CLYDES AND SIMPSON & MARWICK IN ANGLO/SCOTS MERGER BID
Clyde & Co is in merger talks with former Kennedys target, Scottish firm Simpson & Marwick. Simpson’s five Scottish offices plus outposts in Newcastle, Leeds and London could be added on to Clydes’ office network, although its 15-strong family law team exited the firm last month for Brodies.
EY LAW HIRES FINREG LAUNCH TEAM AND SENIOR ADDLESHAWS DUO
Accountancy giant EY made a further push into legal services in May, hiring Baker & McKenzie financial services partner Steven Francis, plus a 12-strong team of lawyers to launch a financial regulatory business. It also announced the hire of former Addleshaw Goddard managing partner Paul Devitt and corporate partner Richard Thomas to its Manchester office with plans to grow a team servicing the North West.
OLSWANG ELECTS PAUL STEVENS AS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Intellectual property partner Paul Stevens was elected as Olswang’s chief executive for a three-year term. He takes over from Michael Burdon, who assumed the post on an interim basis after David Stewart resigned in October last year.
FRESHFIELDS SIGNS LEASE FOR MANCHESTER SERVICE CENTRE
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has signed a lease for 40,000 sq ft of space in Manchester’s Arndale House as it plans to establish a substantial legal and business services centre in the city later this year. Freshfields also appointed Anup Kollanethu from Aviva Investors as the centre’s director.
SHAKESPEARES AND SGH MARTINEAU CONFIRM MERGER
In a move set to create a £75m national player, Midland firms Shakespeares and SGH Martineau confirmed they will merge on 15 June 2015 with Shakespeares’ Andy Raynor acting as chief executive of the renamed Shakespeare Martineau. Alongside Raynor, SGH Martineau managing partner Emma Shipp is overseeing the integration of the two firms, creating a firm with nine offices and 900 staff.
DLA PIPER LAUNCHES CORPORATE FINANCE BOUTIQUE TO BUILD TMT PROFILE
DLA Piper launched corporate finance advisory arm Noble Street to focus on media, technology and sports ventures that have been neglected by traditional banks. The business, led by former film financier Anthony Mosawi, will be based in London, though it is also expected to target clients in the Middle East and Asia.
NATIONAL GRID LAUNCHES UK PANEL REVIEW AS IT LOOKS TO SHRINK ROSTER
Energy giant National Grid launched a review of its 15-strong UK panel after five years of the current setup. Firms including Allen & Overy, Linklaters, DLA Piper and Eversheds currently sit on the panel, which general counsel Alison Kay confirmed she was looking to shrink.
FRIED FRANK HIRES HOGAN LOVELLS’ BRINKWORTH AS HEAD OF FINANCE
US law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson has hired Hogan Lovells finance partner Stuart Brinkworth to head its London finance offering. Brinkworth has been tasked with building debt fund relationships with London clients and supporting the firm’s private equity practice.
HILL DICKINSON STARTS REDUNDANCY CONSULTATION
Hill Dickinson confirmed that it had started a redundancy consultation concerning around 30 jobs in the firm’s insurance teams in Liverpool, London and Manchester. It follows a review last year which saw the firm cut 40 positions.