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.
Guest post: three leading indicators of success
This is a sequel, in a yin-yang fashion, to an earlier guest post, ‘Three leading indicators of failure‘. What might the equivalent indicators be for success, or outperformance?
Continue reading “Guest post: three leading indicators of success”
Deal watch: Nabarro and Addleshaws take the lead on £800m Hermes/Co-Op regeneration joint venture
While major real estate deals are hard to come by, the usual suspects continue to take the lion’s share of the work as LB100 firms Nabarro and Addleshaw Goddard have advised on a £800m real estate deal between Hermes Real Estate and The Co-Operative Group to become equal partners on the regeneration of buildings and land in central Manchester.
ABS latest: Fairpoint Group to acquire Simpson Millar for £9m
Finance company Fairpoint Group has today (9 April) announced its intention to acquire Leeds-based Simpson Millar.
Continue reading “ABS latest: Fairpoint Group to acquire Simpson Millar for £9m”
Filling one of Europe’s top legal jobs – JP Morgan hires Nomura’s Piers Le Marchant as new EMEA general counsel
It’s often said that the finance industry has been in retreat since the 2008 banking crisis but there is no doubt that US giant JP Morgan Chase remains one of the most lucrative and coveted legal clients in the world.
Freshfields recruits ex-Cleary partner to bolster US bench in key securities hire
In a rare partner hire in the City, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has added to its capital markets and US corporate law practice with the partner hire of Ash Qureshi, who joins from investment group Kingsley Capital Partners.
Continue reading “Freshfields recruits ex-Cleary partner to bolster US bench in key securities hire”
Eversheds in talks to extend voting rights as 164 junior partners inject cash
Eversheds has started talks over the voting rights of its fixed share partners (FSPs) after they were asked to contribute 25% of their annual earnings in response to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) tax changes for limited liability partnerships (LLPs).
Continue reading “Eversheds in talks to extend voting rights as 164 junior partners inject cash”
Africa expansion: Dentons ties up with Cape Town associate firm
Dentons has announced today (9 April), that it has tied up with local associate firm KapdiTwala to launch an office in Cape Town.
Continue reading “Africa expansion: Dentons ties up with Cape Town associate firm”
Partner promotions: Wragges and DAC Beachcroft make up significantly more lawyers; Olswang promotes two
Ahead of its 1 May merger with City firm Lawrence Graham, Wragge & Co has more than doubled the number of partner promotions it made last year to five, including two in its housing, development & regeneration team.
Revolving doors: Stephenson Harwood, Dentons, Morgan Lewis, Pinsents and Wragges make key hires
A number of firms have made noteworthy strategic appointments in the last few days, with Stephenson Harwood, Dentons, Morgan Lewis, Pinsent Masons and Wragge & Co all adding to their benches.
Deal watch: Global elite giants face off in Lafarge/Holcim and Vivendi/Altice European transactions
A handful of Global 100 firms scored key roles on two signifcant European deals this week, as Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Linklaters, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised on the recently announced €40bn merger between France’s Lafarge and Switzerland’s Holcim. Continue reading “Deal watch: Global elite giants face off in Lafarge/Holcim and Vivendi/Altice European transactions”
Comment: A truly global City and the fiercest contest in law
So much for the humbling of the City. Our annual Global London special 2014 finds that the number of lawyers employed at the top 50 foreign firms in the Square Mile has finally and comfortably broken its 2008 high, with over 4,500 lawyers working across the group after a 6% hike in numbers.
Continue reading “Comment: A truly global City and the fiercest contest in law”
FCA turns to Clifford Chance’s Davis over handling of proposed insurance industry review
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has appointed Clifford Chance‘s senior commercial litigation partner Simon Davis to conduct an independent inquiry into the handling of the body’s botched announcement of an investigation into the insurance industry.
‘There are no “diet-coke” partnerships at Freshfields’: Barry O’Brien on a new career at Jefferies
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer former corporate head Barry O’Brien last month (31 March) hung up his Magic Circle boots to move into a client development role at US investment bank Jefferies. Before joining, the former rugby playing high flyer spoke to Legal Business about diet coke partnerships, retirement, and moving away from the Magic Circle.
Emerging markets M&A down as King & Wood tops league
With the emerging markets continuing to dominate the expansion strategies of many City and international firms, the short term picture remains mixed as the value of M&A activity in the region bucked a global trend by dropping to $125.7bn during the first quarter of 2014, down by 4.7% from $131.9bn compared with the first quarter of 2013. Continue reading “Emerging markets M&A down as King & Wood tops league”
Partner promotions: Linklaters beats Magic Circle rivals with 21 lawyers made up to partner
With the latest promotions round among the City elite so far showing a marked drop in the number of associates made up to partner, Linklaters has elected 21 new partners across its global network, with seven made up in London. Continue reading “Partner promotions: Linklaters beats Magic Circle rivals with 21 lawyers made up to partner”
Weil Gotshal hires restructuring heavyweight Wilkinson from Goldman Sachs
It has long been renowned as the top restructuring shop in the US but Weil, Gotshal & Manges was a late entrant to Europe’s work-out scene. As such the New York-bred law firm has taken a headline-grabbing step to take its City practice ‘to the next stage of growth’ with the hire of Goldman Sachs heavyweight Andrew Wilkinson, who is to join the firm at the end of April.
Continue reading “Weil Gotshal hires restructuring heavyweight Wilkinson from Goldman Sachs”