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Opinion: Technology, data and digitisation are redefining the role of GCs

Business never stands still. Cross-border organisations must evolve in response to an ever-shifting world of geopolitical risk and opportunity together with the rapid changes being brought about by technology, data and digitisation. To do this, they look to their senior leaders to ensure this complex landscape is navigated effectively and adroitly. A successful general counsel (GC) today must be a central part of that team, a business leader firmly seated at the strategic table who is able to drive the delivery of strategic outcomes and help unlock commercial innovation across the business – in addition to protecting a company from regulatory and legal risks.

Against this backdrop, it is no longer realistic to rely on traditional legal support models alone. The GC needs to call on a host of broader resources. They must embrace innovation to remain informed and agile, to drive sound decision-making, manage cost and enable growth across the business. Continue reading “Opinion: Technology, data and digitisation are redefining the role of GCs”

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Perspectives: Nassib Abou-Khalil, formerly of Nokia

I grew up in Lebanon when there was a civil war. I say this with a bit of embarrassment but, because of the civil war, I never completed a school year. I had to be homeschooled for a lot of the time and the school year was always interrupted. I didn’t really have, like many young adults when they reached the age of 18 or 19, a clear vision of what I wanted to do.

Culturally, I was not the child who excelled in the subjects that families take pride in their children being good at. In Lebanon at the time, parents did not necessarily take pride, especially in young boys, in being good at French, Arabic, history, geography and arts. Those were where I was strongest. I was pretty good at maths, but the science curriculum wasn’t something I was very interested in. Continue reading “Perspectives: Nassib Abou-Khalil, formerly of Nokia”

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Tech giants: TL,DR – Too long, didn’t read

‘TL,DR. That’s a real thing for them [the big tech companies]. That language pops up. If you’re plodding in as an old-school lawyer you’re going to last three seconds in that room. They’ll just think you’re a wanker.’

So says one prominent external adviser to the ‘Big Five’ tech companies – generally agreed to be Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft. And while that sentiment undoubtedly rings true among those in the sector, do not mistake it for levity. Continue reading “Tech giants: TL,DR – Too long, didn’t read”

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Startups: Upstarts

‘At the early stage, companies get lots wrong. Their corporate governance is often non-existent. Their contractual framework and intellectual property ownership can be messy. They often do not properly implement the legal frameworks necessary to deal with data. But that’s fine because they’ve got one objective at early stage, which is to grow the financial strength and reputation of their business.’

Representing emerging companies can be an arduous undertaking. As the above assessment from Ashurst corporate partner and tech M&A aficionado Jonathan Cohen suggests, when companies and their founders are first starting out, an immaculate legal framework tends not to be top of the agenda, as budgetary and personnel constraints see other areas prioritised. Continue reading “Startups: Upstarts”

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Perspectives: David Cran, RPC

I kind of just fell into law. I’m not one of these people who always had a burning desire to be a lawyer – I’m suspicious of those people! I did double maths, physics and economics at A Level, which is enough to put anyone off. I wanted to do something completely different so I decided to read law at university. Then one thing led to another.

I left Northern Ireland and came over here. My dad had done a post grad at the University of Oxford and really enjoyed it. He was keen for me, my brother and sister to go away for the ‘full experience’. So I went to Oxford, did my degree, and it felt like such a natural progression to go to London. Continue reading “Perspectives: David Cran, RPC”

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‘An emphasis on people and culture’: Goodwin names Pathak as new London co-head

Goodwin has named funds partner Ajay Pathak (pictured) as its new London co-chair to replace Paul Lyons, who is stepping down after five years in the role.

Pathak, who is ranked as a leading individual in The Legal 500, will lead the office alongside current co-chair Gemma Roberts, who succeeded Samantha Lake Coghlan in 2021.

Continue reading “‘An emphasis on people and culture’: Goodwin names Pathak as new London co-head”

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Revolving doors: A&O hires Shearman finance partner while Goodwin launches employment practice

City of London

With sterling rallying against the dollar, firms have continued to show their commitment to the London market with significant hires this week.

Allen & Overy has hired Marwa Elborai, who has defected to the magic circle after more than 16 years at Shearman & Sterling. US qualified leveraged finance partner Elborai —who is ranked as a leading individual by The Legal 500 which describes her as ‘exceptional’ with ‘excellent sector knowledge, skills and commercial acumen’ — was promoted in 2016 and brings experience in high-yield debt offerings, US federal securities law, leveraged finance, project bond offerings, general debt capital markets transactions and debt restructurings. Continue reading “Revolving doors: A&O hires Shearman finance partner while Goodwin launches employment practice”

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‘People are at the core’: ESG-focused Butterworth named TLT senior partner

TLT has elected a new senior partner, with head of pensions Sasha Butterworth set to assume the role at the beginning of 2023.

Taking over from Andrew Glynn, who has vacated the position after seven years, Butterworth will assume a range of new duties within the firm. These include chairing both the renumeration and promotions committees. Continue reading “‘People are at the core’: ESG-focused Butterworth named TLT senior partner”

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Revolving Doors: Linklaters establishes US energy head as Macfarlanes takes Hogan Lovells pensions partner

Circling candidate

This week’s round up has an overseas focus, as firms prioritised international moves over the London market.

The headline City hire was made by Macfarlanes, which announced the arrival of pensions partner Faye Jarvis. Joining from Hogan Lovells, where she spent 15 years, Jarvis is experienced in advising employers and trustees on scheme mergers, funding arrangements, liability management exercises and the pensions elements of corporate transactions. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Linklaters establishes US energy head as Macfarlanes takes Hogan Lovells pensions partner”

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Cleary makes rare City M&A lateral play with hire of Linklaters deal star Rumsby

Cleary has turned to Linklaters M&A partner Nick Rumsby to boost its corporate offering in the City, in what will be seen as an impressive coup for the Wall Street firm’s usually cautious London strategy.

A Linklaters lifer, Rumsby has an enviable track record of advising on market-leading public M&A deals in recent years. Particular highlights include Greene King’s £2.7bn sale to Hong Kong real estate group CKA and G4S’s hostile £3.7bn offer from Garda World Security and the recommended £3.8bn offer from Allied Universal. Continue reading “Cleary makes rare City M&A lateral play with hire of Linklaters deal star Rumsby”

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Ince sheds ‘loss making’ Arden subsidiary after just seven months

Less than a year since it acquired Arden Partners in an arduous £10m buyout, Ince today (16 November) announced it is selling off the ‘loss making’ subsidiary for just £1m.

Ince had originally revealed it was buying the mid-cap investment banking company (and its own corporate adviser) Arden late in 2021, but the completion of the deal was stalled by regulatory constraints for months, finally wrapping up in April this year. Continue reading “Ince sheds ‘loss making’ Arden subsidiary after just seven months”

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Continuity in turbulent times: Travers re-elects Kath Russ to second senior partner term

Travers Smith today (16 November) confirmed Kathleen Russ has been re-elected as senior partner for a second term, starting 1 July 2023.

Russ first took on the role in July 2019 when she succeeded long term leader Chris Hale. She has been a tax partner since 2001 and led the tax team from July 2007 to January 2017. Russ also contributed to firm strategy as a member of Travers’ partnership board.

Continue reading “Continuity in turbulent times: Travers re-elects Kath Russ to second senior partner term”

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Partner promotions: Cleary makes up two in London as BCLP unveils 21-strong round

Cleary Gottlieb has made up nine new partners in its latest round of promotions, two of which are in London, while Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has included five UK lawyers in its latest cohort.

The promotion of Chrishan Raja and Naomi Tarawali to partner in Cleary’s London office is indicative of firm’s steady approach. Raja, a capital markets lawyer, has experience representing Barclays, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and UBS, while the disputes-focused Tarawali specialises in representing financial institutions, funds and sovereigns. The 2022 round matches last year’s efforts in the City, which saw Henry Mostyn and Gareth Kristensen welcomed into the equity, though in total, the latest class falls short of the 11 partners made up across the firm in 2021. Continue reading “Partner promotions: Cleary makes up two in London as BCLP unveils 21-strong round”

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Technology, data and digitisation are redefining the role of GCs

Business never stands still. Cross-border organisations must evolve in response to an ever-shifting world of geopolitical risk and opportunity together with the rapid changes being brought about by technology, data and digitisation. To do this, they look to their senior leaders to ensure this complex landscape is navigated effectively and adroitly. A successful GC today must be a central part of that team, a business leader firmly seated at the strategic table who is able to drive the delivery of strategic outcomes and help unlock commercial innovation across the business – in addition to protecting a company from regulatory and legal risks. Continue reading “Technology, data and digitisation are redefining the role of GCs”

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Significant matters – Autumn 2022

Citi GC Sharon Blackman banks top in-house accolade at Legal Business Awards 2022

The Legal Business Awards, held at the Grosvenor House hotel in London on 27 September, provided the perfect backdrop to honour the leading lights of the in-house legal community for their accomplishments of the last year. Hosted by British television presenter and journalist Louise Minchin, the event brought together the best in class in-house and private practice legal teams, with Sharon Blackman of Citi securing the top in-house award of GC of the Year. Continue reading “Significant matters – Autumn 2022”