FIRST-TIME GC FOR BRITISH LAND
Property developer British Land has hired HSBC deputy company secretary and former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Elaine Williams as its first general counsel. Williams, who was a partner at Freshfields between 2000 and 2011 before joining HSBC in 2011, will become British Land’s first ever general counsel when she starts in November.
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS AND ALLENS ENLISTED FOR WOODSIDE TAKEOVER BID
Australian oil company Woodside turned to Herbert Smith Freehills as it rejected a takeover offer by rival Oil Search. Australian firm Allens advised the Papua New Guinea firm that made the £5.3bn offer.
Continue reading “Deal watch: Corporate activity in October 2015”
Following controversy after its £637m purchase of Quindell’s Professional Services Division (PSD), Australian-listed Slater & Gordon (S&G) has revealed a revised version of its accounts following an audit of its UK business, which shows profit after tax of nearly £20m on revenue of £128m for the 2014/15 financial year.
Continue reading “Slater & Gordon unveils £20m UK profits in revised accounts”
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has picked up a new client as a number of firms took advisory roles in Sacturino’s bid to buy the remaining part of Polyus Gold it does not own.
Continue reading “Dealwatch: Herbert Smith Freehills strikes gold with Polyus takeover bid”
Several corporate partners have resigned from Clyde & Co’s London office after what has been described as a ‘shoulder tapping exercise’ took place as the practice came under management scrutiny for under performance.
Continue reading “Clydes sees run of departures after City corporate team comes under scrutiny”
The Consumer Rights Act 2015, which comes into force today (1 October), will for the first time establish a procedure for class actions for competition claims, giving consumers and small businesses an easier route to success for claims made over anti-competitive behaviour, including price fixing and market sharing.
In its latest global partnership promotion round, Kirkland & Ellis has promoted another eight of its London associates to partner, the same as last year, as 90 lawyers join the firm’s 735-global partnership.
Allen & Overy (A&O) is advising new client Ibstock, alongside US firms Ropes & Gray and Latham & Watkins as it floats on the London Stock Exchange.
Continue reading “A&O, Ropes and Latham advise on £1bn Ibstock flotation”
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is ramping up its Paris offering, having hired Linklaters tax partner Thomas Perrot to head its French tax practice.
Claimant firms Slater & Gordon and Leigh Day are gearing up to represent what could be thousands of European car purchasers after Volkswagen (VW) admitted to rigging diesel engine emission tests in the US and Europe.
A host of firms including Olswang, Weil Gotshal & Manges have won advisory work as Burger King France owner Groupe Bertrand negotiates to acquire Belgian hamburger chain Quick.
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has rejigged its global executive for the first time since its Anglo-Australian merger in 2012, trimming back regional management in a bid to boost its integration effort.
Liverpool-based law firm Your Legal Friend, formerly known as Camps Solicitors, has launched a shareholder group action against Quindell under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), following the £312m swing from profit to loss in its professional services division (PSD).
Continue reading “Your Legal Friend brings £9m shareholder group action against Quindell”
Alternative legal services provider Riverview Law has launched a new service in a bid to help in-house teams develop automated legal processes.
Referred to as its ‘Solutions Prototyping Consultancy‘, Riverview is targeting large global corporations and mid-sized companies with the aim of helping them develop a technology-driven operating model.
Continue reading “Deus ex machina: Riverview Law targets in-house with legal tech consultancy”
City lawyers have voiced concerns over government policy once again as the deadline for written submissions closes this month on the latest round of court fee hikes proposed by justice minister Shailesh Vara.
Continue reading “Concerns raised as consultation closes on court fee hikes”
Allen & Overy (A&O) is closing down its Canadian office, one year on from becoming the first Magic Circle firm to set up a representative office in Toronto.
Continue reading “Allen & Overy closes in Toronto one year after launch as office head quits”
Legal Business 100 firm Osborne Clarke (OC) has become one of the last firms in the UK top 50 to convert to a limited liability partnership (LLP).
Continue reading “Joining the club: Osborne Clarke to convert to LLP status next month”
A newly created financial court at the Rolls Building in London, the first of its kind in the City and a sales pitch for the English courts, will open next Monday, 5 October.
Continue reading “Gates set to open for new financial court in London”
Criminal defence solicitors are expected to find out this week whether they will receive funding as the government will reveal who has been awarded new legal aid contracts as part of controversial cost cutting reform.
Continue reading “Key decision looms for controversial legal aid contracts”
Network Rail has appointed Severn Trent’s deputy general counsel (GC) Stuart Kelly as its first deputy group GC. Kelly, who returned to the rail company in June, had worked there for more than four years as a commercial legal advisor, prior to his five year stint at Severn Trent.
