Legal Business

Revolving doors: DAC Beachcroft, Osborne Clarke, Baker & McKenzie among those announcing new recruits

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A number of firms including Osborne Clarke, Baker & McKenzie, CMS and Simmons & Simmons made key hires last week. 

Osborne Clarke has hired Jeremy Summers as a partner in its litigation team, joining from Slater and Gordon where he headed the business crime and regulation team. The firm’s UK managing partner Ray Berg said the hire would allow the firm to offer further white collar crime expertise, and Summers’ experience in Hong Kong would add to the formal association Osborne Clarke has with Koh Vass & Co.

Going the other way, James Mullock is leaving Osborne Clarke after almost 20 years to join Bird & Bird as partner in its international privacy and protection group. The firm’s of its co-head international data protection group Ruth Boardman said Mullock’s sector-specific expertise, particularly in advising on complex technology, media and telecoms transactions, will help the firm proactively develop data protection opportunities clients as the practice grows internationally.

Baker & McKenzie is also upping its data protection practice by hiring GE Capital’s global senior privacy counsel Dyann Heward-Mills as partner, in a move which brings the number of IT and commercial lawyers it has in London to more than 30. The firm’s London head of IT law Harry Small said Heward-Mills brings to the team a wealth of privacy and data protection insights together with a deep understanding of the regulatory pressures currently faced by clients in a number of sectors.

Meanwhile, CMS Belgium has picked up former Allen & Overy counsel Tom De Cordier to join as a TMC/data protection/life sciences partner. CMS Belgium managing partner Tom Heremans said ‘CMS has a strong focus on technology and life sciences both internationally and here in Belgium. And this strategy is paying off: more and more clients turn to us for assistance in this rapidly developing area.’

Still in Europe, Simmons & Simmons’ German office is expanding its life sciences sector group with the hire of Boris Handorn who joins as partner. In Düsseldorf Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has hired Andre Zimmerman from the Frankfurt office of King & Wood Mallesons to head up Orrick’s German employment law practice. Orrick has also hired Annalisa Dentoni-Litta as partner in its structured finance team in Rome.

Back in Britain, Gide has expanded its London real estate practice by shifting Hugues Moreau, who had headed Gide Warsaw’s real estate practice, back to London.

Meanwhile, DAC Beachcroft has expanded in Manchester, adding Paul Ellaby as a corporate partner. Ellaby joins from Ward Hadaway where he was a partner in the Manchester corporate practice. Also in Manchester, Browne Jacobson has boosted its Manchester health team by appointing Rebecca Fitzpatrick from Hill Dicksinson, and appointing former Berrymans Lace Mawer lawyer and deputy district judge Claire Batchelor as a consultant.

Simmons & Simmons has hired James Coleman as corporate partner in its Dubai office, from Allen & Overy in Doha where he was counsel. In Asia, Ashurst has strengthened its debt capital markets team with the appointment of Jini Lee as a partner in its Hong Kong based securities and derivatives group. Lee joins from Linklaters where she had worked in the Hong Kong and London offices. 

victoria.young@legalease.co.uk

Legal Business

Joining the club: Osborne Clarke to convert to LLP status next month

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Legal Business 100 firm Osborne Clarke (OC) has become one of the last firms in the UK top 50 to convert to a limited liability partnership (LLP).

The firm is currently structured as a traditional partnership, which is different from an LLP as it means the firm does not have to be incorporated at Companies House or have a registered office. In addition the partners do not enjoy the protections of limited liability.

It is understood the move will be completed within the next few weeks and has been in the pipeline for some time. It had been delayed due to the firm’s focus on international expansion which has seen it open in a number of new jurisdictions including Amsterdam, New York and San Francisco.

A spokesperson for the firm said: ‘We have looked at the best structure for our business and can confirm that we are in the process of converting to Osborne Clarke LLP. This is currently being discussed by our partners and we will be able to share more details in due course.’

Last August, Mishcon de Reya said it would bring all partners into the equity and convert to a LLP at the end of autumn 2015. The transformation would see every partner become a form of an equity partner. Current equity partners would become ‘senior equity partners’ while junior partners would become ‘junior equity partners’, the firm said.

kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk

Legal Business

OC pushes on with Asian growth strategy as it formalises Hong Kong links

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Osborne Clarke (OC) has taken another step into Asia by formalising its relationship with Hong Kong-based Koh Vass & Co, in a move which paves the way for a combination between the two firms. 

OC said the association with Koh Vass, which specialises in the digital business sector, is a key part of its expansion plans in the Asia Pacific region. Under the arrangement OC will provide clients with specialist PRC advice, led by registered foreign lawyer Guohua Zhang who has been seconded as a consultant to Koh Vass from a Chinese law firm. 

The formal association means that after three years OC can apply for permission to merge with Koh Vass, in accordance with Hong Kong legal regulations.

OC’s international chief executive Simon Beswick said: ‘The team’s sector focused approach and deep knowledge of the Asian markets strengthens our ability to provide clients insightful advice in an often complex international business environment.’

The multinational firm has 700 lawyers in 19 international offices, with India and Hong Kong being its first steps into Asia. The firm already has a partnership with BTG Legal in India which was founded by former OC partner Prashant Mara who had co-headed the firm’s India group. 

victoria.young@legalease.co.uk

Legal Business

Case study: Osborne Clarke

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It was another strong performance from Legal Business’ 2015 Law Firm of the Year, Osborne Clarke (OC), which saw revenues grow from £142m to £151m, with profits per equity partner up from £513,000 to £550,000.

‘We had a fantastic year the year before and just to keep that momentum going was key for us,’ says UK managing partner Ray Berg (pictured). ‘There was no complacency. We continue to do well in our core areas and retain a strong sector focus.’

Legal Business

Revolving doors: OC, DLA and DWF make key hires as CMA promotes new cartels head

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Last week saw a trio of LB100 firms, Osborne Clarke (OC), DWF, and DLA Piper,  make key national and international appointments while the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) bolstered its cartels and criminal group with the internal promotion of a director to its leadership team.

OC, which has this year seen a period of dramatic growth and assured strategic expansion, recruited Hogan Lovells commercial partner Mark Taylor to its London office. A specialist in tech and IT projects, outsourcing and cyber security, his move to the firm follows that of telecoms specialist Jon Fell, who left Pinsent Masons after 15 years for OC in June.

UK managing partner, Ray Berg, said: ‘Digital business, data privacy and mobile payments are all hot topics in today’s world. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in all three, making him a huge asset to the team. We look forward to welcoming him to our London office and further strengthening our expertise for the benefit of our clients.’

On the back of a recent disappointing financial performance, DWF has forged ahead with further investment and appointed DAC Beachcroft partner Lorraine Carolan as its national head of counter fraud.

Set to join this month, Carolan headed DAC’s national claims validation team and prior to that led the litigation practice. She will work alongside the firm’s 900-strong insurance team to ‘deliver increased value to the firm’s client base of insurers’.

She said: ‘There are a number of opportunities available to pursue within the fraud market, and DWF’s investment in their systems and intelligence provide a strong platform on which to explore these.’

Carolan’s hire comes on the back of DWF’s second year of lacklustre performance. In early August its financial results showed a 1% rise in revenue and a 16% drop in profit per equity partner.

DLA Piper meanwhile, has made a bid to enhance its Australia offering with the recruit of heavyweight corporate lawyer James Philips from Minter Ellison, where he co-headed its M&A practice.

Having advised on transactions valued at more than AU$100bn, he specialises in takeover bids, schemes of arrangement, public to privates, privatisations and equity capital markets work. Philips constitutes the sixth lateral hire made by the firm as part of a strategic effort to better its corporate capabilities in the Asia Pacific. Others in recent months includes Allen & Overy partner Grant Koch as head of private equity in Sydney; Michael Bowen, Scott Gibson and Marc Wilshaw of Perth corporate law firm Hardy Bowen in July; and partner David Hallam from Melbourne firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth in July.

DLA Australia managing partner John Weber said: ‘We have gained significant momentum in the Australian market, in particular with a focus on transactional corporate work, and we’re delighted to welcome James.’

Finally the CMA last week bolstered its cartels and criminal group with the promotion of Deborah Wilkie as director of civil cartel enforcement.

Previously a lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills before joining the body in 2014, she will lead an expanded team alongside existing director Juliette Enser, and act as project director on Competition Act cartels cases, while playing a role in the CMA policy work on cartels and leniency.

Stephen Blake, CMA senior director of cartels and criminal, said: ‘This appointment further strengthens the CMA’s cartel enforcement group, reflecting the ongoing importance we place on identifying, investigating and taking enforcement action against cartel activity by firms and individuals across the UK. Deborah brings a wealth of skills and experience, both from her time at the CMA, and before that as a lawyer in private practice, dealing with large and complex commercial disputes.’

sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk

Legal Business

Financial results 2014/15: OC posts 15% revenue growth as strong performance continues

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Osborne Clarke (OC), after being the fastest growing firm in the LB100 last year with a 26% rise in revenue to €169m, has consolidated that increase and posted another strong result for 2014/15 of €195m, up a further 15%.

The revenue growth was particularly buoyed by the OC’s international offering with UK revenues growing at a slightly slower pace of 9%, up from £88m last financial year to £97m. According to the firm, the UK’s six sector groups which includes digital business, infrastructure, real estate and life sciences and healthcare accounted for 93% of that figure.

It has been a strong year for Legal Business‘ law firm of the year which has cemented itself as one of the UK’s most upwardly mobile law firms. Half-year results for 2014/15 saw the firm record a double-digit increase of 17%, with revenue across the international business increasing from £66.1m to £70.7m. In the UK, there was a strong increase of 13.5% from £42.1m for the same period last year to £47.8m.

OC has also embarked on a period of aggressive expansion internationally, opening offices in Europe, through a new office in Amsterdam and the US, with two new offices in New York and San Francisco, while it also embarked on its first foray into Asia through strategic alliances with Hong Kong law firm John Koh & Co and with BTG Legal in Mumbai. The firm also has a new UK managing partner in the shape of Ray Berg, who took over the role on 1 January 2015.

Commenting on the results, Berg said: ‘This has been a stunning year for Osborne Clarke and it’s a real privilege for me to be able to announce such great results so soon after being elected. Much credit for these results goes to our previous managing partner Simon Beswick, but most importantly to our incredibly focused and hard-working team. We have many initiatives in progress that will benefit our clients, our people and our business over the coming 12 months.’

kathryn.mcann@legalease.co.uk

Legal Business

‘They embody what we stand for’: OC takes partnership to over 200 with five UK promotions

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Osborne Clarke (OC) has promoted five associate directors to its UK partnership, taking its total number of partners past the 200 mark for the first time.

The UK partner promotions at Legal Business‘ Law Firm of the Year are evenly spread across different practice areas, including corporate, real estate, tax and financial services. Geographically, two associates each were promoted in both the firm’s London and Bristol offices, and another in its Thames Valley office.

UK managing partner Ray Berg (pictured) said the new partners were decided on due to a mix of business and strategic demand within the relevant practice groups, as well as the individual strengths of each candidate.

‘This year there were really strong cases based strategically on the practice group and the personal attributes each of the candidates had,’ said Berg. ‘They have been incredibly focused, hardworking and ambitious. They have bought into the strategy of the firm – each of the people we have promoted has a strong sector-specific angle to the area in which they work, regardless of their specialism as a lawyer, and they have aligned themselves with parts of the business where they think they can add value. Each of them has worked out an opportunity best placed to their strengths. They’re bright, they’re dynamic and they embody what we stand for as a firm.’

The five promotions match the number made up by the firm in 2014. Over the last three years, the firm has hired approximately 50 laterals and made 22 internal partnership promotions internationally.

The partner promotions are:

Rebecca Clarke, real estate, Thames Valley

Simon Hancock, projects, Bristol

Kate Johnson, financial services, London

Mathias Loertscher, digital business, London

Tracey Wright, tax, Bristol

 

kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk

Legal Business

Fee transparency: Olswang, OC, Taylor Wessing and 12 others sign up to service to reduce legal fee disputes

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Taylor Wessing, Olswang and CMS Cameron McKenna are amongst a host of firms to sign up to Apperio – a platform designed to create transparency on legal fees.

Fifteen law firms have signed up to the initiative so far including Osborne Clarke, Taylor Wessing, Charles Russell Speechly and Taylor Vinters, in a bid to help clients track their legal spend by regularly sharing fee information using a transparent platform.

According to Apperio founder and former CMS Cameron McKenna lawyer Nicholas d’Adhemar, the initiative will significantly reduce disputes over fees between clients and the respective firm. ‘During my career as a lawyer, I experienced wrangling over legal fees due to the opaque nature of billing. Poor communication between the firm and the client would sometimes lead to clients being charged with random bills, sometimes three times higher than what was expected,’ said d’Adhemar. ‘Apperio will effectively help clients receive reduced bills, and see fee’s recorded accurately and on time.’

Other features include a streamlined tender process and a tool which allows clients to monitor the amount of partner/associate time spent on each transaction/case. ‘The idea is to encourage proactive management [on these issues] as opposed to a reactive fallout,’ d’Adhemar added.

Some fifteen clients have signed up to the platform, mainly consisting of venture capitalists and private equity firms so far, including Octopus Investments, Capvest, Patients Know Best and Elliptic. Apperio’s next move is to introduce the idea into mainstream corporate, and have over half of UK’s top 200 law firms signed up by the end of the year.

Clients subscribe to Apperio by paying a quarterly fee, and are charged in accordance to the amount of legal work they want tracking, ranging from an overall legal spend of £350,000 up to £10m.

D’Adhemar launched Apperio in February 2013 initially as a tendering process for clients, which later evolved into a legal fee tracker the following year. Before this, d’Adhemar worked as legal counsel at Sterling Energy for a year in January 2009, having left CMS Cameron McKenna after three years of being an associate.

jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk

Legal Business

OC, Mishcon, DLA Piper and CC major winners at 2015 Legal Business Awards

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Osborne Clarke (OC), Mishcon de Reya and Clifford Chance (CC) were among the major winners at the 2015 Legal Business Awards, with DLA Piper global co-chair Sir Nigel Knowles handed a special one-off award for industry-defining achievement marking the 25th anniversary of Legal Business.

OC took the coveted Law Firm of the Year award thanks to a period of dramatic growth and assured strategic expansion, while Mishcon managing partner Kevin Gold was named Management Partner of the Year for his central role in supporting the emergence of Mishcon as one of the most distinctive and imaginative players in the UK market.

Knowles was cited for outstanding individual achievement for his central role in taking DLA Piper from its roots in the English regions to become one of the world’s largest law firms in a special award honouring the figure judged to have most defined the UK profession since Legal Business launched in 1990.

CC was a major winner in the practice awards, named as Finance Team of the Year for its work on the UK Treasury’s ground-breaking RMB3bn bond issue and also Restructuring Team of the Year for advising on the innovative workout of APCOA Group. Macfarlanes, meanwhile, secured the coveted Corporate Team of the Year award for its role on Verizon’s $130bn acquisition of Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless.

Other major awards saw Vodafone general counsel Rosemary Martin named Lawyer of the Year, while the Royal Mail was named In-House Team of the Year. Ropes & Gray was the US Law Firm of the Year, with Brodies named as National/Regional Firm of the Year.

The awards were presented to more than 1,000 guests in a gala ceremony last night (24 March) hosted by distinguished broadcaster and journalist Jeremy Paxman. The event was preceded by a reception to mark the launch of this year’s GC Power List report.

This year saw the introduction of an external judging panel of distinguished industry figures. The panel comprised the following senior general counsel: Michael Shaw (Barclays); Andrew Whittaker (Lloyds Banking Group); Robert Ivens (Marks & Spencer); Adrian de Souza (Land Securities); Siobhan Moriarty (Diageo); Michael Herlihy (Smiths Group); Kirsty Cooper (Aviva); Claire Chapman (Daily Mail and General Trust) and Alison Kay (National Grid). The panel was completed by Jomati founder Tony Williams and Paul Gilbert of LBC Wise Counsel, as well as Alex Novarese and Mark McAteer from Legal Business.

Our April edition will include a full report on the night.

For more details click here. See #LBAwards2015 on twitter.

 

Legal Business Awards 2015 – The Winners

Simmons & Simmons – TMT Team of the Year

 

Clifford Chance – Restructuring Team of the Year

 

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton – Competition Team of the Year

 

Hogan Lovells – Energy and Infrastructure Team of the Year

 

Weil, Gotshal & Manges – Dispute Resolution Team of the Year

 

Clifford Chance – Finance Team of the Year

 

Mills & Reeve – Private Client Team of the Year

 

DAC Beachcroft – Insurance Team of the Year

 

Macfarlanes – Corporate Team of the Year

 

Travers Smith – Private Equity Team of the Year

 

Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co – Real Estate Team of the Year

 

Wiggin – Boutique of the Year

 

Rosemary Martin, Vodafone – Lawyer of the Year

 

Reed Smith – CSR Programme of the Year

 

Garrigues – International Firm of the Year

 

Kumar Tewari, Lloyds Banking Group – Rising Star In-House Counsel of the Year

 

Royal Mail – In-House Team of the Year

 

Kevin Gold, Mishcon de Reya – Management Partner of the Year

 

Ropes & Gray – US Law Firm of the Year

 

DWF – Legal Innovator of the Year

 

Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co – Legal Technology Team of the Year

 

Brodies – National/Regional Firm of the Year

 

Sir Nigel Knowles – Outstanding Individual Achievement Award: 25 Years

 

Osborne Clarke – Law Firm of the Year

 

alex.novarese@legalease.co.uk