The month-long bidding war between French minerals company Imerys and New York’s Mineral Technologies (MT) for Amcol International this week saw Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom lose out to Cravath, Swaine & Moore as MT’s $1.7bn offer saw its competitor finally bow out of the frame. Although of significant consolation to the top five Global 100 firm is its second billion dollar deal of the week: the merger of client Chiquita with its rival, world renowned banana brand Fyffes. Continue reading “You win some you lose some: Skadden’s client bows out of $1.7bn Amcol bidding war as $1bn Chiquita/Fyffes merger goes through”
Law Society CEO Des Hudson announces summer retirement following calls for resignation
Law Society chief executive Des Hudson has today (14 March) announced he is retiring in July after the society’s annual general meeting, just days after members of the profession called for both Hudson and current Law Society president Nicholas Fluck to resign.
Hudson joined the Law Society as chief executive in September 2006. He has led numerous high-profile campaigns, including the introduction of initiatives such as the Law Society’s conveyancing quality scheme; risk and compliance service; and the wills and inheritance quality scheme. Continue reading “Law Society CEO Des Hudson announces summer retirement following calls for resignation”
Russian leader Egorov Puginsky hires managing partner and nine lawyer capital markets team from rival Liniya Prava
Leading Russian firm Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners has hired the managing partner and co-founder of rival Moscow firm Liniya Prava, who joins alongside a nine-lawyer capital markets team. Continue reading “Russian leader Egorov Puginsky hires managing partner and nine lawyer capital markets team from rival Liniya Prava”
Berlin office closure for King & Wood following partner departures and ‘strategic review’
Following signifcant movement within the German arms of major international firms of late, King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin (KWMSJB) has pointed to a strategic review of its German operations for the decision to close its Berlin office, after venture capital duo Frank Vogel and Jan Dirk Heerma resigned with the intention to set up their own boutique. Continue reading “Berlin office closure for King & Wood following partner departures and ‘strategic review’”
Freshfields arbitration practice sees more exits as trio set up boutique in Germany
Disputes partner Christian Borris is leaving Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer‘s Cologne office at the end of April to set up a local arbitration boutique.
His former two associates, Rudolph Hennecke who left the firm a month ago, and Sebastian Kneisel who relocated from its Cologne office to Frankfurt last year, will be joining Borris as partners to set up the new practice, Borris Hennecke Kneisel, which will launch on 1 May. Continue reading “Freshfields arbitration practice sees more exits as trio set up boutique in Germany”
In-house moves: QBE Insurance Group appoints new group general counsel
Rated as one of the world’s top 20 insurance and reinsurance companies, ASX-listed business underwriters QBE Insurance Group have appointed the group general counsel (GC) and company secretary of Australian supermarket Woolworths, Peter Horton, to join in the same role. Continue reading “In-house moves: QBE Insurance Group appoints new group general counsel”
Asia network: BLP ties-up with Legal Network Consultants in Myanmar
With energy and infrastructure deals at the forefront of its game plan, UK top 20 firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has joined a growing number of international firms establishing a foothold in Myanmar, via a non-exclusive tie-up with domestic outfit Legal Network Consultants (LNC). Continue reading “Asia network: BLP ties-up with Legal Network Consultants in Myanmar”
High Court orders Withers to pay £1.6m over professional negligence claim
Leading private client firm Withers has this week been ordered by the High Court to pay £1.6m in damages after the court upheld a professional negligence claim alleging the misdrafting of a limited liability partnership agreement.
Continue reading “High Court orders Withers to pay £1.6m over professional negligence claim”
Numbers game – Freshfields awards 15 partner promotions across Europe, Tokyo and New York
In the latest round of partnership promotions, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has made up 15 new partners to its ranks. While that figure does not represent a return to 2011 and 2012 levels, when 20 partners were made up, it is a slight increase on last year, when the number fell to 14. Continue reading “Numbers game – Freshfields awards 15 partner promotions across Europe, Tokyo and New York”
Diversity – Herbert Smith Freehills commits to 30% female partners by 2019
Set against a backdrop of initiatives including the 30% Club’s drive to improve senior female representation on UK boards, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has announced today (13 March) that by 2019 women will make up 30% of its partnership. Continue reading “Diversity – Herbert Smith Freehills commits to 30% female partners by 2019”
Guest post: Lessons in recruitment from Google
Loyal readers of Adam Smith, Esq. know that we think there’s much that can be learned for Law Land from other industries.
Today’s column is in that vein, and our texts for today come from The New York Times and Above the Law.
Continue reading “Guest post: Lessons in recruitment from Google”
In-house: US government agency adds to its senior lawyer ranks with AOL and Google hires
The former deputy general counsel at both AOL and Google are set to become colleagues, having separately joined the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as the government agency turns to lawyers with hi-tech backgrounds to fill its top ranks.
Outpaced – US firms’ 2013 City revenue increases overshadow global results
Aside from a notable shift towards growth, one of the most salient trends to emerge from 2013’s US financial results is the fact – and the extent to which – the London offices of America’s finest firms are outpacing their global recovery. Continue reading “Outpaced – US firms’ 2013 City revenue increases overshadow global results”
‘The message from clients is clear’ – BLP chief on the thinking behind its latest New Law venture
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) this week unveiled a bold attempt to re-enforce its credentials as a ‘New Law’ pioneer, announcing the launch of a multi-strand venture that includes the launch of a new Manchester hub as part of a drive to create a comprehensive suite of options to reduce costs and improve flexibility for clients.
The ‘four-pronged approach’ will see the 786-lawyer firm consult its clients on how to improve its work processes; roll out its already successful Lawyers on Demand (LoD) service to include virtual transactional teams to back BLP clients; offer an extension of its current outsourcing and project management services, including deploying its Managed Legal Services (MLS) division; and provide the option of a low-cost centre in Manchester as an extension of its 11 existing offices. Continue reading “‘The message from clients is clear’ – BLP chief on the thinking behind its latest New Law venture”
Head of Manhattan – Adam Siegel takes over as Freshfields US managing partner
One of the more successful of the Magic Circle practices in Wall Street, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Adam Siegel to take over as its new US managing partner when current US head Julian Pritchard steps down on April 30. Siegel’s term will run for three years. Continue reading “Head of Manhattan – Adam Siegel takes over as Freshfields US managing partner”
The student view: Davis Polk’s Will Pearce talks deal lawyering at Wall Street’s finest
London may have caught New York-based giant Davis Polk & Wardwell’s eye as early as 1973, but it’s only two years ago that the firm’s UK office launched an English law practice, following the January 2012 hire of former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer corporate partner Simon Witty and tax partner Jonathan Cooklin. Continue reading “The student view: Davis Polk’s Will Pearce talks deal lawyering at Wall Street’s finest”
Chartered legal execs to stand on a par with solicitors in conveyancing and probate after Grayling approval
In a further step towards breaking down the traditional restraints on delivering legal services, chartered legal executives have been given the go ahead to practise independently on probate and conveyancing matters after justice secretary Chris Grayling approved the proposal last week. Continue reading “Chartered legal execs to stand on a par with solicitors in conveyancing and probate after Grayling approval”
Premier League calls on Peter McCormick to stand in as director after chairman hospitalised
The Premier League has announced that it has drafted in the head of its legal advisory group, Peter McCormick, to stand in as a temporary director after league chairman Anthony Fry was taken seriously ill. Continue reading “Premier League calls on Peter McCormick to stand in as director after chairman hospitalised”
Onwards and upwards for Ashurst’s head of pensions who joins Eversheds 90-lawyer team
Ashurst’s London head of pensions Steven Hull has jumped ship for Eversheds’ highly-rated 90-lawyer team, becoming the latest of a series of exits at the top 20 firm. Continue reading “Onwards and upwards for Ashurst’s head of pensions who joins Eversheds 90-lawyer team”
Tanks off our lawn – BLP aims to retake future of law turf with huge expansion of ‘New Law’ services
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has today (11 March) launched an innovative package of services for clients, which includes rolling out a lower cost team in a new Manchester office early this summer.
The four-pronged model, dubbed the Integrated Client Service Model, will see the firm analyse the systems and processes that clients need; offer them virtual transaction teams as an extension of its existing Lawyers on Demand (LoD) business; offer third parties an outsourcing service based on the type of managed legal services offering currently provided to clients including Thames Water; and access to a ‘large pool of high quality legal staff’ in Manchester.