Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s decision to jump on the near-shoring wagon with its first low-cost services hub in Manchester is on a scale larger than its peers, with up to 800 support service jobs being transferred – a move which is unsettling some at its Fleet Street headquarters.
A £1bn offer: Linklaters, Ashurst and Gibson Dunn win roles on Domino Printing acquisition
Linklaters, Ashurst and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher have all landed roles on Japanese electronics company Brother Industries’ acquisition of UK technology company Domino Printing Sciences for £1.03bn.
News in brief – March 2015
JP MORGAN TURNS TO GOLDMAN SACHS FOR NEW EMEA GC
JP Morgan Chase hired heavyweight counsel, and former lawyer at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, John Tribolati from Goldman Sachs to succeed Piers Le Marchant as EMEA general counsel. Le Marchant is remaining with the banking giant as global head of compliance for corporate and investment banking.
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Deal watch: Corporate activity in February 2015
SKADDEN, FRESHFIELDS AND SLAUGHTERS LAND KEY ROLES ON £4.3BN CAN MAKER TIE-UP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom advised Ball Corporation on its £4.3bn acquisition of UK-based Rexam, while Slaughter and May covered EU competition aspects. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Rexam, which boasts Coca-Cola, Red Bull and Heineken among its clients, on the deal.
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GC Power List 2015: The Team Elite
Global London: Ropes & Gray City revenues jump 30%
In line with other US firms that have sustained robust City growth and after bolstering its headcount by 17%, Ropes & Gray has increased its London office revenues by 30% in 2014, bringing them to around $64m.
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Under new leadership: Sadanandan replaces Nick Cline as Latham’s London chief
After five years in the post, and having nearly doubled the size of the office, Latham & Watkins‘ London head Nick Cline has been replaced by finance partner Jay Sadanandan (pictured).
Continue reading “Under new leadership: Sadanandan replaces Nick Cline as Latham’s London chief”
Launching in Mexico City: Mayer Brown plans new oil and gas outpost
Mayer Brown is looking to become the latest law firm to try and capitalise on Mexico’s liberalising economy, chasing oil and gas work with a new office in Mexico City and the hire of ExxonMobil’s in-house counsel for Latin America.
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Winning work: Cooley’s London office acts alongside Slaughters on £168m shale gas deal
US firm Cooley is underway on making good on its ambitious City plans, winning a mandate from IGas, the UK’s biggest shale gas explorer, on a £168m farm out and purchase agreement with Swiss company INEOS, which was advised by Slaughter and May.
International ambitions: DWF picks Dubai for its first international office
DWF has chosen Dubai as the location for its first international office as it targets rising levels of construction work in the MENA region with a team of four lawyers including a construction partner hired from Holland & Knight.
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In court: Gibson Dunn partner could face disbarment after submitting incorrect documents in Djibouti case
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher referred itself to the Solicitors Regulation Authority last week [6 March] after it was alleged that disputes partner Peter Gray submitted incorrectly dated documents to the UK courts in a case between the Djibouti government and one of its wealthiest citizens Abdourahman Boreh.
No more weak links – elite law firms unite to fight cyber security threat
It has long been a gripe among major clients – in particular banks – that law firms are the chink in the armour against the growing barrage of cyber attacks. In response, some of the world’s top law firms are banding together to form a cyber security alliance to share intelligence on threats, specific attacks and best practice.
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Unchaining in-house: LSB looks to cut ‘unnecessary restrictions’ on in-house lawyers
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has raised concern over whether current regulatory restrictions for in-house lawyers are justified, stating that ‘unnecessary restrictions’ on their ability to innovate and expand their reach could ‘adversely affect access to justice’.
Investing in London: Cooley keeps up City push with Olswang’s former PE head Rosen
Singapore scramble – Kennedys enters JV to bolster presence in city state
After last month saw Withers secure a new alliance in Singapore while other firms made moves in the country, Kennedys has bulked up its presence in the city-state through a joint venture (JV) with local firm Legal Solutions.
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Senior appointments: Linklaters picks successor to top finance job as Jim Rice prepares to step down
Linklaters has appointed longstanding partner and global financial regulation group head Michael Kent as divisional practice head of finance & projects, where he will succeed heavyweight finance and securitisation partner Jim Rice.
Mishcon, Latham and OC up against City elite as shortlists announced for 2015 Legal Business Awards
Clifford Chance (CC), Mishcon de Reya, Osborne Clarke and DLA Piper are among those vying to win prizes at what promises to be the largest-ever Legal Business Awards.
The firms are among those nominated as we unveil the shortlists today (9 March) for the awards ahead of the ceremony, which will be held on 24 March at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London. Continue reading “Mishcon, Latham and OC up against City elite as shortlists announced for 2015 Legal Business Awards”
£1.1bn of student digs: Nabarro, Clifford Chance and Morgan Lewis take lead on Liberty Living acquisition
Nabarro and Clifford Chance have picked up a major real estate instruction advising on the £1.1bn acquisition of UK student accommodation provider Liberty Living by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).
‘We’ve done our homework’: Pinsents finally secures Australia launch for renewed infra push
It has been a long time in the offing but Pinsent Masons today (6 March) announced the launch of an infrastructure sector-focused practice in Melbourne and Sydney.
In-house: Shell appoints successors to litigation and downstream GC roles
Royal Dutch Shell has made two significant internal promotions to its in-house legal function, with associate general counsel (GC) for litigation Richard Hill (pictured) appointed to succeed Brad Nielson as GC for global litigation, while Martin Bambridge, currently associate GC for the energy giant’s downstream portfolio, will take over from downstream legal chief, Hans von der Linde.
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