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The road to recovery – how Türkiye’s law firms are pulling through

Following the devastating earthquakes that rocked Türkiye and Syria in February 2023, rescue, recovery and rehabilitation remain some of the dominant topics of conversation among the Turkish legal community.

The tragedy resulted in the deaths of more than 55,000 people across the two countries, with more than 17 million estimated to have been affected in some way. Inevitably this has meant that a large swathe of the legal fraternity has been directly impacted on a personal level, with many family and friends affected, but law firms have more than risen to the challenge and made themselves available to aid in the recovery. Continue reading “The road to recovery – how Türkiye’s law firms are pulling through”

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Sponsored briefing: Binding corporate rules for transfer of personal data abroad

Eren Can Ersoy of Kılınç Law & Consulting looks at the regulations associated with data protection

The irrepressible rapid development of technology and digitalisation around the world necessitates the processing and transfer of personal data. This evolution has a direct impact not just on individuals but also on the business world. The processing and transfer of personal data abroad necessitates the effective protection of data. Personal data processing and transfers overseas demand robust data protection. The transmission of personal data abroad is regulated by Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data (the Law), and the primary rule for data transfer abroad is to get the data subjects’ explicit consent. With the existence of one of the data processing conditions specified in the Law, and the recipient being located in one of the countries on the list of safe countries to be published by the Personal Data Protection Authority (the Authority), the data controllers in Türkiye and abroad can undertake adequate protection in writing and the Personal Data Protection Board (the Board) can gain permission as an exception to the rule of obtaining explicit consent.
Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Binding corporate rules for transfer of personal data abroad”

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Sponsored briefing: Ink to code: analysing electronic signature legitimacy in the EU and Turkish legislation

Turhan Mergen, Lalin Elkatip and Zehra Kıryolcu of Diri Sevi Mergen report on electronic signature legislation in Türkiye and its connections with the EU

Economic globalisation has fostered an interdependence among national economies worldwide. This phenomenon, brought about by the swift cross-border movement of goods, services, technology and capital, has developed and increased international trade. In relation to this economic surge, the pace of life across various aspects, encompassing communication, logistics and access to information, has accelerated. This accelerated pace, both a catalyst and a consequence of economic globalisation, has increased the demand for rapid processes in both daily and corporate life. Consequently, the adoption of digital methods has surged, a transition further accelerated by the urgency imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Ink to code: analysing electronic signature legitimacy in the EU and Turkish legislation”

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Infrastructure profile: Sara Pickersgill – ‘Pick something you love doing and do it only for as long as you love it’

Kirkland & Ellis’ Sara Pickersgill on switching track from opera singer to infrastructure lawyer and why The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe offers salient lessons for a career in the City

Why did you want to be a lawyer and why infrastructure in particular? Has it delivered what you expected?

Continue reading “Infrastructure profile: Sara Pickersgill – ‘Pick something you love doing and do it only for as long as you love it’”

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Norton Rose Fulbright loses another litigation partner as departures continue to mount

In another blow for Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF), commercial litigation partner Radford Goodman has left for Mishcon de Reya. Goodman joined Mishcon’s insolvency team on Tuesday (9 January) as a partner.

NRF has experienced a string of partner departures throughout 2023, particularly across its litigation practices, and in the wake of the resignation of its global chief executive Gerry Pecht in September 2023. Continue reading “Norton Rose Fulbright loses another litigation partner as departures continue to mount”

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‘Stunning achievement’: revenue and profit surge at Quinn’s London office

Richard East

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan posted an impressive set of 2023 financial results for its London office today (10 January), with revenue up 47% to £196.6m and profit up a staggering 60% to £153.6m, with a profit margin of 78%.

London senior partner Richard East (pictured), who founded the office in 2008, said: ‘We are extremely pleased with our 2023 results. It is a stunning achievement for a “disputes only” practice to approach £200m in revenue, especially taking into account the number of partners we have in London. This year’s results were boosted by a material one-off success fee, but even without this fee the office has very significantly improved revenue and profit as against 2022.’ Continue reading “‘Stunning achievement’: revenue and profit surge at Quinn’s London office”

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Revolving Doors: US losses for Paul Weiss, A&O and Shearman while Asia dominates hiring market

Leading a quiet week of hires for the new year, White & Case has hired Taurie Zeitzer, the co-head of Paul Weiss’ M&A group in New York.

Recognised as a leading lawyer by the Legal 500, Zeitzer will join White & Case as co-head of the global private equity industry group. Her key clients include private equity house Apollo Global Management where she advised on its $5.2bn acquisition of aluminum products maker Arconic last year. Earlier in her career, she served as a partner at both Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: US losses for Paul Weiss, A&O and Shearman while Asia dominates hiring market”

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The Electronic Transactions and Data Protection Law in Lebanon: Empowering Lebanese companies in the digital age

In an era marked by rapid advancements in technology and an ever-expanding digital landscape, the significance of robust legal frameworks governing electronic transactions and data protection cannot be overstated. For Lebanese companies, the enactment of the Lebanese Law No. 81 of 2018 related to electronic transactions and personal data (Law No. 81/2018 or ‘Law’) represents a pivotal moment in their journey towards adapting to the demands and opportunities of the digital age. This legislation not only addresses the critical need for legal clarity in electronic transactions but also establishes essential safeguards for data protection in an environment characterised by evolving cyber security threats and heightened concerns about privacy.

Lebanon, like many nations worldwide, has been experiencing a digital transformation that has reshaped the way businesses operate, communicate, and engage with their customers. E-commerce, online banking, and digital marketing have become integral components of the Lebanese business landscape, offering companies new avenues for growth and innovation. However, the absence of comprehensive electronic transactions regulations had left many enterprises navigating this digital terrain without clear guidelines, resulting in uncertainty and potential legal risks. Continue reading “The Electronic Transactions and Data Protection Law in Lebanon: Empowering Lebanese companies in the digital age”

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Revolving doors: Departures from Clifford Chance and Linklaters as US firms continue to snap up talent in London

City of London

Paul Weiss continued to cut a swathe through the London market this week with a double partner hire from Clifford Chance. The US firm brought over Legal 500 private equity leading individual Christopher Sullivan, who led the UK private equity practice at CC, and acquisition finance partner Taner Hassan, who joins as head of European leveraged finance.

The hires are the latest in a flurry of London recruitment for Paul Weiss, which is targeting some of the top corporate and finance practices in London to build out its nascent English law offering following earlier recruits from Kirkland & Ellis and Linklaters. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Departures from Clifford Chance and Linklaters as US firms continue to snap up talent in London”

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Sponsored Q&A: Morgan Lewis

1. What are the key regulatory changes that have impacted the banking and finance legal market in the UAE in the past year?

In 2023, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banking and finance legal market has witnessed significant regulatory changes that now effectively require that banks secure loans with tangible assets (in addition to, or even rather than, personal guarantees). This has implications for existing transactions, as personal guarantees alone may no longer suffice, potentially resulting in borrowers and guarantors attempting to challenge existing deals that are not secured by other assets. Banks must now adapt their lending practices to ensure compliance with these new regulations, considering a more focused approach to selecting suitable securities that facilitate enforcement, but at the same time avoiding over-collateralisation (which, as recent court practice suggests, may also be an issue). Continue reading “Sponsored Q&A: Morgan Lewis”

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Revolving doors: Paul Weiss makes another key London hire as firms bolster disputes and finance teams

In a continuation of Paul Weiss’ impressive recruitment efforts in London, Nicole Kar has joined the US firm as a partner, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Recognised in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for her expertise in competition law, Kar has dedicated more than twenty years of her career to Linklaters, joining the firm in 2001 and most recently heading up its antitrust and foreign investment practice.

Continue reading “Revolving doors: Paul Weiss makes another key London hire as firms bolster disputes and finance teams”

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Eye of the storm: General Counsel take the lead in crisis management

Corporate crises have long called for General Counsel (GC) to apply their legal expertise and judgement.

But, with the rise of cyberattacks and data breaches, a greater focus on environmental, social and governance issues, class actions and the emergence of more powerful artificial intelligence, GCs are contending with more frequent and varied crises.

GCs are also playing a larger role in helping businesses navigate such events. Instead of simply being asked for legal opinions, they find themselves and their offices leading the coordination of internal response teams. They are also being asked to have a view about the ‘right’ path forward for the company – one that considers both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ law standards and wider community and stakeholder expectations.

To explore how companies are approaching these issues, the Ashurst Leadership Centre convened a roundtable in partnership with The Legal 500 in Sydney in November 2023. The event was attended by 15 GCs from Australia’s largest companies and Ashurst partners and communications experts.

The discussion was facilitated by Lea Constantine, Partner, Head of Region – Australia.

Download and view the report offline

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Eye of the storm: General Counsel take the lead in crisis management

Corporate crises have long called for General Counsel (GC) to apply their legal expertise and judgement.

But, with the rise of cyberattacks and data breaches, a greater focus on environmental, social and governance issues, class actions and the emergence of more powerful artificial intelligence, GCs are contending with more frequent and varied crises.

GCs are also playing a larger role in helping businesses navigate such events. Instead of simply being asked for legal opinions, they find themselves and their offices leading the coordination of internal response teams. They are also being asked to have a view about the ‘right’ path forward for the company – one that considers both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ law standards and wider community and stakeholder expectations.

To explore how companies are approaching these issues, the Ashurst Leadership Centre convened a roundtable in partnership with The Legal 500 in Sydney in November 2023. The event was attended by 15 GCs from Australia’s largest companies and Ashurst partners and communications experts.

The discussion was facilitated by Lea Constantine, Partner, Head of Region – Australia.

Download and view the report offline
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‘The firm is in excellent shape’: Boies Schiller elects new chair

Partners at Boies Schiller Flexner have elected New York-based litigator and white-collar defence and internal investigations partner Matthew Schwartz as chair. Schwartz will step into the role from 1 January 2025 to serve for a three-year term.

He will take over from current chair and co-founder David Boies, who has held the position since the firm was established in 1997 and was elected to serve a final one-year term for 2024. Boies will remain a member of the executive board and will continue his active trial practice. Continue reading “‘The firm is in excellent shape’: Boies Schiller elects new chair”

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Shearman partners overlooked in Allen & Overy leadership race

Philip Bowden

In a move that may not come as a surprise to most, Allen & Overy (A&O) has unveiled a list of contenders for the managing and senior partner roles, with no Shearman & Sterling partners in the race.

Private capital group co-chair and global banking practice co-head Philip Bowden (pictured) is among three lawyers vying for Wim Dejonghe’s crown as senior partner, alongside global projects, energy, natural resources and infrastructure board head David Lee and Abu Dhabi capital markets partner Khalid Garousha, who stepped into the role of interim managing partner in July following Gareth Price’s shock departure earlier in the month. Both Bowden and Lee are based in the firm’s London office. Continue reading “Shearman partners overlooked in Allen & Overy leadership race”

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Global 100: When the music stops – it’s time for the global elite to play a different record

It has long been a peccadillo of business publishers to measure financial performance in five-year increments and for this, our final issue of the year, it seems churlish to break with tradition now.

Revisiting our Global 100 coverage from 2018 calls to mind a time capsule, with some of the contents uncannily familiar and others belonging almost to a bygone era. Continue reading “Global 100: When the music stops – it’s time for the global elite to play a different record”