King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) global managing partner Stuart Fuller has stepped down from his leadership role as the firm meets today to hear a proposal to stabilise its European business. Continue reading “Crunch time for KWM as partners meet over Chinese bailout deal”
Stepping down: Rio Tinto legal head to exit amid payments investigation
Rio Tinto legal executive Debra Valentine has stepped down from her role, after having previously notified the company of her intention to retire in May 2017. Continue reading “Stepping down: Rio Tinto legal head to exit amid payments investigation”
Finance partner takes executive partner role at Slaughter and May
Slaughter and May announced today (10 November) that finance partner Paul Stacey is to be the firm’s new executive partner. He will take on the role as of May 2017, for a five year term. Continue reading “Finance partner takes executive partner role at Slaughter and May”
Fieldfisher acquires Birmingham presence with £6m boutique takeover
Fieldfisher has merged with Birmingham practice Hill Hofstetter in a deal that will add £6m to its top line. Continue reading “Fieldfisher acquires Birmingham presence with £6m boutique takeover”
The $1bn club: Arnold & Porter and Kaye Scholer confirm merger
Just a day after the US elected Donald Trump as its new president, New York and Washington firms Kaye Scholer and Arnold & Porter have today (10 November) announced a combination to create a $1bn firm, the largest combination of US firms so far this year. Continue reading “The $1bn club: Arnold & Porter and Kaye Scholer confirm merger”
‘A transition year’: Dechert chief executive confident despite 10% drop in City turnover
The highest take-home pay at Dechert‘s City office rose by nearly 9% last year to £2.9m, while income at the firm’s City office slid by 10%.
‘Back to the usual timeline’: BLP latest to thaw pay freeze
After being the first known firm to freeze pay after the Brexit vote, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has gone ahead with salary reviews. Continue reading “‘Back to the usual timeline’: BLP latest to thaw pay freeze”
‘Making Brexit look tame’: Slaughters heavyweight Boardman et al react as Trump rides to shock victory
Still reeling from the impact of Brexit, the global legal profession is this morning coming to terms with the shock victory of controversial Republican nominee Donald Trump in the US presidential election. Continue reading “‘Making Brexit look tame’: Slaughters heavyweight Boardman et al react as Trump rides to shock victory”
‘Highly regarded thought leader’: Sandie Okoro made World Bank GC
World Bank Group has appointed HSBC Global Asset Management general counsel (GC) Sandie Okoro as its senior vice president and GC. Continue reading “‘Highly regarded thought leader’: Sandie Okoro made World Bank GC”
Slater and Gordon, Eversheds and HSF take roles on Jay inquiry into child sexual abuse
Slater and Gordon, Eversheds, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), Kingsley Napley, BLM, Hill Dickinson, Farrer & Co and Weightmans are all among the firms acting on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). Continue reading “Slater and Gordon, Eversheds and HSF take roles on Jay inquiry into child sexual abuse”
Tough times ahead for real estate, capital markets and M&A, says latest NatWest report
Real estate, equity capital markets and M&A practices are expected to slow down significantly in the year ahead, despite UK law firms continuing to be highly profitable and a significant contributor to the economy, according to NatWest’s latest ‘Perspective on the Legal Market’ report out today (8 November). Continue reading “Tough times ahead for real estate, capital markets and M&A, says latest NatWest report”
Legal education: Bar Standards Board follows SRA with super-exam proposal
Aspiring barristers may have to take a new exam before qualifying into the profession as proposed by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) as part of a new consultation on how lawyers are trained.
Continue reading “Legal education: Bar Standards Board follows SRA with super-exam proposal”
Kirkland wins first mandate from Singapore’s GIC in biggest European real estate deal of the year
Kirkland & Ellis has advised opposite Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in the largest European real estate transaction of the year as Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC picked up P3 from TPG Real Estate for $2.7bn. Continue reading “Kirkland wins first mandate from Singapore’s GIC in biggest European real estate deal of the year”
Clydes, DAC and Kennedys named as AXA finalises UK claims roster
The UK legal arm of French Insurer AXA has finalised its UK claims roster, with Clyde & Co, DAC Beachcroft, Horwich Farrelly, Kennedys, Keoghs and Taylor Rose all winning spots on the panel. Continue reading “Clydes, DAC and Kennedys named as AXA finalises UK claims roster”
Comment: The Legal 500 view – Consolidation and risk define UK legal market
Coming off the back of a 2015 that saw a more robust deal market and greater levels of activity in the real estate sector, the 2016 edition of The Legal 500 UK reflects a legal market which has not experienced this level of growth since 2008. Continue reading “Comment: The Legal 500 view – Consolidation and risk define UK legal market”
Former child abuse inquiry judge Goddard enlists Carter-Ruck
The chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee has attacked retired New Zealand high court judge Dame Lowell Goddard QC for refusing to give oral evidence on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA). Continue reading “Former child abuse inquiry judge Goddard enlists Carter-Ruck”
Q&A: Jolyon Maugham QC on the first victory for Brexit’s legal challenge
Devereaux Chambers Jolyon Maugham QC – who organised a crowdfunded movement to challenge the government’s triggering of article 50 without an act of parliament – speaks to Legal Business in the wake of last week’s High Court victory for remain supporters.
Continue reading “Q&A: Jolyon Maugham QC on the first victory for Brexit’s legal challenge”
Revolving doors: Addleshaws and Hogan Lovells boost ranks as Matrix targets Freshfields and Olswang construction head exits
In a busy week for laterals, Addleshaw Goddard, Hogan Lovells and Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) have boosted their international ranks, while Matrix Chambers and Penningtons Manches have hired in the City. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Addleshaws and Hogan Lovells boost ranks as Matrix targets Freshfields and Olswang construction head exits”
Comment: Camerons double merger adds up but will it multiply?
Pity the poor pundit obliged to come up with an opinion on the obtusely-forged union of CMS Cameron McKenna, Nabarro and Olswang. Despite representing one of the largest legal mergers in the UK, taking a view on the tie-up, good, bad or indifferent is challenging, not least because the trio have so far been strikingly gnomic over the whole thing.
Continue reading “Comment: Camerons double merger adds up but will it multiply?”
Double hire for Dechert as White & Case PE player Allardice exits with K&E finance partner
Dechert has strengthened its private equity and finance practices hiring White & Case‘s Ross Allardice and Kirkland & Ellis partner John Markland to boost its presence in the City. Continue reading “Double hire for Dechert as White & Case PE player Allardice exits with K&E finance partner”