OFT raids banks on law firms’ loans investigation
The OFT has raided Barclays and the RBS as it launches an investigation in to the price-fixing of loans to professional services companies such as law firms.
Linklaters, Cleary in TPG’s £150m B&B investment
Linklaters has won a role alongside Cleary Gottlieb advising US private equity giant Texas Pacific Group (TPG) on its £150m investment in UK bank Bradford & Bingley. Linklaters corporate partners Charlie Jacobs and John Lane lined up alongside regular advisors Clearly Gottlieb in what is believed to be the firm’s first instruction for TPG. Bradford […]
Google faces legal action by top brands
Legal chiefs at some of the UK’s leading brands convened a crisis meeting last week to look at the legality ;of ;Google’s revamped keywords policy, which they believe infringes their trademarks. The summit was attended by general counsel and heads of legal from companies including Arcadia Group, which owns Topshop and Dorothy Perkins, Lastminute.com, Saga […]
Top firms retain FTSE stranglehold amid tough times
In the past three months several of the FTSE100’s biggest names have fallen victim to takeovers, leaving City firms to wave goodbye to some of their most prized clients. But, as the new quarterly Hemscott rankings show, it will take something more dramatic to shift the top legal advisers to the UK’s largest companies. Slaughter […]
Freshfields moves two more partners to Middle East
Two more Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partners have relocated to the Middle East, with Charles July and Ian Poynton joining Bob Charlton in Dubai.
A&O takes on Lehman real estate chief
#Allen & Overy (A&O) has recruited Lehman Brothers head of global real estate as a partner in its New York office. David Broderick, who was senior counsel at the investment bank, joins the real estate group and will focus on property debt and equity investments for private equity funds, financial institutions and real estate investors. […]
Eversheds tax head to return as consultant
Eversheds tax head to return as consultant” /> #Eversheds tax chief Tom Daltry has resigned from his post, but from September will return to the firm as a consultant. Daltry’s post has been filled by Leeds and London-based tax planning partner David Jervis. Jervis said that he was surprised by Daltry’s retirement, but that he […]
Withers partner joins Stevens & Bolton
#Surrey-based Stevens & Bolton has hired private client partner Stuart Skeffington from Withers. Skeffington specialises in advising on taxation of investments, complex offshore structures, business exits and reconstructions, tax planning for international families and employee remuneration strategies. Skeffington was at Withers for five years. He said: “I’m very sad to leave Withers, but I need […]
Littleton unveils mediation service
Commercial and employment set Littleton Chambers has launched a rapid mediation service.
Wachovia hires Citigroup general counsel for in-house chief role
Wachovia has snared Citigroup’s global consumer group general counsel to head its 400-strong in-house legal team. Jane Sherburne, who will take up her post as general counsel later this summer, will replace Mark Treanor, who is due to retire from the bank later this year. Treanor said: “Jane brings a wealth of financial sector experience […]
Gaz de France gets green light for €67bn Suez merger
News that the Gaz de France (GdF) works council has issued its formal opinion on the proposed e67bn (£53.07bn) merger between French utility company Suez and GdF allows the companies to proceed to board and shareholder approval. Although the union did not give the thumbs-up, it is a non-binding opinion and it was one of […]
McGrigors leads Indian power company AIM listing
McGrigors has scored a coup for new client OPG Power Ventures, floating the Indian power plant business on AIM. Corporate partner Martin Finnegan said McGrigors won the instruction last year following a beauty parade that featured the likes of LG, Lovells and Osborne Clark. Finnegan said he was asked to pitch by nominated adviser Cenkos […]