Simmons & Simmons has defended National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) against claims that it was liable for a gambler’s £100m of debts. Grosvenor Casinos claimed that NBAD had extended credit to Wealthy Middle-Eastern businessman Mr Ahmed Al-Reyaysa, who incurred the debts at one of its London casinos. Al-Reyaysa gambled £99m and lost over £18m […]
Heather Mills has failed in her attempt to block the publication of the judgment handed down in her divorce from Paul McCartney. Mills, who yesterday (17th March) was awarded a £24.3m settlement after representing herself in the divorce proceeding, argued that the judgment should not be made public because it would breach privacy legislation. However, […]
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz have scooped lead roles on JPMorgan Chase’s acquisition of troubled investment bank Bear Stearns. Skadden partner Peter Atkins is leading the team advising beleagured bank Bear, while Wachtell partners Edward Herlihy and Nicholas Demmo are leading the team advising JPMorgan on its $236m […]
Leeds-based firm Fox Hayes has commenced legal action against The Sun newspaper on behalf of TV personality Jimmy Savile. Savile, the star of children’s television favourite Jim’ll Fix It, decided to start proceedings against the Rupert Murdoch paper after a series of articles linked the former Radio One DJ with Jersey children’s home Haut de […]
Barrister Richard Alderman has been appointed as director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Attorney General Baroness Scotland announced today (17 March). Alderman, who is currently the director of national teams and special civil investigations in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), will start his new role on 21 April, succeeding present director Robert Wardle. On […]
Payne Hicks Beach client Sir Paul McCartney is to pay estranged wife Heather Mills £24.3m in a divorce settlement determined by High Court judge Mr Justice Bennett. The couple failed to reach an agreement in court last month, resulting in the dispute being reserved to Bennett J. Speaking outside London’s High Court, Mills said she […]
US firms Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz are playing key roles in the New York listing of hedge fund company Halcyon Asset Management. The $11.5bn (£5.66bn) alternative investment house has agreed to be bought by special purpose acquisition company (Spac) Alternative Asset Management Acquisition Corporation (AAMAC), a so-called […]
The top story from the Mipim real estate conference last week?
Not a worried real estate lawyer in sight as Mipim comes around… again
North East firm Dickinson Dees has launched an all-woman wealth management team to target the lucrative market of independently wealthy women in the region.
F&C Asset Management is preparing to challenge a multimillion-pound discrimination claim brought by its former head of legal services.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has pushed ahead with plans to hit non-domiciled residents with a £30,000 annual tax, with the levy kicking in once they have lived in the UK for seven years.