The offshore transactional market continues to go from strength to strength. Our annual focus on the ten largest offshore firms again reveals impressive activity levels during the last year. According to Appleby’s recent private equity report, during the third quarter of 2015 deal activity was even more robust than usual: there were 660 offshore deals …
Continue reading “Standing tall – 2015 in review for the offshore elite”
In July, global offshore firm Appleby announced the management buyout (MBO) of its fiduciary business for an undisclosed sum, backed by private equity house Bridgepoint. Completion is subject to regulatory and legal approvals, but is expected to wrap up by the end of 2015. According to group chair Frances Woo, the sale had been considered …
Continue reading “Making gains – to be or not to be in the fiduciary business”
Mythical triangles notwithstanding, the island state of Bermuda plays host to the prestigious America’s Cup in June 2017. But while it may be two years before the world’s sailing elite descends on the island state, competition for the local offshore firms has already arrived. In May, Cayman-based Walkers announced it would open in Bermuda later …
With global corporate markets experiencing a resurgence in 2014, the strongest offshore law firms had key roles to play in the world’s most high-profile deals and disputes. Legal Business’ annual offshore survey assesses recent highlights and profiles the leading offshore law firms. In many ways, the last 12 months have represented another robust year for …
Continue reading “The tide is high – the report card on the world’s top offshore players”
With transactional work picking up globally, offshore funds are back in vogue. We assess the most active offshore firms and the key recent developments The renewed sense of optimism emanating from the world’s major financial centres has clearly made its way offshore. While the global financial crisis put successful launches of offshore private equity, real …
With corporate lawyers finding their feet once more, Legal Business examines the often overlooked role of offshore firms in major global corporate and capital markets transactions 2014 has been the year where the corporate lawyer has begun to feel valued again. Take Dublin-based drug manufacturer Shire’s proposed £32bn takeover by US giant AbbVie, which is …
Continue reading “Centre of the universe – the offshore counsel role in big ticket deals”
The insurance regime for law firms faces more upheaval amid reforms to rules on minimum cover. Legal Business assesses the latest controversy In July, following a short consultation earlier this summer, the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced a number of reforms, including proposals to reduce the minimum compulsory cover levels for professional …
Portugal’s European bailout is over and its privatisation programme is winding down. Legal Business asks the country’s lawyers what happens next. While the instances in which Europe’s ailing economies have been talking up their prospects have been as frequent as rain storms this past year, Portugal has more reason than most to be bullish. It …
While historically relatively untouched by the globalisation of legal services, international firms have continued their recent surge into Switzerland, with Geneva – home to a third of the world’s private wealth – emerging as the most popular hotspot. As recently as January, CMS von Erlach Henrici – the local Swiss member of the global CMS …
Continue reading “A wider horizon – Switzerland edges into the global economy”
Offshore jurisdictions have responded proactively to recent global initiatives affecting how they operate. Legal Business assesses recent developments and profiles the top offshore law firms Law firms are noted for their ability to turn difficult situations to their advantage and the global offshore giants have certainly demonstrated this quality in recent years. While the vast …
