Taylor Wessing has lost two senior London partners as UK telecoms head Patrick Clark moves to head the legal team at one of the firm’s clients, City-headquartered global e-invoicing network OB10, and longstanding construction heavyweight Helen Garthwaite joins LB100 firm Wedlake Bell. Continue reading “Taylor Wessing City duo leave to head legal at client OB10 and boost construction at Wedlake Bell”
New GCs for Tiffany and Visa as Northern Trust appoints Jenner & Block MP as legal chief
The latest senior in-house moves have seen luxury jewellery company Tiffany & Co promote Leigh Harlan to take over as general counsel as longstanding incumbent Patrick Dorsey announces his retirement, while Visa has brought in PepsiCo’s deputy GC Kelly Mahon Tullier to head its legal function, and Jenner & Block’s managing partner Susan Levy has been appointed as legal chief of global investment management firm Northern Trust. Continue reading “New GCs for Tiffany and Visa as Northern Trust appoints Jenner & Block MP as legal chief”
DWF brings in Pinsents partner to take over from Leaitherland as CEO of commercial services
DWF has appointed Pinsent Masons head of financial institutions and human capital Stephen Miles to take over from managing partner Andrew Leaitherland as chief executive officer (CEO) of its commercial services division. Continue reading “DWF brings in Pinsents partner to take over from Leaitherland as CEO of commercial services”
Further expansion for Irwin Mitchell as it opens ninth UK office in Cambridge
Irwin Mitchell will open its ninth office in the UK in the latest stage of its expansion plans after securing a £60m funding facility from three major banks, the firm announced today (16 April). Continue reading “Further expansion for Irwin Mitchell as it opens ninth UK office in Cambridge”
Addleshaw Goddard’s Collins and Joyce go forward for contested managing partner elections
Addleshaw Goddard partners have nominated Adrian Collins and John Joyce as challengers for the managing partner role in the forthcoming elections after incumbent Paul Devitt announced he is stepping down almost a year early.
BLP’s head of banking and finance litigation exits to King & Spalding
Berwin Leighton Paisner’s (BLP’s) head of banking and finance litigation David Hughes is set to leave the firm to join the litigation team at King & Spalding. Continue reading “BLP’s head of banking and finance litigation exits to King & Spalding”
Comment: ‘Geography seduced everyone’ – is emerging market bias blind-siding your firm?
There is a notion in business that is often useful, but rarely observed – the idea of signal and noise, or rather being able to distinguish between the two. The not-remotely-new point I’m making – well illustrated in Nassim Nicholas Taleb‘s not-remotely-new book, Fooled by Randomness – is that in making informed decisions, leaders should endeavour to shut out the ‘noise’ of short-term, rapidly changing information, which is typically near worthless.
Linklaters and Simpson Thacher lead on Sanpower’s landmark acquisition of House of Fraser
Linklaters and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have taken lead roles on the landmark acquisition by Chinese conglomerate Sanpower Group of a majority stake in iconic UK retailer House of Fraser. Continue reading “Linklaters and Simpson Thacher lead on Sanpower’s landmark acquisition of House of Fraser”
‘Difficult quarter’ for Citigroup as it discloses 33% increase in Q1 2014 legal spend
Citigroup has joined a raft of global financial institutions that have declared a substantial rise in their legal spend, up by 33% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same time last year, according to the bank’s financial report released yesterday (14 April). Continue reading “‘Difficult quarter’ for Citigroup as it discloses 33% increase in Q1 2014 legal spend”
Herbert Smith Freehills shakes off post-merger politics in favour of sole global corporate head as Ferraro takes over
Setting aside the notoriously difficult post-merger politics of selecting one partner to run a core practice area, Herbert Smith Freehills today (15 April) announced that former Freehills joint global head of corporate Mike Ferraro will take over as sole head. Continue reading “Herbert Smith Freehills shakes off post-merger politics in favour of sole global corporate head as Ferraro takes over”
Revolving doors: Senior ex-Unilever and Amex lawyers move to private practice as McDermott boosts Paris office
Some of the most high-profile strategic hires recently have seen former in-house counsel move to private practice, all following the news last week that Weil, Gotshal & Manges is bringing Goldman Sachs’ European head and co-head of restructuring Andrew Wilkinson back to a law firm.
Partner promotions: Bird & Bird maintains a steady 11
Bird & Bird has maintained steady partnership promotion levels for a third consecutive year with 11 associates made up to partner, a figure that represents just over 4% of the top 20 firm’s current partnership numbers. Continue reading “Partner promotions: Bird & Bird maintains a steady 11”
Hogan Lovells gives voice to partners under 45 with new board level role
Hogan Lovells has taken a clear step towards giving its younger partners a high level representative voice with the announcement today (14 April) that it has created a position on the 12-strong board for an equity partner age 45 and under. Continue reading “Hogan Lovells gives voice to partners under 45 with new board level role”
Camerons’ fixed-share partners to contribute up to £50k in response to HMRC shake-up
CMS Cameron McKenna has become the latest firm to call upon its fixed-share partners to make a substantial contribution of capital in light of HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC) recent overhaul of the way partnerships are taxed. Continue reading “Camerons’ fixed-share partners to contribute up to £50k in response to HMRC shake-up”
Legal Services Board appoints BT general counsel and Ofcom competition director as members
Just weeks after bringing in a former chief executive of Cheshire and Kent County Councils, Sir Michael Pitt, to succeed David Edmonds CBE as chairman, the Legal Services Board has announced the appointment of David Eveleigh, general counsel to BT’s global services division, and Marina Gibbs, a director of competition policy at watchdog Ofcom, as non-executive board members of the regulatory body. Continue reading “Legal Services Board appoints BT general counsel and Ofcom competition director as members”
TMT exits continue at Field Fisher as two more partners sign off
Field Fisher Waterhouse‘s TMT practice has taken another hit as technology and outsourcing specialist Stewart Room is leaving for PwC, while head of trade marks Mark Holah is set to join Bird & Bird.
Continue reading “TMT exits continue at Field Fisher as two more partners sign off”
‘There’s no-one of the scale to rival us’ – HSF’s new litigation head talks strategy
Justin D’Agostino has taken over as global head of dispute resolution at commercial litigation heavyweight Herbert Smith Freehills. Here the Asia-based lawyer talks to Legal Business about joining the dots of an expanding practice. Continue reading “‘There’s no-one of the scale to rival us’ – HSF’s new litigation head talks strategy”
ABS latest: Kent Legal Services to open the bidding in search for a JV partner this summer
Kent County Council‘s legal arm is seeking ‘expressions of interest’ from potential alternative business structure (ABS) joint venture partners in advance of a formal procurement exercise to launch this summer as part of the council’s wider programme to raise funds.
Thompson to lead City charge as Eversheds unveils new office leadership
Eversheds has today (10 April) announced its new senior office partners across its London, Newcastle, Nottingham and Cardiff bases, with its highly-regarded joint head of UK financial services, Pamela Thompson, taking the helm in London.
Continue reading “Thompson to lead City charge as Eversheds unveils new office leadership”
Disputes: NRF hires Orrick litigation heavyweight as 20 Essex Street’s Morpuss QC joins Macfarlanes
Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) has today (10 April) announced the hire of Orrick Rambaud Martel’s Philippe Hameau as a dispute resolution and litigation partner in its Paris office. Meanwhile, in London, Macfarlanes has confirmed that it has appointed 20 Essex Street silk Guy Morpuss QC to provide its clients with advice and advocacy.