Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner Peter Gray has been found by Mr Justice Flaux to have ‘deliberately misled’ the High Court regarding evidence presented in a case between the Republic of Djibouti and Abdourahman Boreh, one of the African country’s wealthiest citizens.
Continue reading “In court: Gibson Dunn partner found to have ‘deliberately’ misled court”
A report delivered by Willkie Farr & Gallagher into expenses payments at struggling oil explorer Afren has led the client to notify itself to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) over the findings. Continue reading “Calling in the regulator: Willkie Farr investigation prompts client to report itself to the SFO”
Clifford Chance (CC), Linklaters and Latham & Watkins are advising on the $7.7bn bid by China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) to buy Italian tire-maker Pirelli, a deal that will give Chinese investors a significant foothold in Italy’s manufacturing industry while signalling continued Chinese investment into Europe.
Rarely, if ever, has a British government engaged in such an assault on justice than the present coalition. The brunt of the assault applies to England and Wales since justice matters are mostly devolved to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has launched an arbitration practice in Hong Kong with the hire of a nine-strong team from local boutique Haley & Co, in a bid to ‘create a powerful international arbitration and real estate offering in the region’.
Barclays has appointed Simon Croxford as general counsel (GC) for Investment Banking for the Europe and Middle East region (EME) following the departure of Erica Handling.
A handsome book recently arrived on my crowded desk, demanding attention: it’s Innovation & Intellectual Property: Collaborative Dynamics in Africa, edited by scholars Jeremy de Beer, Chris Armstrong, Chidi Oguamanam and Tobia Schonwetter. Published by the UCT Press in association with the IP Unit of the Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town (that’s what ‘UCT’ stands for) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), it’s one of those lovely books that you don’t have to buy since you can read it online or download it in its entirety – all 431 pages of it – by accessing its website here.
Continue reading “Guest post: What can IP offer Africa – and what can Africa offer IP?”
Allen & Overy (A&O) head of US corporate finance Jim Wickenden has left the firm, leading to the appointment of high-yield partner Kevin Muzilla as the new head.
The Bank of England (BoE) has appointed former Clifford Chance (CC) competition and regulatory partner Sonya Branch as its new general counsel (GC), following the retirement of Graham Nicholson.
The government has announced today (19 March) it is to establish a strict liability offence for offshore tax evasion – despite concerns expressed by regulatory bodies including the Law Society.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is representing the Bank of England (BoE) as the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) launches an investigation regarding money-market auctions which the bank carried out during the financial crisis.
DLA Piper’s new head Simon Levine jokes about avoiding becoming the David Moyes to his high-profile predecessor’s Alex Ferguson, but you could make a stronger case that Sir Nigel Knowles’ (pictured) transformative track record at DLA Piper is closer to making him the firm’s Tony Blair.
Continue reading “Comment: Life after Sir Nigel – They built it, now what?”
British American Tobacco (BAT) has gifted Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) with a major disputes mandate, and instructed the firm as the tobacco giant challenges the UK government’s plans to bring in plain cigarette packaging.
Linklaters and US firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy have picked up key instructions on the €6.6bn purchase of Fortum Distribution, the owner of Fortum’s electricity distribution business in Sweden, by Borealis Infrastructure Management.
In his final Budget before the general election in May, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has today (18 March) set out his tax and spending plans to MPs, with an agenda including further reforming the pension industry, raising £5.3bn from the banking sector, tackling tax avoidance and evasion, and supporting the North Sea oil industry.
Latham & Watkins has internally announced today (18 March) that it will close two offices in the Middle East by the end of the year, shutting down its outposts in Abu Dhabi and Doha, and relocating staff to its Dubai operation.
It’s the spirit of the age that law firms feel the need to not only deliver better value and efficiency but to be seen to do so by clients.
Continue reading “Comment: The case against value – the virtue that can become vice”
After surpassing revenue targets two years early last summer, high-flying City firm Mishcon de Reya has kick-started the process for its firmwide strategy review and is currently interviewing external consultants to help shape its vision.
Cooley has made more recruits to its newly launched London office with the hire of Reed Smith life sciences partner duo John Wilkinson and Nicola Maguire.
Continue reading “Building the team: Cooley hires Reed Smith life sciences partner duo”
