Split ends
Proposals to create a dedicated business court have thrown the futures of the Commercial Court and Chancery Division into question. But judges’ views should be heard prior to any government action
Double trouble
The growing trend for parallel criminal and civil proceedings is making life more complicated for litigators and defendants alike.
Links and Jones Day instructed on tentative mining buyout
Linklaters and Jones Day have been handed key roles on a proposed mega-deal that would see the creation of a £20bn mining giant in Kazakhstan. Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) has made an approach for copper producer Kazakhmys, with the former understood to have turned to Jones Day European head of capital markets Giles Elliott […]
Ashurst handed key role on Indian IPO
Ashurst has been instructed on its first Indian IPO, advising on the $400m (£196.80) flotation of Rural Electrification Corporation on India’s Bombay and National stock exchanges. Ashurst handled the US securities law aspects of the float, working alongside Indian firm Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co. Robert Ogilvy Watson, a corporate partner […]
Reed Smith wins UK Bebo role on AOL deal
The London office of Reed Smith Richards Butler has won a minor role in a major US technology deal, handling UK issues on AOL’s acquisition of Bebo. Reed Smith senior associate Gregor Pryor said the firm was drafted in to help on UK issues given the reach of Bebo’s business in the UK. “Bebo is […]
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Legal community slams Budget’s non-doms policy
The 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. The non-dom issue has been much debated in recent weeks and for Ashley Crossley, tax partner at Baker & McKenzie, the Budget […]
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High Court backs William Hill in gambling debt claim
Bookmaker William Hill won a High Court ruling today (12 March) that it did not exploit a punter’s gambling addiction. Mr Justice Briggs held that although William Hill was negligent in allowing greyhound trainer Graham Calvert to run up debts of over £2m, there was no causation in this case as Calvert would have accrued […]
House of Lords throws out Norris extradition case
White & Case has won a landmark House of Lords victory that will undermine key points of the UK’s extradition treaty with the US. Handing down a unanimous judgment, five Law Lords ruled against the extradition of Ian Norris, the former chief executive of FTSE 250 company Morgan Crucible, to face charges relating to a […]
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Official: Allen, Goetz quit White & Case
The co-head of global banking at White & Case, Maurice Allen and London co-head, Mike Goetz, have resigned.
Former GC Switalski wins discrimination case against F&C
F&C Asset Management is preparing to challenge a multi-million pound discrimination claim brought by its former head of legal services. The employment tribunal has upheld discrimination, harassment and victimisation claims brought by Gillian Switalski who joined the company in 2000 and quit in September. In a statement the F&C refuted her claims: “F&C is disappointed […]
Lovells leads the way in German private equity acquisition
Lovells has landed an instruction from German private equity house Deutsche Beteiligungs, advising on its €100m (£76.07m) acquisition of ICTS Europe Holdings. This was Lovells’ first instruction from Deutsche Beteiligungs and it saw the firm field a team led from Frankfurt by corporate partner Patrick Kaffiné involving up to 90 lawyers several of the firm’s […]
Clifford Chance GC demands freedom from conflicts
CC general counsel and chairman of the City of London Law Society rules and regulation committee Chris Perrin has called for significant widening of client conflict.