Posted on

Constructing continents – the clients and advisers targeting Africa’s booming infra market

workmen on scaffolding against Africa map backdrop

In August this year, President Obama hosted the largest US-Africa leaders’ summit ever, with the heads of nearly every African nation gathering in Washington DC. As well as working on governance and leadership issues, Obama talked to a business forum hosted in the Mandarin Oriental, with 90 US firms and over 100 major African companies attending, in an attempt to broker deals and build relationships across the Atlantic.

The summit came after 18 months that have seen increasing numbers of US institutions committing money to the continent and stoking opportunities for law firms. But the US is late to the game with Asian, Middle Eastern and European players having an established presence while local developers have become increasingly prominent. Continue reading “Constructing continents – the clients and advisers targeting Africa’s booming infra market”

Posted on

Banking Litigation Insight: ‘The worst case scenario is £200m – litigation is containable’

An unprecedented wave of global enforcement has pushed risks facing banks to once unthinkable proportions. In the follow-up to our banking litigation Insight with Stephenson Harwood, bank counsel discuss managing the biggest risks in global business. Alex Novarese reports.

‘A head of litigation at a bank was saying to me the other day: “I don’t really care about [civil litigation]. If a counterparty has a claim, even a big claim, you instruct your litigators – it’s expensive and you try to control the cost but it’s just a bit of litigation. Worst-case scenario is we may have to write a cheque for £200m but we know the limits of the problem. We don’t really care. It’s containable. It’s predictable.” You would have never heard someone saying something like that ten years ago. But all these issues about reputation, regulation and unquantifiable fines – it’s such a mess. You know you have got to do something about it but you don’t know where it will go.’

Continue reading “Banking Litigation Insight: ‘The worst case scenario is £200m – litigation is containable’”

Posted on

‘We won’t break lockstep, we see it as a strength’: Clifford Chance US chiefs talk growing revenues and love of the lockstep

As fellow Magic Circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer targets the US market, Clifford Chance’s US leadership is seeking to upscale its offering in the Americas, and are actively looking to recruit fresh talent across all levels, from associate to partner. But, such growth, explains Americas managing partner Evan Cohen and Washington DC managing partner David DiBari, will be achieved without breaking away from the firm’s traditional remuneration system. 

Continue reading “‘We won’t break lockstep, we see it as a strength’: Clifford Chance US chiefs talk growing revenues and love of the lockstep”

Posted on

Dealwatch: Baker & McKenzie and Norton Rose Fulbright lead on Battersea Power Station £1.4bn real estate financing

In what constitutes one of the biggest UK real estate financings in recent years, Battersea Power Station has raised £1.4bn from a syndicate of Asian and Middle Eastern banks with Baker & McKenzie and Norton Rose Fulbright landing key advisory roles.

Continue reading “Dealwatch: Baker & McKenzie and Norton Rose Fulbright lead on Battersea Power Station £1.4bn real estate financing”

Posted on

‘There is much still to accomplish’: Norton Rose Fulbright re-elects Peter Martyr for fifth term as chief executive

Norton Rose Fulbright has re-elected Peter Martyr as global chief executive for a further three years, an appointment that will constitute the leader’s fifth term in the top role. The firm has, however, appointed Martin Scott, the firm’s global corporate head, M&A securities, to succeed Martyr as managing partner of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP.

Continue reading “‘There is much still to accomplish’: Norton Rose Fulbright re-elects Peter Martyr for fifth term as chief executive”

Posted on

House of Lords votes against Grayling over judicial review restrictions following warnings from the profession

Justice secretary Chris Grayling has been defeated in the House of Lords over plans to limit the ability of individuals and organisations to challenge public decisions in the courts, just days after the legal profession claimed it would have a ‘chilling effect’ on those seeking justice.

Continue reading “House of Lords votes against Grayling over judicial review restrictions following warnings from the profession”