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Sponsored briefing: Landmark Privy Council decision on the scope and ranking of trustees’ indemnity

In October 2022, the Privy Council finally handed down judgment in the Z Trust (II) appeals (ETJL v Halabi; ITGL v Fort Trustees [2022] UKPC 36). This decision concerns the under examined (and hitherto rather dull) topic of the nature and scope of the right of a trustee to recover liabilities and expenses from the trust assets. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Landmark Privy Council decision on the scope and ranking of trustees’ indemnity”

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Sponsored briefing: Dispute Resolution: Strategic case management with legal acumen

State court litigation and private arbitration proceedings require practitioners to combine legal thoroughness and the management of evidence with strategic ingenuity. Understanding court processes, legal practice and tactical procedural advantages all add up to sound advice in contentious legal matters.

Dispute resolution in all its appearances enjoys a longstanding tradition at PRAGER DREIFUSS. Our attorneys represent parties before local state courts as well as administrative authorities. Debt collection and bankruptcy matters are strong areas of our practice, in particular in disputes involving foreign parties. International arbitration has special significance in our firm and a number of our attorneys are regularly appointed as arbitrators in institutional and ad-hoc arbitration tribunals. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Dispute Resolution: Strategic case management with legal acumen”

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The Client profile: Sharon Blackman, Citi

While she is loath to admit it, Sharon Blackman, managing director and general counsel in Citi’s global legal affairs and compliance division, ‘hated’ her law degree. Clearly this has not held her back though, as her GC of the Year gong at the Legal Business Awards in September testifies.

Despite not falling in love with the law at an academic level, during her degree, Blackman took on pro bono work at her local Citizens Advice Bureau, and it was there that her passion was first ignited. She recalls: ‘It was really useful for developing the practical piece and I found that much more engaging than just the theoretical piece.’ Continue reading “The Client profile: Sharon Blackman, Citi”

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‘A close-knit group’: Milbank acquires Dickson Minto’s seven-partner London office

One of 2022’s hottest merger rumours came to fruition today (13 December), as Milbank confirmed it was acquiring the London office of Anglo-Scottish firm Dickson Minto.

Legal Business first reported murmurings of a merger in the summer, when concerns were raised about matching Dickson Minto’s private equity specialism with Milbank’s bank-side lender practice. At the time, Dickson Minto had also being linked with Fried Frank, although sources claiming familiarity with the deal said those talks had collapsed.

Continue reading “‘A close-knit group’: Milbank acquires Dickson Minto’s seven-partner London office”

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OC’s departing UK leader Berg seeks westward expansion in American voyage

Ray Berg

Less than two months after handing over the UK managing partner reins, Osborne Clarke’s (OC) Ray Berg is set for America to boost the firm’s stateside expansion strategy.

The clubbable Berg (pictured) is to take up a ‘senior business development role’ in San Francisco in January, and will work closely with the team, led by US managing partner Steve Wilson.

Continue reading “OC’s departing UK leader Berg seeks westward expansion in American voyage”

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Pinsents ushers in new era with Cameron unveiled as first female managing partner

Pinsent Masons has elected litigation and regulatory head Laura Cameron as its first female managing partner, succeeding the longstanding John Cleland who steps down after eight years.  

Cameron, who will assume the role on 1 May 2023, has considerable pedigree at Pinsents. During her 28 years at the firm she has fulfilled various leadership responsibilities, and already broke new ground by becoming the firm’s first female board member. Pinsents describes Cameron as ‘an ambassador for gender parity in management positions.’  

Continue reading “Pinsents ushers in new era with Cameron unveiled as first female managing partner”

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White & Case adds BCLP funds head as WilmerHale strengthens white-collar practice

Circling candidate

As the year-end approaches, US firms have dominated this week’s hiring round with additions across London’s transactional and disputes practices. 

WilmerHale bolstered its London white-collar defence practice with the addition of Richard Burger. Burger – who is ranked as a leading individual by The Legal 500 and described as ‘a standout practitioner in the disciplinary/regulatory field’ – is a former enforcement lawyer and prosecutor with the Financial Services Authority and has experience defending clients in criminal and regulatory investigations. 

Continue reading “White & Case adds BCLP funds head as WilmerHale strengthens white-collar practice”

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CC and Freshfields dish out US associate bonuses to match American rivals

standing on coins

Clifford Chance (CC) has become the second Magic Circle firm to dish out competitive year-end bonuses to US associates, after Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer matched US competitors’ rates last week.

Both firms will pay their junior lawyers a lump sum based on their year of qualification. At both CC and Freshfields, newly qualified (NQ) associates will receive a prorated bonus of $15,000, the 2021 class of associates will receive a $20,000 pay-out, while at the top-end, seven and eight-year associates will receive $105,000 and $115,000 respectively.

Continue reading “CC and Freshfields dish out US associate bonuses to match American rivals”

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CC votes in capital markets head Cartwright to succeed Ouwehand as senior partner

Adrian Cartwright

Partners at Clifford Chance (CC) have voted in head of capital markets Adrian Cartwright as the firm’s new senior partner, succeeding Jeroen Ouwehand, who will step down after four years in the role.

London-based Cartwright held off competition from Ouwehand and Dubai office managing partner Edmund Boyo in the recent election and will start his four-year term on 1 January 2023.

Continue reading “CC votes in capital markets head Cartwright to succeed Ouwehand as senior partner”

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Dechert unveils new global management team with longstanding leaders stepping down

Dechert has unveiled a new-look leadership team, with David Forti and Mark Thierfelder elected as new co-chairs, and Sabina Comis and Vincent Cohen set to become the firm’s inaugural global managing partners.

The new team, which will take office 1 July 2023, replaces Andy Levander, the firm’s chair since 2011, and Henry Nassau, the firm’s CEO since 2016.

Continue reading “Dechert unveils new global management team with longstanding leaders stepping down”

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Revolving doors: MoFo brings in IP team as Osborne Clarke makes double UK partner hire

The approaching festive period has not led to a cooling of the recruitment market, with corporate structuring, M&A, tax and IP expertise topping firms’ wishlists.

It was a busy period for Morrison Foerster, with the firm recruiting an IP team in London. The group is led by Steven James, who joins as a partner from Brown Rudnick, where he headed the UK and European IP group. Other members of the team include of counsel Ruth Arkley and senior associate Hattie Chessher.

Continue reading “Revolving doors: MoFo brings in IP team as Osborne Clarke makes double UK partner hire”

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HSF names London partner Flockhart as new corporate co-head

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has appointed London partner Mike Flockhart as its new joint managing partner for corporate, succeeding the veteran deals guru Stephen Wilkinson.

Flockhart (pictured), who will assume the role on 1 December, will work alongside fellow co-head and Australian partner Carolyn Pugsley. Wilkinson, well regarded as the firm’s relationship partner for key client Sky, will return to full-time practice after four years in the leadership position.

Continue reading “HSF names London partner Flockhart as new corporate co-head”

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‘Delighted to be the first’: Ashurst unveils Korean joint venture

Paul Jenkins

Ashurst announced today (29 November) the rubber-stamping of a joint venture with South Korean firm HwaHyun, claiming to become the first international firm permitted to practice local law in the jurisdiction. 

The association, which was approved by the Korean Ministry of Justice today, brings to fruition a longstanding aim for Ashurst. The firm first signalled its intent to launch in Korea when its legal market opened in 2011, before putting plans on ice in 2016.  

Continue reading “‘Delighted to be the first’: Ashurst unveils Korean joint venture”

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Sponsored briefing: Overview of the key legal issues in the TMT sector in China

Partners from Haiwen & Partners take an in-depth look at TMT in China

The TMT (commonly known to represent ‘technology, media and telecom’) sector covers businesses in the areas of telecom, media and online-related or digital technologies. Typically, such businesses include internet content services (eg, social network, online audio and video, content search engine, etc.), e-commerce business, AI solution providers, data and digital services, and other similar businesses. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Overview of the key legal issues in the TMT sector in China”

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Sponsored briefing: GDPR aspects to consider when conducting reference checks

Penkov, Markov & Partners’ Nikolay Cvetanov and Dimo Katrandzhiev on the GDPR risks facing employees checking the references of potential new employees

Although the GDPR has been in effect for a while now, organisations (especially applicable to small and medium-sized businesses) continue to face challenges with the alignment of all processes and activities involving processing personal data. Particular areas where our legal practice has identified compliance issues, given various customer enquiries, represent marketing and staff recruitment activities. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: GDPR aspects to consider when conducting reference checks”

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Sponsor briefing: Key trends on IPR protections in TMT areas in Japan

Yoshifumi Onodera of Mori Hamada & Matsumoto explains the current developments in intellectual property law within the TMT sphere

What are key trends on intellectual property right (IPR) protections in TMT areas in Japan?

Key trends I would like to introduce to you are as follows:

  • IPR protections in the metaverse in Japan
  • METI’s guideline in relation to SEP/FRAND licences
  • New IP High Court decision on multi-jurisdictional patent infringement
  • Amended Trade Mark Act introducing remote procedures
  • Future plans for IP system reforms

Continue reading “Sponsor briefing: Key trends on IPR protections in TMT areas in Japan”