As pension, sovereign and private equity funds rush to invest in prime London real estate, Linklaters has picked up a major client as Australia’s largest pension fund purchased a 42% stake in the £5bn redevelopment of King’s Cross.
Latham takes another private equity partner from the Magic Circle as Linklaters’ Traugott departs
US firm Latham & Watkins has hired Linklaters‘ German head of private equity Rainer Traugott as it continues its aggressive push into the European private equity market.
News UK recruits Kingsley Napley partner McBride as general counsel
Rupert Murdoch-owned media giant News UK has recruited high-profile Kingsley Napley partner Angus McBride as its general counsel (GC), just months after its decision to re-hire former Sun editor Rebekah Brooks as chief executive.
Continue reading “News UK recruits Kingsley Napley partner McBride as general counsel”
Slater & Gordon plans closure of two UK offices
Months after the UK government announced unexpected personal injury reforms, Slater & Gordon is consulting on the closure of two its UK offices, a move which could affect 51 staff.
Continue reading “Slater & Gordon plans closure of two UK offices”
US and Irish firms act on $16.5bn Tyco-Johnson Controls merger
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, A&L Goodbody and Arthur Cox have all landed roles advising on the $16.5bn merger of industrial company Johnson Controls and security provider Tyco – a deal that will lower the new company’s tax bill.
Continue reading “US and Irish firms act on $16.5bn Tyco-Johnson Controls merger”
Colt Group legal chief Saphra departs following structural review
Colt Group’s longstanding group general counsel Robin Saphra (pictured) has left the company following an internal structural review. He is succeeded by Caroline Griffin Pain, who becomes company secretary and legal counsel.
Continue reading “Colt Group legal chief Saphra departs following structural review”
Irwin Mitchell top earner pay falls as employee costs up 7%, accounts reveal
LB25 firm Irwin Mitchell has slashed the amount given to its highest paid earner by 30% from £1.22m to £849,000, despite a lift in profits, the firm’s accounts show.
Continue reading “Irwin Mitchell top earner pay falls as employee costs up 7%, accounts reveal”
Revolving doors: Withers and Watson Farley make City hires as A&O boosts Frankfurt and New York practices
In a busy week for lateral hires, Withers and Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) have made appointments in the City while Allen & Overy (A&O) has boosted its German and US offices.
High Court cases against law firms down 47% in a year
The post-financial crisis wave of professional negligence suits against law firms appears to have passed, as RPC figures show a 47% drop in High Court cases against law firms last year.
Continue reading “High Court cases against law firms down 47% in a year”
‘This is going to blow up’: tensions rise between the Law Society and the SRA as regulator seeks formal split
The ongoing dispute between the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has escalated after a row broke out over whether the regulator should formally split from the representative at Chancery Lane.
RSA group GC Walsh to depart as rising star Heiss appointed legal chief
Insurance giant RSA’s longstanding group general counsel and company secretary Derek Walsh (pictured) is to leave the company at the end of February after nearly six years, with Charlotte Heiss to succeed him in the new role of chief legal officer and company secretary.
Continue reading “RSA group GC Walsh to depart as rising star Heiss appointed legal chief”
Addleshaws staff costs rise as firm ups partner rewards, accounts reveal
Addleshaw Goddard‘s staff costs rose 12% from £57,000 to £63,600 in the 2014/15 financial year, the firm’s filings at Companies House show, after it paid larger bonuses and salaries to its employees.
Continue reading “Addleshaws staff costs rise as firm ups partner rewards, accounts reveal”
International moves: Bonelli recruits A&O Italy senior capital markets partner while BLP makes double Dubai hire
Italian firm BonelliErede, the European best friend of Slaughter and May, has made a key hire with Allen & Overy‘s Italy senior partner, Massimiliano Danusso. Meanwhile, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has invested in its Dubai team with a double hire.
Macfarlanes sticks by management duo, reappointing Martin and Howard until 2020
In a conspicuously early move demonstrating confidence in its leadership, the partnership at Macfarlanes has re-appointed Charles Martin (pictured) and Julian Howard to the roles of senior partner and managing partner respectively for another three years.
Continue reading “Macfarlanes sticks by management duo, reappointing Martin and Howard until 2020”
DAC Beachcroft takes £4m hit on failed IT project, LLP accounts reveal
National law firm DAC Beachcroft took a £4.39m hit on a failed IT project as it tried to change its case management system internally, accounts reveal.
Continue reading “DAC Beachcroft takes £4m hit on failed IT project, LLP accounts reveal”
Trainee retention rates: Herbert Smith, Weil and Trowers release figures
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), Weil, Gotshal & Manges, and Trowers & Hamlins are the latest firms to publish their trainee retention rates, with HSF recording its third straight score over 90%.
Continue reading “Trainee retention rates: Herbert Smith, Weil and Trowers release figures”
US banking results: Goldman Sachs quadruples annual legal spend as others cutback
The major US banks released fourth quarter 2015 results this week, with Goldman Sachs blaming poor profits on legal costs, as other lenders benefited from declining legal spends.
Continue reading “US banking results: Goldman Sachs quadruples annual legal spend as others cutback”
Ashurst hires DLA Piper arbitration head Saunders to boost City practice
After a slow churn of lateral partner hires in Ashurst‘s London office, the Anglo-Australian firm has kick-started 2016 by recruiting DLA Piper‘s high-profile international arbitration head Matthew Saunders.
Continue reading “Ashurst hires DLA Piper arbitration head Saunders to boost City practice”
‘Criminal capability’: Cooley makes key appointment with Sullivan & Cromwell litigator Delahunty
Cooley has kicked off 2016 with further hires to its now year-old London office, adding prominent Sullivan & Cromwell litigator Louise Delahunty (pictured).
KWM reviews capital contributions ahead of refreshed global strategy
Partners at King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) could be asked to inject more cash into the business as the firm considers alterations to its capital contributions structure.
Continue reading “KWM reviews capital contributions ahead of refreshed global strategy”