Quality work but in a freestyle environment. Is it an impossible dream? Two German boutiques think they can do it. By Aled Griffiths There is nothing inevitable about the hegemony of large, international practices in Germany. And at least two German firms think that they have proven this. Hölters & Elsing, with offices in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and […]
Herbert Smith (Stephen Wilkinson) advised Biffa Waste, a subsidiary of Severn Trent, in the acquisition of Hales Waste Control and RMC Environmental from RMC for £141m. Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe also represented Biffa Waste, with Wragge & Co acting for Hales Waste Control and RMC. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Michael Kennedy) and Gianni Origoni […]
Dearbail Jordan discovers some of the reasons behind the rise in popularity of the W&II safety net Most lawyers are blessed with (or cursed by) a healthy dose of cynicism, but nowh-ere is it more evident than when discussing the merits of warranty and indemnity insurance (W&II) in the secondary buyout market.Researching this piece drew […]
Herbert Smith has put more meat on the bones of its investment bank strategy by advising on its first structured finance deal for Merrill Lynch.Jane Borrows led the Herbert Smith team on a £150m secured warehouse facility made available by Merrill Lynch International Bank to a UK plc.Simmons & Simmons capital markets partner James Bresslaw […]
Tods Murray has elbowed out rival firms in the City to score its first instruction from Swedish bank Dexia Public Finance, advising on the funding of a PFI deal involving Seeboard and the London Borough of Islington.The deal, thought to be valued at around £50m, sees Seeboard contracted to the London Borough of Islington to […]
Guy Henderson, commercial litigation partner, Allen & Overy Two recent decisions of our courts, both in relation to privilege, illustrate differing approaches to developing the law. Until very recently, clients have regularly been frustrated by a technical deficiency in the law: it had not expressly permitted them to contract to preserve the privilege that attaches to legal […]
Maria Moruzzi makes a mean bubble and squeak, and her Borough Cafe is a local legend. She caters for customers such as Sean Connery, Lord Lawson and Jamie Oliver. But when Railtrack (now Network Rail) said it was looking to build a railway through her premises, no stars came to her rescue.Moruzzi’s parents owned the […]
Even after the merger, P&O Princess Cruises and Carnival are still separate. Brendan Malkin finds out how P&O counsel Tony Kaufman keeps it all together For a year and a half Tony Kaufman, P&O Princess Cruises head of legal, worked 16 hours a day on one of the most complex transactions imaginable – the merger […]
Being Christian Aid’s sole lawyer is no conventional role. Advocacy officer Matt Hobson is on the front line of the reconstruction of post-war Afghanistan. Husnara Begum reports Even though Matt Hobson, Christian Aid’s advocacy officer for Afghanistan and Central Asia, is the only lawyer at the not-for-profit organisation, he spends very little time drafting documents […]
Allen & Overy‘s (A&O) Brussels office has taken on Jean-Marie Moreels, the general counsel of financial services provider Fortis. Moreels, who has been at Fortis since 1988, will bring rare expertise in dual-listed company (DLC) structures, which are increasingly touted as merger vehicles in Belgium. Moreels will join as an M&A partner in the firm’s […]
The EU is to sign a controversial extradition deal with the US, with the agreement being approved by the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, despite concerns raised by the European Parliament. Its text should be initialled at the EU-US summit on 25 June in Washington DC. It covers mutual legal assistance, including the exchange […]
Publicis, the French advertising company, has ditched Herbert Smith in favour of Clifford Chance in its battle for Cordiant Communications. Publicis’ switch has emerged just as Cordiant’s board confirmed that it has recommended a bid from Sir Martin Sorrell’s WPP. Publicis, together with US hedge fund Cerberus, has been trying to push Cordiant into administration. […]