Insurance firm Kennedys has finally entered the Scottish market with the launch of two new offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Asia: Reed Smith establishes South East Asia corporate practice as Greenberg launches in Tokyo
Reed Smith has hired Stephenson Harwood’s South East Asia head of corporate Matt Gorman to launch a corporate practice in the region from its Singapore office.
‘A watershed moment’: Q&A with Cooley’s CEO on the firm’s London launch and philosophical decisions
Joe Conroy, chief executive of tech focused Californian firm Cooley, talks to Tom Moore on why it was harder to open in London than China and how the collapse of Edwards Wildman‘s city office created a ‘significant opportunity’ that led to a 55-lawyer launch.
‘The pharma sector is very busy’: Slaughters, Davis Polk and Skadden win roles on Shire’s $5.2bn acquisition
Slaughter and May was called upon by longstanding pharmaceutical client Shire on its biggest acquisition to date as it purchased biotech NPS Pharma, represented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, for $5.2bn.
Cheers: Heineken UK gifts DLA Piper with principal legal adviser role
After much speculation and a lengthy review, the UK arm of global beer and cider producer Heineken has announced the appointment of DLA Piper as its principal legal adviser for a major proportion of work, a move which the company has made in a bid to cut down on external legal spend.
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Asia-Pacific: Cadwalader raids Latham’s Hong Kong office for seven lawyer team
Michael Liu, who was co-head of Latham & Watkins‘ Greater China practice and was formerly managing partner of its Hong Kong office, has led a seven lawyer move over to US rival Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
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Stepping down: Barclays corporate GC Shepherd to leave role
Barclays global general counsel (GC) of corporate and investment banking Judith Shepherd (pictured) is to step down in the first half of 2015.
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The Friday Edit: New year, new partners and a new world order in finance
Happy New Year and welcome to the first Friday Edit of 2015, our weekly review of the top stories to emerge from Law Land over the past five days. Click here for full access to Legal Business or email [email protected] for more information. Corporate subscribers can also access our premium reporting firm-wide online and via our iPad edition as well as print copies.
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Real estate: Macfarlanes and Clifford Chance take the lead on £370m Legal & General acquisition
Real estate heavyweights Macfarlanes and Clifford Chance (CC) have landed leading roles on one of the New Year’s first major real estate deals, after Legal & General Property acquired Bishopsgate Long Term Property Fund Unit Trust and its 24-strong portfolio of commercial properties for £370m.
Targeting the UK: LegalZoom becomes first US business to gain ABS
US online legal solution site LegalZoom has become the first American business to receive an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) licence as it looks to build its operations in the UK.
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League Tables: Gap between US firms and Magic Circle widens as UK firms slump in 2014 deal rankings
The Magic Circle lost ground in the global M&A rankings as Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, Allen & Overy (A&O) and Clifford Chance (CC) all lost places to US rivals, with London-headquartered firms badly impacted by a jittery European deals market that saw a large number of deals collapse.
Dealwatch: Travers Smith and Herbert Smith Freehills on board for thetrainline.com £500m IPO
Constituting the first technology IPO of the year, Travers Smith and Herbert Smith Freehills have both landed key roles advising Britain’s largest online rail booking company thetrainline.com as it prepares to float on the London Stock Exchange later this year.
Investing in London: Reed Smith promotes seven in the City in 24-strong partnership round
Pittsburgh-headquartered Reed Smith has made its London office the centre of its promotions round by making up seven London lawyers to partner, four more than any other office.
‘An investment in Europe’: Latham & Watkins to open nearshoring office in Manchester
US firm Latham & Watkins has announced internally that it will open a business services office in Manchester during the first half of 2015.
Diversifying the group: Stephenson Harwood appoints a non-shipping head of finance
Stephenson Harwood has named restructuring and insolvency partner Sue Moore (pictured) as the new head of its global finance practice group as current head Mark Russell steps down after 18 years.
A £55m settlement: Hogan Lovells and Leigh Day shake on Shell payout to Nigerian village
Royal Dutch Shell, advised by Hogan Lovells, will pay £55m to 15,600 Nigerian fishermen after a three-year legal battle over two oil spills.
One up, one out: Simmons promotes finance partner as it loses another to Squire Patton Boggs
Squire Patton Boggs has hired Simmons & Simmons‘ acquisition finance partner John Hayward as it sets out to expand its roster of banking and private equity clients. Meanwhile, Simmons made a New Year promotion to its partnership.
Targeting London: Fried Frank hires O’Melveny & Myers private equity partner
US firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson has enhanced its private equity practice in London with the hire of partner Daniel Oates from O’Melveny & Myers.
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Accounts revealed: Allen & Overy profits jump £35m as it cuts staff costs
Allen & Overy (A&O) is the latest Magic Circle firm to release its LLP accounts for the 2013/14 financial year, posting a 7% profit-before-tax increase from £497m to £532m, while average profits per full partner were up 6.7% to £1.12m.
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Presidential appointment: ICC picks Alexis Mourre to head International Court of Arbitration
Alexis Mourre, a founding partner of French disputes boutique Castaldi Mourre & Partners, is set to replace John Beechey as president of the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Court of Arbitration.