in the real estate sector. Covering the deals, the people and the strategies of the leading law firms, it’s becoming a must-read for property lawyers around the country. Send your deals information to jonathon.manning@thelawyer.com Wragges’ Richard Bate talks mergers and international growth A closer look at the […]

Beginning of a beautiful friendship

Morocco used to be a French legal fiefdom, but has now attracted the attention of the Anglo-Saxon giants, who see it as a gateway to Africa. Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Norton Rose Fulbright led the way in 2011-12, but with Dentons and now DLA Piper launching in Casablanca, Morocco still looks very hot […]

Walls come tumbling down

The Lawyer’s second edition of the China Elite Report, which ranks the country’s largest 30 firms by revenue and the 10 largest international firms by their mainland China lawyer headcount, has broken new ground: for the first time, the financials of Chinese firms are revealed. We also look at metrics such as leverage and female […]

Catrin Griffiths

Walls come tumbling down

The Lawyer’s second edition of the China Elite Report, which ranks the country’s largest 30 firms by revenue and the 10 largest international firms by their mainland China lawyer headcount, has broken new ground: for the first time, the financials of Chinese firms are revealed. We also look at metrics such as leverage and female […]

Agility is all

Amid the clamour for work-life balance, law firms are responding with a series of flexible working policies that allow more people to work from home. And of course, with rents a major part of firms’ expenditure, it helps take the pressure off space requirements too. Will it soon become the norm? Herbert Smith Freehills makes […]

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Gove at the helm

Michael Gove is a controversial but heavyweight politician. David Cameron’s decision to put him in charge of the Ministry of Justice shows that he needs a big beast in order to weather the storms over the potential scrapping of the Human Rights Act. Will Gove be a bogeyman for lawyers as much as he is […]

Upwards trajectory

Spring brings welcome news for some. Across the UK, it’s partner promotion season. National firms are adding plenty to their partnerships, but magic circle firms are being more circumspect. At Freshfields, for example, only three made the grade in London out of 17 worldwide Addleshaws promotions soar to 18 in record year Slaughters makes up […]

natalie

Firms cash in as offshore M&A balloons by 63 per cent in 2014

While the M&A market has generally been on the up, it’s clear that one group has been given a major boost by the recent activity: offshore firms. According to data compiled by Appleby, deal value for offshore M&A ballooned by 63 per cent last year – from $170bn in 2013 up to $277bn. That means […]

This week’s top 15 legal briefings – 01 March 2015

When we read the headline ‘Judges behaving badly’, we naturally think of Lords Sumption and Neuberger hanging out together in a poky flat, drinking beer and occasionally trying to woo Baroness Hale upstairs with hilarious consequences. We may write the script one day, but for now you’ll have to make do with this, frankly more […]

No5 Chambers’ Wigley in successful defence of rating completion notice challenge

Jenny Wigley acted for the billing authority, East Staffordshire District Council, in Provincial Real Estate (Burton) Ltd v. Virk (VO) and East Staffs Borough Council in successfully defending the completion notice from challenge.  In the case, the president of the Valuation Tribunal for England ruled that an appeal against the rating list cannot be used to challenge a […]

Ogier becomes member of Digital Jersey

Ogier has become a member of Digital Jersey, the independent body representing stakeholders in Jersey’s digital community. Following recent changes to Jersey’s e-gaming offering, the island is the newest tier-one jurisdiction to emerge, offering lost cost, high quality e-gaming services. The strength of Jersey’s involvement in the digital sector, particularly in e-gaming, was highlighted at the […]