‘Could we have a 1,000 lawyers in China? We could,’ Herbert Smith Freehills‘ (HSF) co-chief executive Mark Rigotti said. ‘But that would be accessing a different client base. A thousand lawyers would be overcooking it. I would like 100 lawyers as then you get cultural and client alignment between high quality local and cross border. Would 100 lawyers in China by 2025 be feasible? Yes.’
Continue reading “HSF leaders plot China launch and US merger amid new strategy”
As White & Case aims to build a 500-lawyer practice in the City by 2020, its recruitment spree has continued with the arrival of capital markets partner Jonathan Parry from Ashurst.
Irwin Mitchell has increased diversity within its partnership in this year’s promotion round, with six females making the cut out of 13 total appointments. Continue reading “Irwin Mitchell promotes six females in 13-strong round”
Sidley Austin has filled a hole in its City finance debt team with the hire of Willkie Farr & Gallagher corporate leveraged finance partner James Crooks.
Continue reading “Sidley Austin reunites Willkie partner with incoming Kirkland private equity team”
Less than a year after it hired Barclays Bank’s global head of financial crime Jonathan Peddie, Baker & McKenzie has returned to one of its largest London clients to hire global competition head Nicola Northway.
Continue reading “Baker & McKenzie lands another Barclays lawyer with global competition head hire”
Birnberg Peirce & Partners, a law firm which provides representation to families whose loved ones have died in controversial circumstances involving the state, has led almost 20 different law firms in an inquest into the deaths arising from the Hillsborough Stadium Football disaster.
Merlin Entertainments, owner of attractions including Alton Towers, Legoland and Madame Tussauds, has appointed a new general counsel as the listed company admits liability over a rollercoaster crash which left 16 injured. Continue reading “Merlin Entertainments appoints new general counsel as theme park owner admits liability over crash”
Less than a fortnight after negotiations were reported, Reed Smith and Pepper Hamilton have called off talks over a combination.
Continue reading “‘A variety of reasons’: Reed Smith and Pepper Hamilton call off merger talks”
The UK government will explore the use of capped fee contracts for legal work following a report into the £2.8m legal fees charged by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer after it advised HM Treasury on the sale of Eurostar International.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges has advised British department store chain BHS as it filed for administration today (25 April), with DLA Piper expected to work on behalf of the administrators.
Continue reading “Weil and DLA take lead roles as retailer BHS enters administration”
The University of Law (ULaw) has appointed its third chief executive in less than a year, recruiting economist and lecturer Stelios Platis into the role.
Continue reading “University of Law appoints third chief executive in a year”
Latham & Watkins and Weil, Gotshal & Manges landed leading roles on the sale of a majority stake in Germany’s largest sports betting operator Tipico Group to CVC Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum.
Continue reading “Latham and Weil Gotshal advise as CVC takes majority stake in betting firm Tipico”
Despite warnings of poor morale at the judiciary coupled with flailing levels of recruitment, the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) has rejected a higher pay rise for more senior judges, saying any differential would be ‘divisive’ and de-motivate other judges.
Continue reading “High Court judges’ pay rises rejected despite recruitment levels falling”
Following a string of seven recent hires to its Advanced Manufacturing and Technology (AMT) sector, Pinsent Masons has boosted its corporate team with the appointment of TMT specialist Andrew McMillan to its AMT sector. Previously head of Simmons & Simmons TMT practice, McMillan brings experience in advising TMT corporates, investment banks and private equity houses on in-sector mergers and acquisitions and high-value commercial contracts.
General counsel have more responsibilities than ever yet many find time in the schedule for outside commitments. James Wood reports.
Working long hours, expected to be available at all hours, and labelled a cost-centre. Such are the pressures of life in-house. The days of commerce and industry as a softer option for lawyers than the toil of the law firm associate track are rapidly drawing to a close.
Continue reading “Passion Plays – the outside interests broadening the horizons of the modern GC”
I’m of an age where I form part of a group of lawyers who elected to pursue careers in-house from the outside. I had failed to complete a chemical engineering course so I had a very clear purpose in studying law: I wanted to work in-house. I identified a couple of industries I thought should grow so I might surf that wave.
I started out in pharma in the late ‘70s, which was immensely enjoyable. I grew a love of complex businesses – global, multinational businesses. They provide rich opportunities for lawyers in a variety of areas – commercial, corporate, M&A. That is the theme I followed throughout my career.
Continue reading “GC Perspectives – Philip Bramwell, BAE Systems”
Clifford Chance (CC) has appointed 24 new partners globally, with promotions across the US, Asia Pacific, continental Europe and nine in London.
After two years of having the bulk of its promotions in the Asia-Pacific region, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has gone for a more geographically balanced round of partner promotions this year, making up ten lawyers in the UK and EMEA, and ten in Asia-Pacific. Continue reading “Herbert Smith Freehills evens out international balance in latest partner promotion round”
Magic Circle firms Linklaters and Allen & Overy were instructed on the £6.1bn securitisation of UK mortgages by private equity house Cerberus Capital Management in what is the largest residential mortgage-backed securitisation (RMBS) since misuse of the product brought about the financial crisis in 2007.
In line with what many dispute experts predicted, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has requested a cash injection after seeing a drop in court fee income.
