Linklaters has landed a significant mandate acting for SoftBank Group Corporation on the launch of the SoftBank Vision Fund, the world’s largest technology fund focusing on innovation including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and mobile applications. Continue reading “Linklaters advises technology giant SoftBank on launch of $100bn investment fund”
Uber’s European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) general counsel Jim Callaghan will step down from his role in June this year. Continue reading “In-house: Uber searches for new EMEA GC as Callaghan to step down”
Reed Smith‘s new head of international arbitration following the firm’s recent Miami merger with Astigarraga Davis, José Astigarraga (pictured), discusses his plans at Reed Smith and the future of international arbitration with Georgiana Tudor. Continue reading “Q&A: Reed Smith’s new global arbitration head on the transition from a Miami litigation boutique to an international firm”
Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Berwin Leighton Paisner and DLA Piper are among firms named on American International Group’s (AIG) new UK panel arrangement. Continue reading “Clifford Chance, BLP and DLA among firms named on AIG’s new UK roster”
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) is due to launch a real estate and infrastructure practice in Hong Kong this autumn with the hire of Mayer Brown JSM’s rated head of Asia hospitality and leisure, Andrew MacGeoch.
Continue reading “‘Didn’t want someone average’: BLP taps Mayer Brown in Hong Kong real estate push”
Linklaters has hired Ropes & Gray partner James Douglas to its London office, its second restructuring hire in as many months.
Continue reading “Linklaters makes second restructuring hire this year with Ropes’ Douglas”
Following the unveiling of an 18-firm general legal advice panel in March, the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has announced plans for a new £90m finance and complex work legal panel.
Continue reading “Government launches tender process for £90m complex projects panel”
In what amounts to a break-up of one of the City’s most storied private equity partner duos, Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom has hired White & Case’s global and EMEA PE co-head Richard Youle, along with recently promoted PE partner Katja Butler.
Continue reading “‘Move makes sense’: Skadden breaks up White & Case City PE duo with Youle hire”
Six former Cobbetts lawyers, including former managing partner Nicholas Carr and senior partner Stephen Benson, have been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) following the Manchester firm’s collapse in 2013.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett‘s London managing partner Gregory Conway has stepped down from his role after 10 years of leading the practice in favour of private funds partner Jason Glover, while litigator Sally Davies has been named Sean Connolly’s replacement as senior partner at the City office of Mayer Brown.
Following the completion of its transatlantic merger with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan on 1 February, legacy Eversheds today (19 May) reported revenue growth of 8% to £438.6m for 2016/2017.
Continue reading “‘An anticipated dip’: Eversheds’ 2016/17 profit falls as revenue increases by 8%”
Theresa May’s pledge to scrap the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and incorporate it into the National Crime Agency (NCA) has dominated the City’s reaction to the release of the Conservative Party manifesto, which also makes clear the need for proper approval of bidders on M&A transactions.
Continue reading “Big leap forward? City reacts to Conservative manifesto pledge to scrap SFO”
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan announced today (19 May) that it has hired Shearman & Sterling’s global antitrust head and managing partner of its Brussels office, Stephen Mavroghenis, as well as competition partner Miguel Rato – after first approaching the team last autumn.
It would be hypocritical for the legal media to complain about the lack of serious debate on work/life balance but since no-one got into this game to be consistent, we will not let that stop us. Attempting to make up for lost time this month with a focus on quality of life, the core question is how can the profession help its staff make work more rewarding and achieve some measure of balance in their lives?
Continue reading “Comment: The true capitalist case for a new work/life deal”
A casual tweet of mine about the Oxford stabbing story gained unusual prominence (for a tweet of mine) and most of the people I have bumped into have wanted to talk about it. Continue reading “Guest post: Being within the law does not put judiciary beyond criticism – The bread knife of legal reasoning”
Ah, despite the changing fashions, technology and economic realities of the day, in law you can always rely on that curious mix of mutual hypocrisy, miscommunication, mistrust and conflicting agendas between clients and law firms to endure. Continue reading “Clients and rookie lawyers – some awkward truths and a woolly debate on training”
Ah, despite the changing fashions, technology and economic realities of the day, in law you can always rely on that curious mix of mutual hypocrisy, miscommunication, mistrust and conflicting agendas between clients and law firms to endure. Continue reading “Clients and rookie lawyers – some awkward truths and a woolly debate on training”
Supermarket giant Tesco has gifted Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) with another three-year stint as its lead property adviser. The mandate was last extended in 2014 when Tesco dropped Ashurst from its panel and the extension is a further endorsement of BLP’s key practice area and low-cost Manchester base.
Tesco also uses Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for corporate and commercial work and the Magic Circle firm recently advised the supermarket as it signed a deferred prosecution agreement and agreed to pay the Serious Fraud Office £129m in fines relating to a 2014 profit misstatement, avoiding prosecution after a two-year investigation. Allen & Overy, Hill Dickinson and Squire Patton Boggs are also among Tesco’s regular advisers. Continue reading “Significant matters – Spring 2017”
Supermarket giant Tesco has gifted Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) with another three-year stint as its lead property adviser. The mandate was last extended in 2014 when Tesco dropped Ashurst from its panel and the extension is a further endorsement of BLP’s key practice area and low-cost Manchester base.
Tesco also uses Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for corporate and commercial work and the Magic Circle firm recently advised the supermarket as it signed a deferred prosecution agreement and agreed to pay the Serious Fraud Office £129m in fines relating to a 2014 profit misstatement, avoiding prosecution after a two-year investigation. Allen & Overy, Hill Dickinson and Squire Patton Boggs are also among Tesco’s regular advisers. Continue reading “Significant matters – Spring 2017”
To coincide with the 20th annual Legal Business Awards, a launch reception was held on 23 March to mark the launch of our fifth annual GC Powerlist which, under the unifying title The Clients of Tomorrow, looked at both the outstanding rising star in-house counsel and high-growth companies with the prospects of becoming the global giants of tomorrow. At the gathering, which included key representatives from FTSE 100 companies such as Virgin Atlantic, Telefónica and RSA, The In-House Lawyer editor-in-chief Alex Novarese said this year’s report was the most challenging yet to research but also probably the most interesting. Continue reading “GC Powerlist”
