In yet another significant Texan transfer, Baker Botts has expanded its Houston offering bringing in a nine partner team from Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF). Continue reading “Texan draw: Baker Botts latest to make major play with nine partner NRF hire”
Revolving doors: Cleary loses partner to Simmons as Jenner & Block adds from White & Case
In a busy week for London appointments, Haynes and Boone, Simmons & Simmons and Jenner & Block have all made hires. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Cleary loses partner to Simmons as Jenner & Block adds from White & Case”
Paul Weiss, Linklaters and Freshfields alumni lock horns as Kraft Heinz drops $143bn deal for Unilever
In what would have been the second largest M&A deal in history, Unilever has rejected a $143bn takeover approach from Kraft Heinz as Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Linklaters take opposite sides. Continue reading “Paul Weiss, Linklaters and Freshfields alumni lock horns as Kraft Heinz drops $143bn deal for Unilever”
A good deal: DWF picked up claims firm Triton Global for 30% of its value, report reveals
An FRP Advisory report on the administration of Triton Global has revealed that DWF purchased the claims management firm for 30% of its value when it bought the firm for £1.1m. It also took on pension arrears of £345,000. Continue reading “A good deal: DWF picked up claims firm Triton Global for 30% of its value, report reveals”
London growth slows at Milbank despite 11% global turnover bump
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy has become the latest firm to announce its London revenues, which rose by nearly $4m to $114.1m in 2016, 4% up on the $110.2m achieved in 2015. Growth in the City has been slower this year for the US firm, which posted a 6% rise last year. Continue reading “London growth slows at Milbank despite 11% global turnover bump”
WFW fills chair gap with finance partner as Dunne continues New York push
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has elected shipping finance partner Nigel Thomas as the firm’s new chairman, taking over from long-serving partner Frank Dunne. Continue reading “WFW fills chair gap with finance partner as Dunne continues New York push”
Slaughters makes surprise pensions play with first ever London lateral hire
Slaughter and May announced today (17 February) that it has hired Herbert Smith Freehills‘ head of pensions Dan Schaffer, in the second ever lateral hire in the firm’s history. Continue reading “Slaughters makes surprise pensions play with first ever London lateral hire”
Adding in Asia: Eversheds Sutherland gets Ministry of Law approval for Singapore merger
Eversheds Sutherland, fresh from completing a transatlantic tie-up, has finally gained Singapore Ministry of Law approval for its merger with Harry Elias Partnership. Continue reading “Adding in Asia: Eversheds Sutherland gets Ministry of Law approval for Singapore merger”
Chrysaor Holdings appoints ex-BG lawyer Landes as general counsel
British investment firm Chrysaor Holdings has appointed BG’s chief counsel for corporate and former Legal Business GC Powerlist rising star Howard Landes as general counsel (GC). Continue reading “Chrysaor Holdings appoints ex-BG lawyer Landes as general counsel”
Pension Protection Fund axes Dentons and Jones Day amid panel review
The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has renewed its panel of legal advisers, with Bevan Brittan, Dentons and Jones Day among those being axed. Continue reading “Pension Protection Fund axes Dentons and Jones Day amid panel review”
Sidley returns to Kirkland for seven-partner Munich launch as US giant sustains European assault
Observers of Kirkland & Ellis’ patented burn ‘n’ churn approach to talent management are used to a little partnership movement, but even by the US leader’s standards, news today (15 February) that Sidley Austin has secured a seven-partner haul in Munich will catch attention.
Magic moves – Freshfields signs 20-year lease with Bishopsgate move set for 2021
With the exception of Clifford Chance recently rearranging its deckchairs in Canary Wharf, it has been years since one of London’s elite law firms signed on for a new office but Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has today (15 February) confirmed its long-awaited departure from Fleet Street for 100 Bishopsgate.
Continue reading “Magic moves – Freshfields signs 20-year lease with Bishopsgate move set for 2021”
‘An aggressive timetable’: Macfarlanes, Reed Smith and Travers line-up on largest main market IPO of 2017 so far
Macfarlanes, Reed Smith and Travers Smith have all advised on Xafinity’s £190.3m flotation, in what is the largest premium main market IPO of 2017 to date.
Update: Freshfields targets Ashurst for five-partner private team as legal elite tightens grip on premium funds clients
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is to punch a major hole in Ashurst’s European private equity practice with the City giant voting on a deal to take on a five-partner buyout team from Ashurst’s Paris arm.
This comes after the Ashurst team had already approached some US firms, including Dechert, within the last six months. Confirmation that Freshfields is to take on the group represents one of the most significant team hires between major City players for years and comes on the same day that Sidley Austin unveiled an audacious move to ship in a seven-partner private equity team from Kirkland & Ellis’s Munich office. Continue reading “Update: Freshfields targets Ashurst for five-partner private team as legal elite tightens grip on premium funds clients”
Cutting the cord – Allen severs Ropes ties to focus on new role as DLA Piper continues finance push
Raconteur, rainmaker and serial legal entrepreneur Maurice Allen is to phase out his ongoing role with Ropes & Gray to focus on his new post at DLA Piper, after admitting it was ‘difficult’ to work for both firms as a consultant.
Middle East exodus continues: Weil shuts Dubai arm despite rebound year as PEP cracks $3m
Weil, Gotshal & Manges is to close its Dubai arm this summer, making the top 25 global law firm the third major practice to this month announce Middle East closures.
A $50m hike sees Akin close on $1bn mark but City revenues slide; Cads shrinks again
US restructuring and energy leader Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld piled $50m on to its top line in 2016 to take revenues to just under $1bn, despite a slide in City income.
Bar Council hikes PC fee as figures show elite barristers raking in £600m-plus a year
Fortunes at the Bar remain sharply split between haves and have-nots, with new research projecting just over 2,000 barristers now earning less than £30,000 annually, while at the other end of the spectrum, 2,562 are on course to earn over £240,000 during the current financial year.
Revolving doors: Homebase appoints legal head as Clydes, Dentons and Pinsents improve overseas offerings
Homebase has hired its first legal head, as Clyde & Co, Dentons and Pinsent Masons all make international appointments. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Homebase appoints legal head as Clydes, Dentons and Pinsents improve overseas offerings”
Money machines: SFO spending on AI tops Slaughters as investigators use software in Rolls-Royce case
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is using artificial intelligence technology from RAVN Systems to work on its most important cases and has spent more with the software firm than on regular adviser Slaughter and May in the first six months of this financial year. Continue reading “Money machines: SFO spending on AI tops Slaughters as investigators use software in Rolls-Royce case”
