What’s next?
A Covid-19 cloud has obscured the current disputes landscape, but as the fog fades, what will be keeping restless litigators busy? Continue reading “Disputes Yearbook 2021”
Disputes Yearbook 2021
Stevens & Bolton posts eleventh year of turnover growth in latest set of financials
LB100 firm Stevens & Bolton has unveiled solid financial results for 2020/2021, marking 11 consecutive years of revenue growth.
In spite of the pandemic, the South East heavyweight has posted turnover of £29.1m, which represents a 2% increase on last year, while profit per equity partner in its all-equity partnership increased by 10% to hit £267,000. Continue reading “Stevens & Bolton posts eleventh year of turnover growth in latest set of financials”
Revolving doors: Squire Patton Boggs makes bold recruitment statement with team hires in London and Madrid
In a significant week of lateral partner recruitment for Squire Patton Boggs, the firm has added new teams in both London and Madrid.
In the City, the firm has hired partner Jonathan Lent from Gowling WLG. Previously co-head of Gowling’s real estate finance practice, Lent arrives at SPB alongside a director and two senior associates. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Squire Patton Boggs makes bold recruitment statement with team hires in London and Madrid”
Sponsored briefing: Why are so many turning their back on a traditional career path?
I am often asked the reason for the success of the revenue share model. Simply put, it’s down to the demand. Attitudes have changed and people want more, that is why these models are seeing so much growth.
Since we started our fee share law firm 11 years ago, the demand for this type of model has significantly increased, not just from lawyers but with demand from clients too. And this has only accelerated with the pandemic when the whole nation began remote working and became aware of the benefits. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Why are so many turning their back on a traditional career path?”
LExOpensource: practical solutions for GCs by GCs
It is no secret, this year has been particularly challenging for general counsel the world round. Economic instability coupled with lockdowns and movement restrictions have hampered businesses, slowed trade, impacted production, and disrupted supply chains.
The Legal 500 in partnership with LEx360, is proud to announce “LExOpensource: practical solutions for GCs by GCs”, a series of interactive workshops that will equip general counsel and the teams they manage with the skills to confidently take on challenges within a post-pandemic world.
During times of uncertainty, corporate boards and management teams rely on their legal departments for guidance. GCs are expected to not only be legal advisors but also strategic business partners to the companies they guide. Over six sessions we will focus on the business of law from a thought leadership perspective.
We will evaluate key topics such as:
- strategic planning
- financial management
- vendor management
- data analysis
- technology procurement and implementation
No subject is out of bounds as all in attendance will adhere to Chatham House rules. Our first session will cover ‘The right people, doing the right work.’ GCs today bring more to the table than just their legal expertise and knowing how to delegate and manage a team is pivotal to meeting business goals.
If you are a GC or part of a corporate in-house team, you cannot afford not to be part of the discussion. “LExOpensource: practical solutions for GCs by GCs” provides the exclusive opportunity for you to connect with other leading in-house professionals in a safe and interactive environment.
Become part of the discussion, by registering to our workshop here.
Revolving Doors: A&O makes US leveraged finance play as Latham strengthens Middle East offering
A number of Global 100 firms have made key hires from each other internationally in a busy week for lateral recruitment.
Allen & Overy has strengthened its US leveraged finance practice by adding two new partners in New York. Gordon Mak and Stanimir Kostov have joined A&O as partners from White & Case, where they worked in its debt finance and private credit & direct lending practices, respectively. Mak was a partner at W&C, while Kostov was counsel. The announcement follows the recent hiring of A&O’s head of US leveraged finance Jake Mincemoyer, in February. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: A&O makes US leveraged finance play as Latham strengthens Middle East offering”
Following Brexit: Kirkland bolsters antitrust ambitions with Brussels office launch
Kirkland & Ellis has nailed its European antitrust ambitions to the mast in the wake of the UK’s exit from the European Union to launch an office in Brussels.
Never normally one to be late to the party, the Chicago-bred giant has followed in the footsteps of several peers, many of which have operated a Belgian branch for decades, except notably Simpson Thacher, which in February opened up shop in the competition capital of Europe, to better serve its roster of heavyweight private equity clients. Continue reading “Following Brexit: Kirkland bolsters antitrust ambitions with Brussels office launch”
Respected Ashurst dealmaker Karen Davies steps up to succeed Tidswell as chair
Ashurst has elected formidable M&A veteran Karen Davies to succeed Ben Tidswell as its global chair, making it the latest major law firm to elevate a senior female partner.
Davies, who is currently UK head of corporate and a member of the global board, will begin her four-year term as chair in August. Continue reading “Respected Ashurst dealmaker Karen Davies steps up to succeed Tidswell as chair”
Revolving doors: Global 100 firms bolster ranks with significant international hires
There was a strong international flavour to this week’s round of lateral partner appointments, with firms making key hires in Europe, Asia and the USA.
Dechert has boosted its German private equity practice with the high-profile recruitment of ex-Allen & Overy partner Dominik Stühler in Munich. A corporate and securities partner, Stühler’s practice will see him focus on domestic and cross-border deals, both M&A and private equity. Among his notable mandates, he advised PAI Partners on the €1.4bn acquisition of Armacell Group from Blackstone. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Global 100 firms bolster ranks with significant international hires”
DWF bounces back to form with two major bolt-ons and 120% profit uptick
After enduring a tumultuous pre-pandemic financial period, listed firm DWF has today (25 May) posted encouraging revenue growth matched by an ambitious double business acquisition.
The firm announced that it has acquired Devon-based compliance training business Zing 365 Holdings for £1.8m and also agreed to buy out Barnescraig & Associates, a Canadian insurance claims and loss adjusting business, for £2.2m. DWF predicts that the new service lines will add a healthy £3m of revenue and £500k of adjusted profit before tax in the next financial year. Continue reading “DWF bounces back to form with two major bolt-ons and 120% profit uptick”
Dealwatch: Advisers get KKR infra play on the road as CC and MoFo energise $3.5bn renewables disposal
As market activity continues to branch out into diverse sectors, some of the biggest deals have had an energy and infrastructure flavour recently, with KKR’s £2bn takeover of John Laing Group and SoftBank’s disposal of its renewables venture SB Energy India proving standouts.
US private equity investor KKR agreed to acquire listed infrastructure group John Laing in a deal which will also see investor Equitix jointly own John Laing’s existing asset portfolio. Continue reading “Dealwatch: Advisers get KKR infra play on the road as CC and MoFo energise $3.5bn renewables disposal”
Guest comment: time for law firms to play catch-up on parental leave
Nathan Peart, managing director at Major, Lindsey & Africa, says firms must move with the times when it comes to arrangements for prospective parents
Parental leave continues to be a conversation at the forefront of law firm policy development, but it still has a long way to go to reflect the modern norm. As firms examine the changes in the way we work and develop policy that reflects local customs but still aligns with a firm’s ethos, it is also important to remember the people at the centre of this policy – prospective parents. Continue reading “Guest comment: time for law firms to play catch-up on parental leave”
Revolving doors: Further stateside expansion as Cooley opens in Chicago while Freshfields secures key hire in New York
US partner acquisitions have dominated this week’s recruitment round-up, as Cooley launched a new Chicago office off the back of an emphatic nine-partner team hire.
Corporate partner Yvan-Claude Pierre, who will split his time between Chicago and New York, is the sole Cooley presence among the ten-strong launch team, with the other nine partners all arriving from DLA Piper, Latham & Watkins and Winston & Strawn. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Further stateside expansion as Cooley opens in Chicago while Freshfields secures key hire in New York”
Revolving doors: Clyde opens three new US offices as Quinn Emanuel launches Miami branch
There was a significant American slant to the latest round of lateral partner recruitment, as disputes-heavy Clyde & Co and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan launched new offices.
Clyde is to establish new bases across the south west of the US in Phoenix, Denver and Las Vegas via the appointment of insurance partner Amy Samberg and her team from Foran Glennon Palandech Ponzi & Rudloff. Samberg arrives alongside six counsel, as well as several associates and staff. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Clyde opens three new US offices as Quinn Emanuel launches Miami branch”
‘Confidence and distinction’ – M&A grandee Comiskey elected Linklaters senior partner
In a case of second time lucky for Aedamar Comiskey, Linklaters’ illustrious head of corporate, the M&A heavy-hitter has been elected senior partner to succeed Charlie Jacobs on 1 July.
Long considered one of the most influential corporate partners in the Square Mile, Comiskey had been particularly hotly-tipped among the candidates, which also included London corporate partner Sarah Wiggins and Milan-based Western Europe managing partner Claudia Parzani. London partner and global US practice head Tom Shropshire had also been in the running early on but in February left the firm to take over the GC and company secretary position at Diageo. Continue reading “‘Confidence and distinction’ – M&A grandee Comiskey elected Linklaters senior partner”
Dealwatch: Elite firms drill into $7.1bn Valaris restructuring as eclectic deals epitomise market
In what has been called an ‘extraordinary case’, Valaris’ $7bn financial restructuring made sizeable waves this week, as firms including Kirkland & Ellis, Slaughter and May and Akin Gump steered it to a successful conclusion.
The transaction sees offshore drilling service provider Valaris emerge from Chapter 11 after the company filed in August 2020, eliminating $7.1bn of debt and securing a $520m capital injection through the issue of $550m of new secured notes. Continue reading “Dealwatch: Elite firms drill into $7.1bn Valaris restructuring as eclectic deals epitomise market”
Revolving doors: Kennedys expands Down Under while WFW kickstarts Italian practice
In another hectic week of lateral partner recruitment, Kennedys has launched a new Perth office via a team hire while a host of other firms strengthened their global benches.
The firm has established its 43rd office globally by hiring a nine-lawyer Australian insurance team from rivals Clyde & Co. Jonathan Wyatt is the sole partner leading the team and specialises in marine, property, financial lines and liability insurance. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Kennedys expands Down Under while WFW kickstarts Italian practice”
This time, walk the talk behind the ESG bandwagon
Three letters seem to be everywhere you look these days: ESG. Law firm after law firm seems to be offering environmental, social and governance advice and even new practice teams to corporates on a daily basis. Press releases talk about helping clients ‘navigate the regulatory requirements’ and ‘lead the way’. The fastest land animal is arguably not the cheetah, but instead a lawyer jumping on the ESG bandwagon.
Continue reading “This time, walk the talk behind the ESG bandwagon”
Nothing is certain
The ever-changing world of data protection has lost none of its pace. Exacerbated by the almost global transition to a life online, homes became offices, Zoom became the go-to meeting place and Teams became the world’s virtual water cooler. With this increased reliance on technology to support remote working and digital communications, the need to protect corporate data and confidential information while working from home has become vitally important. Continue reading “Nothing is certain”
Significant matters – Spring 2021
Vodafone emphasises ESG in new eight-firm panel
Vodafone has completed the latest refresh of its legal adviser panel, selecting eight firms based on a commitment to shared diversity and ESG best practice. Continue reading “Significant matters – Spring 2021”