Property developer British Land has hired HSBC deputy company secretary and former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Elaine Williams as its first general counsel.
Continue reading “In-house: HSBC executive picked for British Land GC role”
Called to the bench: White & Case partner Ian Forrester QC made an EU judge
White & Case partner Ian Forrester QC has been appointed as the UK’s judge at the General Court of European Union, succeeding judge Nicholas Forwood QC. Forrester QC, who is based in Brussels will sit at the court based in Luxembourg from October of this year. Continue reading “Called to the bench: White & Case partner Ian Forrester QC made an EU judge”
The finance view: Bigger, simpler, cheaper? How to position the modern securitisation counsel
Securitisation lawyers have been hard pressed since the financial crisis, diversifying their practices and often even ditching the S word. Continue reading “The finance view: Bigger, simpler, cheaper? How to position the modern securitisation counsel”
Trowers & Hamlins unites with Devon firm as part of regional push
Trowers & Hamlins has combined with Devon based Stones Solicitors to create a firm with turnover of about £85m, in a deal to boost its regional presence in the UK.
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Guest Post: It’s all in the Game: Immigration Lawyers vs the High Court?
I have on a few occasions blogged on the High Court’s (and indeed the now Lord Chief Justice’s) exasperation, justified or not, with the conduct of some immigration solicitors.
Continue reading “Guest Post: It’s all in the Game: Immigration Lawyers vs the High Court?”
Winston & Strawn elects corporate partner Ashcroft as London board member as Madden steps down from global executive
US firm Winston & Strawn has shaken up its global executive committee, and replaced London board member and disputes partner Michael Madden with corporate partner Zoe Ashcroft, signalling a shift in focus for the global 100 firm.
Scottish play: Clyde & Co seals Simpson & Marwick deal
After months of negotiations, Clyde & Co has successfully secured a merger with Scottish firm Simpson & Marwick, following other London-based insurance players in establishing a presence in Scotland and adding around £30m to the Global 100 firm’s top line.
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Guest post: WTF is a trusted adviser and how did GCs come to strive for it?
‘What’s your ambition son?’
‘Well dad, I’d like to be a plausible adviser’
‘Good boy. And then one day you might even be a trusted adviser too.’
Continue reading “Guest post: WTF is a trusted adviser and how did GCs come to strive for it?”
‘Differing practice interests’: strategic tensions emerge as 11 Stone Buildings votes to dissolve
London commercial and chancery chambers 11 Stone Buildings (11SB) is set to dissolve on 30 October 2015.
Gibson Dunn strikes again to land HSF’s global head of capital markets
Herbert Smith Freehills’ global capital markets chief, Steve Thierbach, is set to leave the firm for Gibson Dunn & Crutcher as part of a double swoop by the US firm, with capital markets partner also Christopher Haynes departing, HSF has confirmed.
Continue reading “Gibson Dunn strikes again to land HSF’s global head of capital markets”
Freshfields head of Islamic finance to leave for Morgan Lewis
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer global head of Islamic finance Tarek El-Assra has quit the firm to join Morgan, Lewis & Bockius as a partner, as the Morgan Lewis targets the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia
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Comment: The NYLon law firm – outmoding a Global Elite and Magic Circle firm near you
If there is one big trend in the analysis of Legal Business in recent years it is the encroaching existential threat represented by US-bred law firms.
Microsoft general counsel promoted to president and chief legal officer
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s general counsel, has been appointed as the company’s president and chief legal officer in a rare move that will see the lawyer take a broader role.
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US law firms take advantage of early retirement myths at City leaders, argues report
New research suggests US firms are picking up top talent by taking advantage of the misconception that UK firms exit their partners in their late 50s.
Revolving doors: TLT and SPB expand in the regions while Ashurst bolsters its finance practice
The UK’s regional hubs saw a spree of hiring as TLT strengthened its corporate practice in Manchester after a law firm’s collapse and Squire Patton Boggs bulked up in Leeds. Meanwhile, Ashurst enlarged its finance practice in Europe with the addition of two new partners and Fladgate recruited an employment partner.
Legal watchdog overhauls handbook to green light apprenticeships as it ushers in ‘inconceivable’ changes
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has inched closer to controversial apprenticeship qualifications while green lighting a raft of changes to the SRA handbook.
In-house: Network Rail corporate legal chief stands down after almost a decade
After nearly ten years of service at Network Rail including helping to restructure the body’s legal team and transfer to the public sector, corporate legal chief Natalie Jobling is standing down.
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Comment: The Dirty Conversation – hard choices for leading US firms as the Boomers clock out
With the first wave of the Baby Boom about to turn 70, firms are asking the hard question, earlier and earlier. Guest writer Aric Press discusses the best way to have the Dirty Conversation.
Guest post: Luxury lawyering and the Bergdorf effect – getting your price right
A week or two ago, we were having drinks here in New York with two senior corporate partners at an AmLaw-25 firm that is quite self-aware enough to know it’s not in the realm of the super-elite, and the topic turned to pricing.
Continue reading “Guest post: Luxury lawyering and the Bergdorf effect – getting your price right”
‘A hole in the market’: Scott + Scott opens in the City with plans to exploit conflicts and cash in on competition class actions
In anticipation of a boom in competition-based disputes as the Consumer Rights Act comes into force, US firm Scott+Scott is planning to kick-start its City offering by pursuing banks found guilty of manipulating the foreign exchange market in a multi-million pound lawsuit.