Hogan Lovells’ Milan office has led on Vodafone’s €145m acquisition of Italian car electronics maker Cobra Automotive Technologies as the machine-to-machine sector is identified as the latest untapped market. Continue reading “Hogan Lovells leads for Vodafone on €145m Cobra acquisition”
Ashurst finance partner Simon Thrower latest to leave with move to Simmons
Ashurst finance partner Simon Thrower has quit to join Simmons & Simmons’ City practice within days of the announcement that corporate partner Nigel Stacey is leaving for US firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Continue reading “Ashurst finance partner Simon Thrower latest to leave with move to Simmons”
Comment: Cameronics redux – a hard-to-grasp institution that looks set to surprise
Given that I get paid to poke around law firms’ inner workings, it’s not that often that I find it hard to get my head around a law firm but CMS Cameron McKenna in its 2014 form is one such creature. Continue reading “Comment: Cameronics redux – a hard-to-grasp institution that looks set to surprise”
Comment: Marking your own homework, Dentons and a defence of PEP
It would almost be too easy to pick holes in the letter that Dentons has supplied to the media to justify its attempt to withhold its profits on the basis of Olympian high principle. But I won’t let that stop me. Continue reading “Comment: Marking your own homework, Dentons and a defence of PEP”
Financial Results 2013/14: Kennedys unveils a double digit hike in turnover to £128.5m
Kennedys is the latest UK firm to announce its 2013/14 turnover, unveiling double digit growth with revenue up by 10% to £128.5m.
The lion’s share of revenue at the top 30 firm came from its UK activity, which generated £98.3m. Continue reading “Financial Results 2013/14: Kennedys unveils a double digit hike in turnover to £128.5m”
‘We’ve got to complete the unification process’: Hogan Lovells incoming CEO and deputy talk strategy
As co-CEOs David Harris and Warren Gorrell enter their final weeks leading the partnership at transatlantic firm Hogan Lovells, newly-elected sole CEO Steve Immelt is putting relationship building high on his list of priorities, alongside harder objectives such as further global expansion and fine-tuning the firm’s remuneration system. Continue reading “‘We’ve got to complete the unification process’: Hogan Lovells incoming CEO and deputy talk strategy”
Shearman London and Linklaters Paris lead on circa $2bn Euronext float
Shearman & Sterling’s London office has taken the lead advising New York-listed global exchange and clearing house operator IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) on its initial public offering (IPO) of pan-European exchange group Euronext on Euronext Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, for what ICE says is likely to be valued at in excess of $2bn. Continue reading “Shearman London and Linklaters Paris lead on circa $2bn Euronext float”
Mishcon de Reya to launch independent private client business with offshore fiduciary firm
Mishcon de Reya has today (11 June) announced it is set to launch an independent, private client advisory business entitled ‘Mayfair Private’ with offshore fiduciary firm Opus Private to provide ‘discreet professional solutions’ to wealthy individuals, families and private offices. Continue reading “Mishcon de Reya to launch independent private client business with offshore fiduciary firm”
Sandy Thomas sees off early challenge to leadership in Reed Smith’s contested managing partner elections
Alexander ‘Sandy’ Thomas has been elected as global managing partner at Reed Smith after John Martini, vice-chair of the firm’s global business and finance department, challenged his position less than a year into the role.
Clifford Chance, Covington and Skadden lead on £930m AA IPO
Clifford Chance (CC), Covington & Burling and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom are advising on the £930m flotation of over two thirds of vehicle breakdown group the AA to City investors. Continue reading “Clifford Chance, Covington and Skadden lead on £930m AA IPO”
‘Hundreds of thousands of pounds are earmarked’: Linklaters’ senior partner Robert Elliott talks new diversity targets
As Linklaters yesterday (9 June) became the second Magic Circle firm after Allen & Overy to put in place gender diversity targets, senior partner Robert Elliott explained to Legal Business why partners have voted to set a target of 30% of all partner promotions to be made up of women and how they plan to double their female management figure to that ratio by 2018. Continue reading “‘Hundreds of thousands of pounds are earmarked’: Linklaters’ senior partner Robert Elliott talks new diversity targets”
Genus turns to Shire Pharmaceuticals to fill GC and company secretary role
Following the return of Tom Kilroy to Misys, Genus, a leading provider of bovine genetics and reproduction services yesterday (June 9) announced the appointment of Dan Hartley as group general counsel (GC) and company secretary. Continue reading “Genus turns to Shire Pharmaceuticals to fill GC and company secretary role”
UK big six energy giant SSE announces seven-strong inaugural legal panel
Big six energy giant SSE has set up an inaugural seven-strong law firm panel following an ‘extensive selection process’.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Addleshaw Goddard, CMS, Osborne Clarke, Gillespie Macandrew, Thorntons and Kennedys have been appointed to advise across various legal disciplines, including but not limited to construction, property, finance, litigation and corporate. Continue reading “UK big six energy giant SSE announces seven-strong inaugural legal panel”
Ashurst corporate partner Nigel Stacey quits for Gibson Dunn’s City office
Ashurst’s corporate partner Nigel Stacey has quit the firm to join the London office of Los Angeles-founded firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.
Stacey, who focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and general corporate matters, follows in the footsteps of fellow corporate partner Jonathan Earle, who left Ashurst in April after being with the firm for 16 years. Continue reading “Ashurst corporate partner Nigel Stacey quits for Gibson Dunn’s City office”
Contested senior partner elections at Pinsent Masons as Chris Mullen challenged by head of construction
Pinsent Masons senior partner Chris Mullen will next month face construction head challenger Richard Foley in the first contested elections at the top 20 firm since David Ryan was voted in as managing partner in 1998. Continue reading “Contested senior partner elections at Pinsent Masons as Chris Mullen challenged by head of construction”
Revolving Doors: HSF’s Rosen QC returns to the Bar; laterals for Weil Gotshal; Simmons; Rosenblatt and Payne Hicks
The latest standout lateral moves have seen Herbert Smith Freehills’ (HSF) former advocacy chief Murray Rosen QC return to the Bar, as Weil Gotshal & Manges boosts its City finance practice, Simmons & Simmons expands in Bristol, with further partner hires at Rosenblatt Solicitors and Payne Hicks Beach.
California dreaming: Clyde & Co expands US practice
Clyde & Co announced today (9 June) that it is expanding its West Coast US practice, opening an office in southern California led by Joe Walsh, formerly a partner at local firm Keesal, Young & Logan.
Continue reading “California dreaming: Clyde & Co expands US practice”
Financial results 2013/14: Addleshaws posts mixed results as profit down 11% after partner restructuring and CFA write-off
Addleshaw Goddard today (9 June) unveiled mixed financial results for the 2013/14 period, with turnover up by 3% to £171.4m but net profit down 11% from £44.9m to £39.8m. Continue reading “Financial results 2013/14: Addleshaws posts mixed results as profit down 11% after partner restructuring and CFA write-off”
Deloitte plots legal market assault with appointment of global managing director
Deloitte has become the last of the Big Four accountancy firms to announce plans to re-enter the legal market with the appointment of Rotterdam-based Piet Hein Meeter as global managing director of Deloitte Legal. Continue reading “Deloitte plots legal market assault with appointment of global managing director”
Eversheds real estate head and tax partner to form high-end boutique
The head of Eversheds’ international real estate group, William Naunton, is to leave the firm alongside tax partner Clive Jones to set up a high-end real estate boutique, after both have served a one-year notice period. Continue reading “Eversheds real estate head and tax partner to form high-end boutique”