If the Ukraine invasion and its ensuing debates around right to representation inflicted a bruise on the legal profession’s reputation, recent professional misconduct episodes have surely left a greater wound.
In early May, a Twitter post authored by a Cardiff restaurant owner went viral, containing claims that a group of Ince lawyers had behaved inappropriately towards a waitress. Continue reading “Gerrard revelations and Ince restaurant-gate pose ethical quandaries for profession”
Unlike some flightier in-house counsel, Vodafone’s head of legal for commercial operations, IP and corporate secretariat, Wayne Spillett, has stayed loyal to the company for close to 13 years. After a lengthy conversation, it is easy to see why.
Spillett studied both English and French law at the University of Exeter, developing a keen interest in EU law. The logical next step was a training contract at Lovells, where he qualified as a competition lawyer working out of both the firm’s London and Paris offices. Continue reading “The Client profile: Wayne Spillett, Vodafone”
Asking around the market for tributes to Scott Simpson, Skadden’s eminent M&A partner who died suddenly at the age of 65 on 29 May, soon confirmed what was long suspected. Scott was the kind of man who got everyone up dancing to rock music, the sort of man who put the shirt-related fear of God into German hoteliers, the consummate enthusiast, sportsman and loving family man. He was the kind of man who would not hear of allowing a legal journalist to go unescorted in a foreign city or flinch when she put her foot in it. Effortlessly kind, generous, clever and funny.
Michael Hatchard, the now retired partner who did much to make Skadden a US heavyweight in public M&A work in Europe, recalls fondly: ‘When called to Düsseldorf for what would become the defence of Mannesmann in the bid from Vodafone, Scott left London just before the New Year holidays without hesitation with an overnight bag. He didn’t surface until the spring, by which time he had become a central player in the defence team and the deal had become recommendable. The hotel eventually asked him to sign a waiver because the collars on his much over-laundered shirts were about to fall off.’ Continue reading “‘A true star and magnificent friend’: Industry greats bid farewell to Skadden M&A doyen Scott Simpson”
The tables below summarise top-tier rankings, firstly by country (for the region’s major jurisdictions), and then on a regional basis, as drawn from The Legal 500 Latin America’s 2022 edition (published October 2021). Please note these listings exclude Central America, which will be considered separately in a subsequent edition of Legal Business.
Continue reading “Legal 500 data: The Legal 500 Latin America rankings”
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Limited version Continue reading “Access your print copy online – LB308”
Big deals in agriculture, social care and fintech have stood out in the market in recent days, with leading US and UK-headquartered firms scoring lead mandates.
The irrigation sector saw consolidation with the merger of Temasek-owned Rivulis and publicly-listed Jain Irrigation in a cash and stock transaction. The combined entity will be a global force in the irrigation space with $750m in revenues and coverage across 35 countries. Continue reading “Dealwatch: Latham and Bakers handle agriculture merger as Weil and Kirkland land fintech financing”
Given the challenges created by Covid-19, how is this affecting your firm post-pandemic?
We had already rolled out remote working capability for all our staff before Covid, so we were able to deal with our workload remotely, without huge efforts. It is now unthinkable for us that our staff would not be fully mobile and flexible in their work arrangements. Although we are still big believers in face-to-face teamwork where geographically possible, staff can choose to work from home a few days a week. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Q&A: James Scicluna, co-managing partner, WH Partners”
After a year of ambitious international growth, Kennedys has posted record revenue of £286m, up 8% on last year, despite sluggish 1.4% UK growth.
In the last year, the firm added 18 lateral partner hires, and made up 22 new partners globally. In characteristically expansive mode, Kennedys also opened three new offices globally as well as forging three new associations in Turkey, Bolivia and Ecuador. Continue reading “US expansion drives record revenue at Kennedys as Weightmans’ profits soar 25%”
In a week of globetrotting action for firms, Ashurst has solidified its American ambitions by opening a new office in Texas.
In May, Legal Business reported that Ashurst was seeking to add depth in the US as a ‘strategic priority’, with chief executive Paul Jenkins stating the firm needed ‘to do more in the US over time.’ Jenkins said that it was in the firm’s core sectors, which included infrastructure, financial institutions-related work, the digital economy, real estate, energy transition and funds, that Ashurst could be doing more stateside. Continue reading “International round-up: Ashurst pursues American dream with Texas opening as Eversheds expands in Bulgaria”
Squire Patton Boggs (SPB) has become the latest firm to wade into the thorny environmental, social and governance debate, unveiling a UK ESG strategy with a pledge to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2035.
The Cleveland-headquartered firm, which has UK offices in London, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, is targeting a 15% reduction year on year, which it hopes will see emissions fall by 70% by the end of the decade. Continue reading “‘Holding yourself accountable’: Squire Patton Boggs commits to net zero by 2035 with new ESG strategy”
US firms have dominated transactional recruitment this week while UK-headquartered peers have focused on bolstering their disputes capabilities.
Paul Hastings continues its auspicious London growth trajectory, which saw its City revenue surge 41% in 2021/22, with a dual partner hire. The firm announced the addition of Jason Brooks to its structured credit team this week following the arrival of private equity partner Tom Cartwright last week. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Paul Hastings adds two as McDermott boosts energy expertise”
In its tercentenary year, Legal Business 100 firm Boodle Hatfield has announced revenues of £30.7m for 2021/22, up 4% from £29.4m the previous year.
The latest figures continue the firm’s recent upward trajectory. Since 2016, the private wealth and real estate focused firm has recorded an average annual revenue increase of 5.5% and a 14% average increase in profit. In total, this equates to a 38% jump in revenue and a 113% increase in profit. Continue reading “‘A fantastic achievement’: Boodle Hatfield marks 300-year anniversary with revenue growth”
High-profile deals in the insurance, real estate and software sectors have been keeping advisers busy this week, as leading US and UK firms advised on high-profile mandates.
The trend of increasingly ambitious private credit deals broke new ground in recent days, as a host of City firms advised on the refinancing of The Access Group. The transaction, speculated to value in the region of £3.2bn, is the largest European private debt financing in history as well as the region’s largest ever unitranche facility. Continue reading “Dealwatch: Elite firms act on major private credit deal as playmakers pounce on TigerRisk acquisition”
M&A, tech, healthcare and IP were the focus of lateral recruitment this week, as firms continue to invest in areas faring strongly against the current economic uncertainty.
Cooley has recruited healthcare and life sciences partner Frances Stocks Allen (pictured) into its London office. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Cooley brings in City healthcare partner as White & Case adds three globally”
Osborne Clarke (OC) has joined the slew of firms reporting robust financials, today (13 June) unveiling a 19% increase in overall turnover from €341m to €407m.
And in an endorsement of the UK market, domestic revenues jumped 20% from £166.4m to £199.1m. Profit per equity partner (PEP) also saw a notable increase, climbing 11% from £714,000 to £796,000. Continue reading “Osborne Clarke adds over €60m to top line amid buoyant financials”
Restructuring recruitment was the trend this week as both Weil and Proskauer strengthened the benches of their City insolvency groups.
Weil has brought in restructuring specialist Lois Deasey at the expense of Akin Gump. Well-regarded in the market, Deasey’s experience includes multi-jurisdictional restructuring transactions and insolvencies, as well as distressed and special situations. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Proskauer and Weil add to City restructuring ranks as Linklaters makes real estate finance hire”
Cravath, Swaine & Moore has announced plans to open an office in Washington DC having hired three partners from US regulatory bodies.
The move is a bold one by the Wall Street stalwart, known for its traditionally conservative approach. The new Washington office will become just the third in the firm’s global network, adding to the New York headquarters established in 1819, and the London outpost added in 1973. Continue reading “‘Venerable as Cravath’: Wall Street stalwart breaks with tradition to invest in Washington DC”
Latham & Watkins has lost energy and infrastructure partner Matthew Brown to rival Global 100 firm, Milbank.
Brown, who will join the projects, energy and infrastructure finance team at his new firm, has over two decades’ experience in the sector, particularly in energy transition work. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Latham loses energy partner to Milbank as Global 100 firms take partners from each other”
Skadden’s Scott Simpson, one of the most influential M&A lawyers of his generation, has died suddenly at the age of 65, the firm announced today (30 May).
The news will be a huge blow for Skadden and the industry at large, marking the loss of the firm’s co-head of global transactions and one of the most pioneering deal lawyers ever to operate in the Square Mile.
Continue reading “A class act: Skadden and the industry mourn death of M&A icon Scott Simpson”
