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”
‘Bringing fresh thinking’: Manchester-based Haxby wins Squires EMEA managing partner job
Transatlantic firm Squire Patton Boggs has appointed Jane Haxby as its new European managing partner, taking on the role from Peter Crossley who is set to step down at the end of the year. Continue reading “‘Bringing fresh thinking’: Manchester-based Haxby wins Squires EMEA managing partner job”
Akin Gump revamps associate pay to reflect volatile pound post Brexit vote
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has reviewed its associate salaries and will pay junior lawyers according to exchange rates in light of a volatile pound. This means the firm’s London-based newly-qualified (NQ) lawyers will see salaries swell to $180,000, which at current exchange rates is nearly £150,000.
Continue reading “Akin Gump revamps associate pay to reflect volatile pound post Brexit vote”
Hillsborough inquest: Birnberg Peirce and other firms take home £63m as government foots legal bill
The Home Office has spent £63.6m on the legal costs for the families of the 96 victims of the 1989 Hillsborough Football Stadium disaster, with London human rights firm Birnberg Peirce and Partners taking the lion’s share of fees. Continue reading “Hillsborough inquest: Birnberg Peirce and other firms take home £63m as government foots legal bill”
New Johnson Controls EMEA legal head to review Eversheds sole adviser deal following restructure
David Symonds, EMEA general counsel (GC) for merged entity Johnson Controls International (JCI), is leading a restructure of the company’s legal function following the completion of the $16.5bn combination of Johnson Controls and Tyco International in September. Continue reading “New Johnson Controls EMEA legal head to review Eversheds sole adviser deal following restructure”
‘A process of transition’: Slater and Gordon to close more offices as UK restructure continues
Slater and Gordon‘s (S&G) group managing director Andrew Grech has provided an update on the firm’s UK restructuring programme which has included a 16% reduction in headcount as well as a re-organisation of the legal services business into three divisions: serious and specialised personal injury claims; family law, employment law and dispute resolution and fast track personal injury claims.
King & Wood loses five-lawyer energy team to Squire Patton Boggs
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has lost a five-lawyer team including global energy and infrastructure co-head Neil Upton to Squire Patton Boggs in the latest exits from its London office. Continue reading “King & Wood loses five-lawyer energy team to Squire Patton Boggs”
Exclusive: Morgan Lewis holds talks with KWM as Camerons circles
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius has emerged as a potential partner to King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), despite the US giant also being targeted by CMS Cameron McKenna as its long-coveted US suitor. Continue reading “Exclusive: Morgan Lewis holds talks with KWM as Camerons circles”