Cloisters chambers has hired three more barristers, bringing the number of recruits to six since its criminal section split off. `Commercial, public law and employment specialist Adam Solomon joins from Cardinal Chambers. Cloisters’ former senior clerk Michael Martin left Cloisters and set up Cardinal in June 1999.`Others joining are personal injury (PI) and employment expert […]
Withers is taking the BBC to court on behalf of Elite Model Management in an attempt to clear its name after its damning in the television programme MacIntyre Undercover: Fashion. `Unusually, the libel litigation will be heard without a jury after a successful application by the claimants relating to the strong nature of the evidence […]
Bevan Ashford is to launch a dedicated insolvency practice from its Bristol office with the hire of Laytons’ highly-rated Bristol head of insolvency Gordon Bon. `Bon will complement Bevan Ashford’s existing insolvency practice led at the Exeter office by Louise Wilkinson. Insolvency assistant Claire Cole is also moving from Laytons to Bevan Ashford.`Bon’s practice is […]
BioFocus buys Cambridge Drug Discovery Holdings in a deal worth £27.5m. BioFocus advised by Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (Peter Hill). Cambridge Drug Discovery Holdings advised by Weil Gotshal & Manges (James Gubbins).
When it comes to technology, media and telecoms (TMT), US firms have a head start. The home of Silicon Valley and Bill Gates was cashing in on the brave new world while the UK was still trying to work out how to turn on its Acorn computer.`So it is no surprise that many of the […]
Herbert Smith’s Asian construction group head has been appointed managing partner of the Hong Kong office. `Mark Lloyd-Williams is to succeed David Willis who has served in the role since August 1997. Willis will return to the firm’s head office in London.`Willis said: “The Hong Kong practice has grown strongly over recent years. With Mark’s […]
NewSchools consortium and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) sign second phase of £40m Swan Valley Community School’s PFI with Kent County Council. NewSchools consortium and RBS advised by McGrigor Donald (Michael Watson, Drysdale Graham). Kent County Council advised by Eversheds (Mark Dillon).
AEA Technology announces conditional disposal of its nuclear engineering business to Warrington-based Nukem Nuclear for about £34m. AEA Technology advised by Eversheds (Robin Johnson, Keith Froud). Nukem advised by Halliwell Landau (Mark Halliwell).
Troubled dotcom Sportal is using Olswang to negotiate the funds it needs to survive.`The firm has taken Sportal through every stage of the business, from its incorporation in 1998 to its recent second round of funding.`Sportal’s head of legal Jonathan West said: “We’re delighted with Olswang’s loyalty to us, the firm has proved itself a […]
Pilipino Telephone Corporation (Piltel) is restructuring 98 per cent of its debt in a deal worth $850m (£602.9m). Piltel advised by Linklaters & Alliance (Steven Christopher). Creditors advised by Allen & Overy (Alan Rae Smith).
Cabot Square was among the clients introduced to Herbert Smith by securitisation partner Jane Borrows, who joined from Sidley & Austin in November 2000. This is Herbert Smith’s first deal for the US client, which was a principal shareholder in UniLodge Holding. The deal was real estate driven, with 4,114 student rooms owned by UniLodge […]
Asda Property Holdings sells Stone Lake Industrial Park, south-east London, to clients of Henderson Global Investors for £5m. Asda Property Holdings advised by Ashurst Morris Crisp (Richard Vernon). Henderson advised by Olswang.