Linklaters has undertaken a review of equity points in its finance practice, as banking groups continue to move toward sponsors and away from traditional lenders.
Continue reading “‘Needed a degree of reinvigoration’ – Linklaters reviews banking equity points”
Around 25 associates across Freshfields are part of the initiative, which began when a client invited associate Adam Ryan to pitch alongside another associate, Claire Harrop. The pair now lead the fintech associate initiative.
Continue reading “Freshfields gives power to associates to pitch for fintech clients”
While more than a dozen firms – including the entire Magic Circle – have made it onto Deutsche Bank’s latest global legal panel, an attempt by the bank to remove fees for junior lawyers has proved controversial.
The review process, which is understood to be mostly complete, stemmed from a request for proposal sent out to help Deutsche analyse its current policies and processes for external legal counsel. The process, dubbed ‘Project Eagle’, was led by global chief operating officer of legal and compliance Rose Battaglia, with appointments expected to last two years.
Continue reading “City elite dominates again as Deutsche Bank nears conclusion of panel review”
In a joint statement, Iain Blatherwick, managing partner at Browne Jacobson, and Antony Smith, senior partner at Beale, said the combination, which would have over 1,000 staff and 137 partners, could offer clear strategic benefits.
The London outposts of leading international firms reported mixed results for 2016, with White & Case and Baker McKenzie reporting income growth while Reed Smith and Debevoise & Plimpton both struggled.
City firms have voiced their concerns over Britain’s arrangements to leave the European Union as prime minister Theresa May pulled the trigger on article 50 last month.
Continue reading “‘An extremely big deal’: profession lays out key threats as article 50 triggered”
Eighteen firms have been appointed to the Crown Commercial Service (CCS)’s general legal advice panel in a two-year, £400m contract. The process, which splits firms between two tiers, had a significant focus on both cost and quality.
In February it emerged A&O used its bonus pool to hire a three-partner Paul Hastings team. The US firm’s leveraged finance head Bill Schwitter joined A&O’s New York office as the firm’s global co-head of high-yield alongside partner Michael Chernick and capital markets partner Jeffrey Pellegrino.
Leavers’ provisions in war for talent come under scrutiny
While the first round of a case that saw Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) pursue an action against eight partners who quit to join White & Case in Australia has concluded, the dispute has highlighted the ongoing war over talent between UK firms and their US rivals.
KWM China buys reassurance by taking SJ Berwin name
An initial report into the financial affairs of King & Wood Mallesons’ (KWM) now defunct European arm estimates that unsecured creditors are set to lose £33.5m as the firm’s inner financial workings begin to surface.
Continue reading “Unsecured creditors to lose almost £34m as KWM Europe admin continues”
With the asset management market tipped for further consolidation, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer scored a role alongside Slaughter and May and Maclay Murray & Spens on Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management’s £11bn merger in March.
Continue reading “Freshfields wins mandate on Standard Life/Aberdeen Asset Management £11bn merger”
The deal was announced in March and is expected to close in the second half of 2017. Under the terms, Scottish company Wood Group is offering £5.64 per Amec share, for 56% ownership of the combined group.
Continue reading “Magic Circle duo land £2.2bn energy deal as antitrust concerns surface”
Firms retreat as funds raised through IPOs in the region fall 26%
Davis Polk & Wardwell and Kirkland & Ellis are the latest US firms to lose corporate partners from their Hong Kong offices as public listings in the region decline.
The deal gives the firm a new Amsterdam office that expands its European presence to 26 offices in 18 countries. Boekel adds 70 lawyers to the global firm and 16 partners, with a focus on real estate, corporate and litigation.
The deal gives the firm a new Amsterdam office that expands its European presence to 26 offices in 18 countries. Boekel adds 70 lawyers to the global firm and 16 partners, with a focus on real estate, corporate and litigation.
Approximately 300 support staff roles are to be cut at CMS Cameron McKenna, Olswang and Nabarro ahead of their triple merger next month. The firms ran a redundancy consultation from January to March, with 650 of the 950 support staff offered roles in the combined firm.
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Mayer Brown led as the owners of London’s tallest tower, known as the Cheesegrater, agreed to its sale for £1.1bn. HSF and Mayer Brown advised joint owners British Land and Oxford Properties Group, while BLP assisted buyer CC Land Holdings.
Continue reading “Deal watch: Corporate activity in April 2017”
The event was preceded by a reception 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, Legal Business 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 “Standing tall – The Legal Business Awards 2017”
