Allen & Overy (A&O) has advised on the two largest transactions in the history of the European syndicated loan market in the past three weeks. Just two weeks after the firm bagged the lead role advising Porsche’s E35bn (EU163;23.69bn) bid for Volkswagen on 28 March, it scooped the role advising Mediobanca and UBS on the […]
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has issued proposals that could make private competition cases the norm. The proposals follow the unprecedented action brought by consumer group Which? against a replica football shirts cartel. The OFT is raising awareness about private actions for breaches of competition law through a discussion paper that floats several suggestions […]
Family law chambers One Garden Court has set a long-term target to become London’s pre-eminent chambers in its field, but sees the Carter reforms as a major hurdle. Recently appointed joint head of chambers Stephen Cobb QC said that the set’s ambitions are “entirely achievable”, but “the greatest challenge will come from the reforms to […]
A line-up of UK, US and Dutch firms is advising Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Santander and Fortis on their battle with Barclays for ABN Amro. The three banks have turned to De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, Linklaters, Slaughter and May and Willkie Farr & Gallagher to advise on their plans to split up ABN. The […]
The politically charged auction of Yukos assets to Italian utility companies Enel and Eni has cemented Salans’ relationship with Enel on Russian acquisitions. The firm was lead counsel to Enel when it paired up with Eni to bid for $5.3bn (£2.66bn) worth of gas assets formerly held by Yukos, the bankrupted Russian energy giant. The […]
Bristol-headquartered Burges Salmon scored an instruction on the landmark flotation of independent financial adviser and stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown, which will value the company at between £600m and £800m. Burges Salmon head of corporate Chris Godfrey is leading the team. He is the relationship partner for the company. Hargreaves Lansdown, which is also based in Bristol, […]
Gemma Westacott, deputy editor, TheLawyer.com
Should those who exaggerate personal injury claims be forced to forego the aspects of payouts to which they are entitled? By Alejandra Hormaeche
The Irish government announced this morning (Friday 27 April) that it has appointed the managing partner of Dublin-headquartered Arthur Cox, Pádraig Ó’ Ríordáin, as chair of the new Financial Legislation Advisory Forum. Ireland’s minister for finance, Brian Cowen, said that the financial services sector was key to the growth of the Irish economy. The establishment […]
Thompsons has won the first age discrimination case since new laws were introduced in October 2006, paving the way for a slew of similar cases. Public sector union Unison instructed Thompsons legal executive Mark Gray on the groundbreaking case of hospital employee Ann Southcott, who was dismissed last October just one day before the Employment […]
Marks & Clerk Solicitors won a last-minute injunction against Channel 4 for client Miss World Limited, forcing the broadcaster to change the name of its Mr Miss World show. On Monday morning Mr Justice Pumfrey ruled that Channel 4 had infringed Miss World’s trademark name in its documentary about a transvestite beauty pageant in Thailand. […]
Lovells is advising BNP Paribas on its defence of allegations over sex discrimination despite losing key employment partner Lisa Mayhew to Jones Day last year. Mayhew was the lead partner who won the high-profile sex discrimination battle for Merrill Lynch against former employee Stephanie Villalba in a potential claim of £7.8m. She was also a […]