King and Wood Mallesons (KWM) has lost another heavy-hitter as competition partner Philipp Girardet exits the firm to set up Willkie Farr & Gallagher‘s London competition practice. Continue reading “Willkie Farr takes top KWM biller to launch competition practice in the City”
Corporate partner takes helm of DLA Piper’s City office
DLA Piper has appointed corporate partner Tom Heylen as London managing partner, taking over from Lord Tim Clement Jones, who will continue to work in his government affairs role and support the firm on Brexit-related issues.
Continue reading “Corporate partner takes helm of DLA Piper’s City office”
BLP and Pinsents advise Heathrow as government approves plans for third runway
Pinsent Masons and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) have advised Heathrow Airport on the planning process up to the government’s decision yesterday (25 October) to approve a third runway, with more legal advisers likely to be appointed as the scheme is taken forward in the form of a national policy statement (NPS) for consultation.
Continue reading “BLP and Pinsents advise Heathrow as government approves plans for third runway”
Bringing home Bacon: Kirkland takes US private equity partner from Freshfields
Kirkland & Ellis has gone back to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for another lateral hire, this time taking corporate partner Doug Bacon from the Magic Circle firm’s New York office. Continue reading “Bringing home Bacon: Kirkland takes US private equity partner from Freshfields”
Legal education: Another exit for ULaw as Platis quits after five months
The third chief executive in the last year to take the helm of the University of Law (ULaw) has now left his post, despite only being appointed in May this year.
Continue reading “Legal education: Another exit for ULaw as Platis quits after five months”
‘A vital role’: Siemens former legal chief Carless joins mental health charity
Siemens’ longstanding UK general counsel and company secretary Claire Carless has left her role to head up the legal division at mental health charity St Andrew’s. Continue reading “‘A vital role’: Siemens former legal chief Carless joins mental health charity”
First Osborne Clarke LLPs show revenue up as highest paid member takes home 22% more
Osborne Clarke (OC) has published its first set of LLP results for its UK and US offices which show an increase in annual revenue of 17% to £114.7m from £98.2m, while the firm’s highest paid member took home a fifth more than the year prior. Continue reading “First Osborne Clarke LLPs show revenue up as highest paid member takes home 22% more”
High-profile BP general counsel Bondy to move to Reckitt Benckiser
BP’s group general counsel (GC) Rupert Bondy, one of the most high-profile in-house leaders in the community, is to step down from his role by the end of the year to join Reckitt Benckiser, Legal Business can reveal. Continue reading “High-profile BP general counsel Bondy to move to Reckitt Benckiser”
‘A brave new world’: City firms anticipate further changes after new white collar reforms introduced
City lawyers anticipate more cooperation between the public and private sectors as the introduction of the Criminal Finances Bill into the House of Commons brings greater reform to white collar crime.
US quartet line up on AT&T’s $85.4bn takeover of Time Warner
Demonstrating dominance in their home market, four US firms have taken advisory roles as AT&T has offered to acquire Time Warner for $85.4bn. Regular adviser Sullivan & Cromwell is advising AT&T alongside Arnold & Porter, while Cravath, Swaine & Moore has taken the lead for CNN and HBO owner Time Warner, with Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Continue reading “US quartet line up on AT&T’s $85.4bn takeover of Time Warner”
Addleshaws restarts salary review for all staff and pledges to backdate increases
Addleshaw Goddard has restarted its delayed salary review for all staff, including the annual review of fixed profit share for salaried partners, and the next profit distribution for equity partners. Continue reading “Addleshaws restarts salary review for all staff and pledges to backdate increases”
Eversheds defends £100m Northern Rock claim over allegations of professional negligence
Eversheds is being sued by Northern Rock Asset Management (NRAM) over allegations of professional negligence, in a claim worth £100m. Continue reading “Eversheds defends £100m Northern Rock claim over allegations of professional negligence”
Revolving doors: Ropes & Gray takes HSF finance partner as Harbottle & Lewis makes private client play
Ropes & Gray has strengthened in the City as Harbottle & Lewis has made a major private client play. Meanwhile, at the Bar, Essex Court Chambers has made several appointments.
Herbert Smith Freehills and Cravath act as BAT lights up $47bn Reynolds takeover
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Cravath, Swaine & Moore are advising British American Tobacco (BAT) on its offer to acquire the remaining 57.8 % stake in Reynolds American for $47bn. BAT had already owned 42.2% of Reynolds for the last 12 years. Continue reading “Herbert Smith Freehills and Cravath act as BAT lights up $47bn Reynolds takeover”
Mishcon and Hogan Lovells line up as KWM takes case against Goodwin Procter over PE team
Mishcon de Reya and Hogan Lovells are to face off as King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) issues a claim against Goodwin Procter over several private equity hires made by the US firm. Continue reading “Mishcon and Hogan Lovells line up as KWM takes case against Goodwin Procter over PE team”
GCs are seizing the day (from their advisers)
Can anything truly threaten the premier league of global law firms? Certainly the going has been more challenging since the banking crisis for all sections of the legal industry, whether you are betting on ‘flight-to-quality’ or ‘more-for-less’, but overall the world’s top 100 commercial law firms look no nearer to an existential threat. AI? The accountants? New Law providers? The former reflects a genuine force set to substantially change the industry, though it is not apparent whether that will come at the expense of high-end law firms. The latter two players have yet to come near to living up to the fanfare made for them. Continue reading “GCs are seizing the day (from their advisers)”
Taught leaders
In 2012 the MBA degree established itself as the most popular subject of postgraduate education in the US, accounting for more than a quarter of all enrolments according to the US Department of Education. Along with the usual diet of macroeconomics, management theory and financial accounting, MBA programmes have ensured that those who seek to carve out a corporate career focus on one quality above all others: leadership.
The art of leadership in Asia
‘Becoming an in-house lawyer has not traditionally been a desirable career path for Asia’s top graduates,’ says Amy Ng, general counsel for the Asia-Pacific region at global real estate company CBRE. ‘But we are seeing a lot of change now in the number of people leaving private practice to work for a business.’
The next step
Are in-house counsel ready to be business leaders? It seems a strange question to have to ask given the level of education and training of most in-house lawyers and the dramatic expansion of the size and responsibilities of legal teams over the last 15 years.
Significant matters – Autumn 2016
Panel roundup
Unilever is currently carrying out an informal review of its panel firms, after the existing roster expired in June 2016. Led by operations legal director Saswata Mukherjee, the last panel review began in February 2014 and constituted the company’s first formal panel arrangement.