Akin Gump, Latham & Watkins and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are among the latest international firms to shut down or suspend operations in Moscow, as pressure to take action has mounted in light of Russia’s sustained invasion of Ukraine.
The news came after Linklaters and Norton Rose Fulbright announced their intentions to withdraw from Moscow in recent days. Continue reading “Akin Gump, Freshfields and Latham latest to withdraw in Moscow as mass exodus ensues”
The London office of Goodwin has seen revenue soar 63% in 2021/22 amid a surge in lateral hires over the year, the firm’s latest financial results reveal.
The City arm reported turnover of $161.8m, up from $99.1m last year. This striking gain follows the firm’s bullish revenue growth of 72% between 2015 and 2021. Continue reading “‘Dramatic expansion’: Goodwin’s London turnover spikes 63% amid lateral bonanza”
The private equity boom has shown no signs of slowing down in recent weeks, with the London offices of US firms taking the lead on noteworthy acquisitions in the logistics, food & drink, and infrastructure sectors.
Skadden, Simpson Thacher and Latham & Watkins advised on the acquisition by KKR of a majority stake in independent beverage contract manufacturer Refresco. The deal will see existing investors PAI Partners and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) retaining a minority stake in the company. Continue reading “Deal watch: Global London elite turns out for KKR’s Refresco buyout and Macquarie’s Roadchef acquisition”
US firms have dominated another week of lateral recruitment with notable hires in the City and overseas.
Greenberg Traurig has added real estate finance partner Daniyal Ansari from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. Ansari, who is described as ‘technically excellent’ in The Legal 500’s 2022 guide, advises on investment, development, and complex structured debt matters globally. Real estate is a key focus of Greenberg’s London office, which has seen major expansion over the past 12 months with 10 partner hires. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Greenberg continues City hiring spree as Jones Day snaps up Hogan Lovells antitrust partner”
As the world watches the battle rage in Ukraine, talking about gender inequality risks coming across as somewhat trite. But with women and children making up the overwhelming majority of the more than one million people displaced by the invasion so far, this year’s International Women’s Day has a pointed resonance. Everyone suffers during war, but women and girls are notoriously vulnerable to its impact, both physically and economically. The images of those flooding out of Ukraine to seek sanctuary elsewhere only serves to highlight this.
We’ve therefore taken the decision to still mark International Women’s Day and its #BreakTheBias message, as gender equality still needs to be fought for across all industries, including law and politics, and progress made still needs to be celebrated. Continue reading “‘Get the credit you deserve’ – top female partners on breaking biases and inspiring role models”
Linklaters’ abandonment of its Moscow office in response to Russia’s sustained invasion of Ukraine has prompted peers to react, with many more likely set to follow suit.
Linklaters announced the move to shutter the Moscow office, which houses more than 70 lawyers, including 10 partners, on Friday (4 March). The firm said in a statement: ‘We will wind down our operations in Russia and close our Moscow office. We will continue supporting our people there in the process, doing all we can to help them transfer to new roles within Linklaters or otherwise.’ Continue reading “Linklaters renounces Moscow office as Russia attacks Ukraine and peers react to invasion”
Which woman most inspired you in your legal career and why?
I don’t think I could put it down to one single woman! There have been many. In more recent years, as I have been navigating my way as a more senior woman in the industry, I have been very inspired and supported by Karen Seward – the Global Head of Litigation at A&O. She faces the industry (and the world) with an authenticity that smacks you in the face. She has done much to raise the profiles and improve the experiences of those that come behind her and to call out anything and anyone that compromises the values that we aspire to as a firm. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: Denise Gibson, Allen & Overy, Leading Individual – Acquisition Finance”
Which woman most inspired you in your career and why?
I haven’t had one role model instrumental to my career but there have been lots of different people I’ve looked up to. In particular, some of the women who were partners before me at Latham – Lene Malthasen , Jocelyn Seitzman, Gail Crawford and Catherine Drinnan who was deputy office managing partner and had a clear leadership position. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: Farah O’Brien – Corporate co-chair, Latham & Watkins London; leading individual, premium M&A”
Which woman most inspired you in your legal career and why?
When I was growing up in the Caribbean, I was inspired to become a lawyer watching a woman called Celia Clyne Edwards QC in court. She is extremely clever and is still one of the more formidable advocates I have ever seen. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: Akima Paul Lambert, dispute resolution partner, Hogan Lovells – next generation partner, commercial litigation – premium”
Which woman most inspired you in your career and why?
That is a hard question! I think I take inspiration from lots of different women. I admire the intensity of all-star athletes like Venus Williams and Naomi Osaka, who are so dedicated to their craft from an early age. I look up to ceiling-crackers like Ruth Bader Ginsberg, with her incrementalism approach, and Indra Nooyi, who grew up in India and led an iconic American company. And I’m inspired by my mother, who majored in Math at Barnard and worked as a Computer Science professor throughout my childhood—a time when I didn’t know any other working mothers. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: Barbara L. Becker, chair & managing partner, Gibson Dunn, New York”
Which woman most inspired you in your career and why?
The Honorable Pamela Ann Rymer. I was fortunate enough to clerk for her at the Ninth Circuit after graduating from law school. She fought hard to be one of the leading female judges of her time and overcame a lot of bias and discrimination. She taught me to trust my judgement and have confidence in my views. She also led by example by always being fair and incredibly hard-working. She inspired me to push myself in my legal career and to become a partner at my firm. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: Perlette Jura, Gibson Dunn, Los Angeles – disputes”
Which woman most inspired you in your legal career and why?
My first ‘boss’ Margaret Civetta, corporate partner at DLA Piper and previously at Dewey LeBoeuf. She was an extraordinary woman. She became a corporate partner at a time when there were only few female corporate partners. She was a great mentor. She lifts everybody up who knows her. She has always led associates by example – she is a hard worker and a graceful person. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: Teresa Zueco, managing partner, Squire Patton Boggs in Madrid”
Which woman most inspired you in your legal career and why?
There have been so many strong women who have inspired me, it seems unfair to single out an individual (except for my older sister). I’ve been fortunate to meet, and often work alongside, women who have inspired me through their open-mindedness, energy, skill and appetite for their work. One combination that I have often found especially inspiring is the ability to balance a passion for your work with a certain coolness of temperament. Certainly, when I was younger, it wasn’t clear to me that it’s possible to both love what you do, and also not take the world too seriously. That’s something I’ve learned from a number of role models, and a quality I aspire to emulate. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: Patricia Volhard, Debevoise & Plimpton, Frankfurt and London – leading individual investment funds, Germany”
What advice would you give aspiring female lawyers?
Be a lifelong learner. As clichéd as it sounds, one should never stop learning. As a disputes lawyers, I learn from each and every courtroom and arbitration experience. I observe my opposing counsel, the witnesses and the tribunal – and there are always learning points, the to-dos and not to-dos. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: Swee Yen Koh, WongPartnership – leading individual – Singapore International Arbitration”
May Tai – a ranked individual for international arbitration
Which woman most inspired you in your career and why?
Sonya Leydecker and Paula Hodges QC were two leading women in the litigation and arbitration practice when I started my career as a junior lawyer. Paula was one of the first QCs specialising in arbitration and the President of the LCIA Court; Sonya was the Head of the Dispute Resolution of Herbert Smith Freehills and then became our first female CEO. They are both giants in the industry and both spent a lot of their personal and professional time mentoring, sponsoring and coaching me. Whenever I come across a tricky issue, I still think about how Sonya and Paula would deal with that issue if they were in my shoes and so even though they are not around so much anymore, I still get strength and inspiration from them. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: May Tai, managing partner, HSF Asia and Kathryn Sanger, Hong Kong”
Which woman most inspired you in your career and why?
There are a number of people who inspired me, or at least supported me, along the way. My mum was sick for most of my younger life and not around much so I have always sought out female role models. Mums of best friends, my mum’s sister, Aunty Kathryn (and my name’s sake), female professors, fellow lawyers, a whole cohort of strong women from law school who still keep me going. If I had to choose one woman, however, it would be my godmother (Joy). She was my dad’s drama tutor at college, there (almost literally) when I was born 8 weeks early, and a huge influence on me as I grew up. I started to stay with her regularly from when I was 8. She was one of the first women to study at Cambridge, fiercely intelligent, independent (she never married), and loyal to her friends, family and goddaughter. She showed me how hard work and a good mind can save you, how to be confident at Oxford and, as I started my career, that it didn’t matter that I came from a single parent, working class background, that people remember you for what you do, and how you behave towards others. That we should embrace difficult work, and study hard, but also have fun. That the relationships you build in early life will carry you through and sustain you in later life. How to be kind to all. She is 100 this year, I have not seen her for over 2 years, and yet she still inspires me every day (and she still writes to me and keeps me going). I am hoping very much to be able to travel and see her this summer. Luckily I saw lots of her in 2019. It’s been way too long! Writing this remind me how long… Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: Kathryn Sanger, Leading Individual, Hong Kong – International Arbitration”
Which woman most inspired you in your legal career and why?
Christine Lagarde. She is not only a very successful lawyer (having been named as chair of an international law firm) but she was also a high-level athlete (she was a member of the French national synchronized swimming team) and she has managed to become a well-known politician (she held various senior ministerial posts in France). She is now the president of the European Central Bank (after having been the managing director of the International Monetary Fund). Meanwhile she also has two children. I don’t know how she does all of these things, how she finds the stamina to do always more. It seems that nothing is impossible for her, which is impressive as well as inspiring. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2022: Agnes Rossi – Simmons & Simmons, Paris; Next Generation Partner – Fund Formation”
A former Mishcon de Reya partner has accepted a £17,500 penalty for his conduct which contributed to the record £232,500 SRA settlement agreed with the firm in January.
In an agreement published yesterday (7 March), Michael Nouril admitted to serious breaches of money laundering regulations relating to work for two individual clients, and corporate vehicles connected with the same two individual clients. In addition to the settlement, he will also pay £3,500 in costs. Continue reading “Ex-Mishcon partner hit with £17,500 SRA fine over conduct breach”
If the last two years has taught the industry anything, it’s that having innovative, enquiring minds leading in-house teams has never been more important in helping businesses solve their myriad problems brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading “Moving the dial – celebrating the best in-house talent”
DWF and Mayer Brown have lost their places on Pension Protection Fund’s (PPF) panel after its latest shakeup, the results of which were announced in February 2022. This is the fund’s first panel review since 2018 when it axed more than 70% of its external legal advisers, reducing its panel from 23 to six firms. This latest extensive procurement process included an emphasis on ‘social values’ and required firms to demonstrate that they were proactively tackling the disability employment gap and workforce inequality. Continue reading “Significant matters – Winter 2022”
