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Gowling WLG appoints corporate partner UK chair as Witts steps down

Andy Stylianou

Gowling WLG has elected a corporate partner chair of its UK LLP, with incumbent Andrew Witts standing down after more than eight years and multiple mergers.

M&A and private equity partner Andy Stylianou (pictured) will become the firm’s chair from May 2020 on a four-year term, the firm said today (12 November). He was already chair of Gowling’s UK partnership’s representative council and a founding member of its diversity forum. Continue reading “Gowling WLG appoints corporate partner UK chair as Witts steps down”

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Revolving doors: Simmons and CMS make City banking and pensions hires as Gibson Dunn bolsters its Paris bench

Simmons & Simmons

In another muted patch for City laterals, Simmons & Simmons and CMS were the only firms to hire in London last week as Gibson Dunn & Crutcher recruited to its employment bench and HFW hired in Hong Kong.

Simmons has added to its international banking practice with the hire of Kirsty Barnes, Gowling WLG’s head of banking and finance in the UK. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Simmons and CMS make City banking and pensions hires as Gibson Dunn bolsters its Paris bench”

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In-house: BAE air legal head quits for aerospace rival as Lloyds’ legal ops head joins Clifford Chance

Julie Smyth

BAE System’s longstanding legal chief for air, Julie Smyth, has landed the general counsel (GC) role at GKN Aerospace, while Lloyds Banking Group’s well-regarded head of legal operations is heading to Clifford Chance.

Smyth (pictured) leaves BAE’s air business, where she managed a legal team of 60, after seven years as chief counsel to head up legal, risk, compliance and governance across GKN’s global aerospace business, based in London. Smyth joined BAE in 1998 – when it was British Aerospace – with the air business accounting for about half of the defence multinational’s £18bn turnover. Continue reading “In-house: BAE air legal head quits for aerospace rival as Lloyds’ legal ops head joins Clifford Chance”

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Ashurst joins flexible lawyering bandwagon as DWF completes BT Law acquisition

Book on shelf: 'How it works - New Law'

Ashurst has teamed up with US-based law company Elevate and Cognia Law to offer clients flexible lawyering through the firm’s New Law umbrella Ashurst Advance.

The initiative launched today (8 November) and gives Ashurst access to Elevate and Cognia’s flexible lawyering pool, with the offering initially available in both the UK and Australia before being rolled out globally. The arrangement will also allow Ashurst’s clients to access particular expertise for secondees. Continue reading “Ashurst joins flexible lawyering bandwagon as DWF completes BT Law acquisition”

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Goodwin makes good on Taylor Wessing hires with Cambridge office opening

Cambridge

The expansive Goodwin has leveraged its recent four-strong band of life sciences and technology laterals from Taylor Wessing to open a new office in the UK’s innovation hub, Cambridge.

The move follows Goodwin’s hire of a Taylor Wessing team including Malcolm Bates, David Mardle, Tim Worden and Adrian Rainey as part of its strategy to build out its City technology and life sciences bench. Continue reading “Goodwin makes good on Taylor Wessing hires with Cambridge office opening”

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Linklaters ExComm bag £25m amid surge in revenue from US and AsiaPac, LLP accounts reveal

Charlie Jacobs

The 12 members of Linklaters’ executive committee and senior partner Charlie Jacobs saw a 17% pay increase to more than £25m last year, the firm’s LLP accounts show.

Published this week (4 November), the accounts also revealed double-digit revenue growth in the firm’s non-European offices in the year to April 2019. Asia Pacific turnover surged 15% to £226m, while its three American offices in Washington DC, New York and Sao Paulo billed £103m, 11% more than the previous year. Continue reading “Linklaters ExComm bag £25m amid surge in revenue from US and AsiaPac, LLP accounts reveal”

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Rolling up the sleeves: Eversheds sets out corporate ambitions with hire of Simmons’ UK corporate head

Eversheds Sutherland is ramping up its City investment plans as the firm looks to become a leading player in the global upper mid-market corporate space.

The firm said today (4 November) it had hired the former head of UK corporate at Simmons & Simmons, Giles Dennison (pictured), in London. Dennison was a Simmons lifer, becoming partner in 2005 before heading the corporate team since 2012. Continue reading “Rolling up the sleeves: Eversheds sets out corporate ambitions with hire of Simmons’ UK corporate head”

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Revolving Doors: Proskauer and TLT hire in the City as Clydes insurance head retires

Proskauer and TLT have added to their funds and banking practices in what was a quiet week generally for City lateral hires.

Proskauer has hired regulatory specialist Kirsten Lapham to its global private funds practice. She joins the firm’s London office as partner from Ropes & Gray where she was counsel in the asset management group. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Proskauer and TLT hire in the City as Clydes insurance head retires”

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‘Not a chance’: Reed Smith rules out a listing as it lands ABS licence approval

Tamara Box

Reed Smith has made good on its plans to secure an alternative business structure (ABS) licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), but has ruled out the move will be part of a process to pursue an initial public offering (IPO).

The change in regulatory status also allows the firm to be owned or managed by those without legal qualifications, with Reed Smith eyeing a widened provision of service beyond conventional law. The change in structure will not change the firm’s limited liability partnership status, which includes a single partnership and profit pool in the UK, France, Greece, UAE and China. Continue reading “‘Not a chance’: Reed Smith rules out a listing as it lands ABS licence approval”

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Sponsored briefing: Israel adopts the UNCITRAL Model Law

Inbar Hakimian-Nahari of Yigal Arnon & Co explains how Israel’s new law provides clarity and makes it easier for foreign companies and investors operating in the country

In September 2019, the Insolvency and Economic Rehabilitation Law, 5778-2018 will come into force in Israel. The new law is a comprehensive insolvency legislation for individuals and corporations, which includes extensive changes to the current insolvency legal framework, while also incorporating customary practice and legal precedents. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Israel adopts the UNCITRAL Model Law”

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Sponsored briefing: Profile – Richard Mann, partner, GKH

Richard Mann heads the firm’s M&A practice. He leads a team of experienced attorneys who focus on representing Israeli and foreign clients in implementing complex cross-border transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, public and private debt and equity financings, and secured and unsecured finance transactions. His clients include acquirers and targets, leading international private equity funds, strategic and financial investors, and joint venture partners. Mann also represents issuers and leading underwriters in public offerings in the US and London, and advises Israeli companies on ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission and stock exchange regulatory matters.

According to Chambers & Partners 2018 Global Guide – Capital Markets: ‘Richard Mann is highly regarded for his M&A practice and has additional experience in capital markets. His focus is on international and cross-border mandates and he possesses experience of equity financing and IPOs.’

Chambers 2018 Global Guide – Corporate M&A: ‘Joint head of the group Richard Mann maintains an impressive reputation, with market sources describing him as “thoughtful, imaginative and business-oriented.” He has an active domestic M&A practice and acts as Israeli counsel for large cross-border transactions.’

IFLR1000: ‘The head of M&A at Gross is one of the most liked and respected lawyers in the country and the market has repeatedly referred work to him over the years.’

PLC Which Lawyer?: ‘Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak & Co. is unquestionably a favourite pick for securities transactions and Richard Mann’s corporate and finance experience provides the ideal platform for his success in this area. Mann is held in high esteem for his international expertise.

‘Highly recommended in Mergers & Acquisitions. Advises on both the buy and sell sides for Israeli firms and for international private equity houses.’
The Legal 500: included in Corporate M&A ‘Leading Individuals’.

Prior to joining Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg, Shenhav & Co in 1996, Mann served from 1988 to 1992 as a corporate and tax associate at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson in New York, and from 1992 to 1995 as legal counsel to the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s United States Mission in New York.

EDUCATION

University of Pennsylvania (BA Political Science, 1985); Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania (BS Finance, 1985); Columbia University, New York (JD, 1988), Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

MEMBER

Israel Bar, 1996; New York Bar, 1989.

For more information, please contact:Richard Mann, partner, head of M&A

Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg, Shenhav & Co
One Azrieli Center, Round Building
Tel Aviv 6701101
Israel
T: +972 3607 4431
E: [email protected]

www.gkh-law.com

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‘Reflecting the market right now, not several years back’ – The Legal 500 UK launch unveils a new approach

Late last month we published the first Legal 500 UK guide since I took over as editor. While changing something the size of the UK guide is going to take time (for context we include some 1,300 UK and US firms across more than 10,000 individual rankings) readers will have already noticed some improvements.

The legal industry has never had a reputation for being the fastest-moving sector, and the same criticism has at times been levelled against the analysts that assess the profession. As a research business we always start with the quantitative data and tangible evidence as the basis of our research – this means there will inevitably be some time lag between what we are ranking firms on and what is happening within their practice right now. Continue reading “‘Reflecting the market right now, not several years back’ – The Legal 500 UK launch unveils a new approach”

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Comment: Whatever happened to the PR as managing partner consigliere?

PR-related press cuttings

For a pundit often claimed to be dismissive of the PR community, the subject of this leader may surprise. The reputation was never that accurate – I’ve always said skilled comms professionals are an asset to major law firms – but let’s put that to one side for now. The topic is something I’ve been noticing for some time: the slow decline of the PR professional as consigliere to law firm leaders. While the breed was never plentiful, it wasn’t that long ago that there was a sizeable group of battle-hardened comms hands that had judgement, integrity, long contact lists and who were effective as support and sources of information to managing partners. Plenty had worked outside the legal industry – indeed, they were usually more adept if they had in their junior years – but they had built strong knowledge of the dynamics of the profession and the realities of working for partnerships. They could make things happen and tell partners what they didn’t want to hear.

At their best they were a useful bridge to the outside world and there to help the firm push the message outwards, ever outwards, be that to clients, potential clients, or the wider industry. The best were also facilitators, focused on hooking up management and a Praetorian guard of headline-friendly partners with the better, relevant journalists and helping relationships flourish. Continue reading “Comment: Whatever happened to the PR as managing partner consigliere?”

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In-house: GC Risam draws on experience as Lombard International invites tenders for debut panel

Monica Risam

Wealth-structuring company Lombard International is creating its first-ever legal adviser panel under the watch of general counsel (GC) Monica Risam, the former Aviva UK Life GC who moved to the company in January last year.

The panel will cement and deepen relationships the Luxembourg-based company already has with firms such as Allen & Overy, Baker McKenzie, DLA Piper and Linklaters. Continue reading “In-house: GC Risam draws on experience as Lombard International invites tenders for debut panel”

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‘Developing market share’: Weightmans opens shop in Newcastle through Watson Burton acquisition

Newcastle, UK

National player Weightmans has expanded into North East England after acquiring Newcastle-based firm Watson Burton, adding nine partners to the firm’s bench.

In total, 64 employees will join Weightmans’ ranks, with Watson Burton having offices in Newcastle, Leeds and London. Though the cost of the acquisition was not disclosed, Watson Burton turned over £6.9m in the last financial year. Continue reading “‘Developing market share’: Weightmans opens shop in Newcastle through Watson Burton acquisition”

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Partner promotions: Cleary bypasses the City as Ropes again makes up just one in London

US-branded shark fin in a City sea

Despite previously denying claims that the firm is retrenching in London, Ropes & Gray has promoted just one new partner in the City as part of a 16-strong round while Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has neglected its London arm entirely.

The promotion of Elizabeth Todd to partner in Ropes’ City private equity transactions practice is another sign of the firm’s conservative approach to investing in London after last year promoting only one full-time partner, Aditya Khanna in corporate finance. Continue reading “Partner promotions: Cleary bypasses the City as Ropes again makes up just one in London”

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Deal View: A&O’s corporate practice has matured nicely but will O’Melveny fallout take its toll?

Andrew Ballheimer

Habitually viewed as the poor relation to its unparalleled banking and finance practice, Allen & Overy (A&O)’s corporate team has stepped up in recent years, the culmination of a decades-spanning campaign to forge a top-tier name in M&A.

Richard Browne, co-head of corporate, stresses the level of growth the 161-partner practice has seen, having increased its fee income by 50% in the last decade. ‘In the dark ages when I started, A&O’s corporate practice was not the best. It was a banking and finance firm. That is no longer the case at all. Corporate has become the same size as the banking business. It is incredibly profitable, with top-tier work and clients.’ Continue reading “Deal View: A&O’s corporate practice has matured nicely but will O’Melveny fallout take its toll?”

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Life During Law: David Collins

David Collins

I’m London born and bred, never lived anywhere else apart from three years in Manchester at university. Went to City of London School up the road, worked at St Martin’s Le Grand, Aldersgate Street, Fleet Street, Adelaide House in London Bridge and here [Fleet Place]. My wife would say I’m limited in a whole bunch of ways. To be honest, I don’t like to be too far from my family.

My mum was a formidable primary school teacher. I was in her school when she was deputy head at a state primary. Interesting experience. Continue reading “Life During Law: David Collins”

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The Client Profile: Heather Mitchell, The Carlyle Group

Heather Mitchell

‘One reason I’m doing this interview is so I can send it to my parents. They’re really important to me. Ah, suddenly, the hard-woman persona crumbles,’ jokes Heather Mitchell, global general counsel (GC) for investments and head of EMEA at The Carlyle Group.

Mitchell’s 17-year career at the US private equity giant has seen her consistently ranked among the most influential in-house lawyers. However, she says what makes her father the most proud is her sitting on the advisory board of Cornell Law School, where she studied, because ‘as a teacher, he can relate most to that’. Continue reading “The Client Profile: Heather Mitchell, The Carlyle Group”