On 17 April, the government published a second consultation document on a new criminal offence that will apply to companies that fail to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion by those associated with it. The new offence is one of a number of new initiatives designed to tackle offshore tax evasion and corruption. Continue reading “Facilitating tax evasion – how it could affect you”
The UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) is a mature oil and gas basin. The collapse in global oil prices from a high of $115 per barrel in June 2014 to a price below $30 a barrel earlier this year has had a severe impact on the basin. Although according to Oil & Gas UK (OGUK) UKCS production actually rose by almost 10% in 2015, revenues fell by 30%. Continue reading “The oil price collapse – UK regulators to the rescue?”
Two books of note have just been published by veteran lawyers – The Inside Counsel Revolution: Resolving the Partner-Guardian Tension by former GE legal head Ben Heineman and The Future of the In-House Lawyer: The General Counsel Revolution, a collection of essays edited by Carillion’s Richard Tapp. The common ground is obvious in charting the wresting of power and resource over the last 25 years from law firm to corporate legal teams. Continue reading “GCs have arrived and all we have to welcome them are platitudes”
UK regional moves were on the cards for Global 100 firms Squire Patton Boggs and Eversheds last week, while Iberian Euro Elite firm Gómez-Acebo & Pombo has hired senior figures from a local rival.
Misconduct reports against solicitors by fellow legal professionals have jumped a third in five years to more than 2,500 complaints, new figures show.
Following a year of intense global expansion, turnover across the UK, the Middle East and Africa at Dentons rose 7% in 2015/16 to £165m.
Continue reading “After a year of rapid expansion Dentons posts 7% UKMEA revenue rise to £165m”
High Court judge Mr Justice Peter Smith has seen his position come under further scrutiny following damning criticism from Master of the Rolls Lord Dyson yesterday (16 June) over the Saudi royals trial.
A High Court judge has ruled Leigh Day was negligent in its duty of care to thousands of victims of a toxic waste spill after failing to secure their £30m settlement.
Much like British voters ahead of this month’s vote on EU membership, City law firms have been shaped in recent decades by mainland Europe, even as they have become increasingly ambivalent about that mingled destiny.
Continue reading “Comment: Elite indies carve out role as the one-stop shop shuts in Europe”
Mishcon de Reya is acting in a £128m claim against the Royal Bank of Scotland and KPMG brought by former Torex Retail chief executive Neil Mitchell, with Dentons and Stephenson Harwood advising the defendants. Continue reading “Mishcon acts for former Torex boss taking on RBS and KPMG in £128m fraud claim”
Magic Circle duo Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have scored lead roles on an attempt by South Africa’s Steinhoff to takeover British retailer Poundland.
‘Something looks wrong.’
So begins a recent Greg Ip column in The Wall Street Journal.
What exactly ‘looks wrong?’
Well, the economy, stupid.
If there was much to celebrate amid the continued rise of London as an international disputes centre at Legal Business’ second Commercial Litigation Summit on 24 May, the cloud on the horizon was apparent: the mounting conviction that the UK judiciary is near crisis.
Continue reading “Comment: Not ‘looming’, the judiciary is already in crisis”
While much has been made of US merger plays by Eversheds and Addleshaw Goddard, fellow mid-market firm Bond Dickinson has secured an exclusive strategic alliance with full-service US firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice.
Continue reading “Accessing America: Bond Dickinson makes unique US play with Womble Carlyle tie-up”
Nick West, a London-based partner at DLA Piper, has been fined £15,000 for sending ‘despicable’ emails to the Premier League’s executive chairman Richard Scudamore. Continue reading “DLA Piper partner caught up in sexist email scandal with Premier League chairman fined £15,000”
Former BHS owner Sir Phillip Green criticised Olswang and other advisers as he faced questions today (15 June) over the sale and contentious administration of the retailer. Continue reading “BHS updated: Green claims Olswang ‘knee deep’ in deal, accuses firm of covenant breach”
Pearson, the largest education company and book publisher in the world, has launched its US corporate panel review after finalising spots on its litigation roster for the region. The US changes come after Pearson finalised its UK roster in recent months with the help of Accenture. Continue reading “Pearson kicks off second US panel review after finalising litigation roster”
Global drinks brand Diageo has confirmed it will review its UK legal panel as its current roster was due to expire this month.
Continue reading “Adviser review: Drinks giant Diageo assesses UK roster”
US firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has strengthened its construction offering with the appointment of Herbert Smith Freehills’ James Bremen as its chair of the construction practice based in London.
Sullivan & Cromwell has appointed its leading M&A partner Richard Pollack as managing partner of its London office replacing Richard Morrissey who has held the role since 2011.
Continue reading “Sullivan & Cromwell makes another M&A heavyweight head of London practice”
