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”
Salaried partners at BLM will have to re-apply for their positions once the firm’s merger with Clyde & Co goes live on 1 July.
Subject to a consultation, the salaried partners at BLM will be automatically transferred to Clyde with the title of legal director, and then given three options. Aside from remaining a director, they can apply to become a salaried partner (this option is only open to the casualty insurance practice) or a full equity partner at the merged firm. Continue reading “BLM salaried partners forced to re-apply for roles as Clyde merger looms”
As we reprised Enterprise GC, Legalease’s prestigious two-day event at London’s Syon Park on 25 and 26 April, one thing was clear – the in-house community could scarcely have been more excited to be connecting in person again. Continue reading “The enterprising GC and resilience in a time of crisis”
Enterprise GC, the marquee two-day general counsel event hosted by Legalease, returned to the prestigious Hilton London Syon Park for its fifth year on 25 and 26 April 2022. Continue reading “Significant matters – Spring 2022”
What are the biggest challenges facing GCs from a cyber risk perspective right now?
There are two primary risks. It’s quite clear from recent guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and other organisations that ransomware is prevalent. Therefore, businesses should be preparing their playbook and their response process, so that they have them ready for when any attack might happen. Indications are that the ICO and other regulators are going to be tougher in relation to cyber incidents; whereas before they may have regarded the attacked organisation as a victim, now, because cybercrime is so prevalent, they’re saying that businesses need to be ready. Some recent ICO decisions have not been favourable to victim organisations, so it’s important for GCs to be ready. Continue reading “Defensive manoeuvres”
Cyber risk is a major threat to all businesses, irrespective of size, brand or industry. Over recent years, and particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, the threat of a cyber-attack has increased significantly. There is a growing prevalence of ransomware being deployed across all business types and sectors. With the increased regulation of data on a global basis, and a focus by industry regulators on protecting data, a cyber-attack can and does have a very significant impact on business, including: immediate operational impact, substantial management time being diverted to deal with the situation, loss of business, reputational damage, the risk of multiple regulatory investigations and fines. Further, an entitlement to compensation for data subjects affected by a breach of legislation has led to increased risk of litigation in this area. Continue reading “Cyber risk – is your organisation cyber-ready?”
For personal injury (PI) practitioners, dynamism is one of the features which makes this such a fulfilling field to work in. The work follows a constant ebb and flow of patterns and trends – from the boom and wane of asbestos-related cases, to the rapid spike in noise-induced hearing loss claims, to the recent resurgence of interest in vicarious liability. The world of PI often acts as a microcosm of broader market and societal changes, mapping developments and drawing out issues. It’s no surprise, then, that the pervasive and rapid changes inflicted on our daily lives over the last few years have been mirrored, magnified and mulled over in the personal injury arena, and the fallout is of primary concern to in-house legal teams, particularly in the insurance sector. Continue reading “A state of flux”
CMS has named Vitaliy Radchenko the new managing partner of its Kyiv office, as the practice continues to contend with the repercussions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A 15-year veteran of the firm, Radchenko specialises in M&A and regulatory issues in the energy and power sectors, with a body of work that spans oil and gas, renewable power and mining and minerals. Continue reading “‘I believe in our victory’: Defiant Radchenko named CMS Kyiv managing partner”
White & Case has bolstered its London debt finance practice with the addition of acquisition and leveraged finance specialist Monica Barton from Winston & Strawn. Barton, who is dual-qualified in England and Wales and France, is the third partner to join the firm’s EMEA banking practice in 2022 following the arrival in March of Paul Yin in London and Neeolferr Roy in Paris.
Meanwhile, CMS has hired PwC’s real estate head, Amit Unadkat. Ranked as a next generation partner by The Legal 500 for commercial property investment, he has experience across a range of real estate work including investment transactions, real estate corporate finance and M&A and joint ventures. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: White & Case snaps up finance partner as Boies Schiller loses three in Manhattan”
Ince has chalked up a 3% dip in revenues from £100.2m to £97m to a March cyber attack, the war in Ukraine and various other extraneous factors.
It is a significant slowdown for Ince, after posting an eye-catching 87% uptick in turnover in 2020 and 4% growth in 2021. Continue reading “Cyber attack and Ukraine invasion blamed as Ince sees revenue slump 3%”
Ashurst is understood to be pursuing merger partners in the US as a strategic priority, rekindling its aspirations towards a stateside combination.
No discussions have reached a formal stage, however, it is believed the firm has been seeking a merger partner since before the pandemic. Continue reading “America or bust: Ashurst on the hunt for US merger partner”
Clifford Chance’s (CC) next cohort of newly qualified associates will take home £125,000 per year, after the firm bumped its starting salary by 16% to match that of Magic Circle rival Freshfields.
It is the first pay rise at the firm since November 2021, when a 7.5% increase brought salaries up to £107,500. Trainee rates have not been similarly altered however, with the first-year package staying at £50,000, rising to £55,000 in the second year. Continue reading “City talent tussle continues as CC matches Freshfields with £125k NQ salary”
Winston & Strawn and Kirkland & Ellis have boosted their profiles on the US east coast by opening Miami offices, while Willkie Farr & Gallagher has continued its recent expansion in Frankfurt by establishing a capital markets practice.
Fresh off the back of becoming the first law firm to surpass $6bn in annual global revenue, Kirkland is looking to use the new Miami office to further its goal of attracting the best legal talent. Continue reading “Welcome to Miami: Kirkland and Winston open in Florida as Willkie targets Frankfurt capital markets”
We are providing more options for you to view your copy of the Deals Yearbook. Please see below for a link to the complete version of the Yearbook. Continue reading “Access your print copy online – Deals Yearbook 2022”
‘Ten years ago, PE didn’t do take-privates that often; what’s changed over the last five years in particular is that they are now completely accepted as buyers of public businesses. All the regulatory authorities get it, the banks understand it, so there’s no limit on the deals.’ So comments David Higgins, Kirkland & Ellis private equity (PE) heavyweight on the ever-increasing influence buyout houses now have on the public markets.
Of course, public-to-privates are nothing new but the volume and profile of deals and the breadth of sectors they are investing across is continuing to rise to new heights. Inevitably, as it does so, many firms are responding by reshaping their corporate practices – not to mention the way they do deals. Continue reading “‘The most tonto year ever’: the story behind a frenetic 12 months for private equity – and what’s next”
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has strengthened its German presence with the opening of a new office in Berlin with space for 10 lawyers.
The new office will be headed by Germany managing partner Marcus Grosch, who will split his time between Berlin, Mannheim and Munich. Grosch will be joined by an associate, but Quinn will also be looking to the local lateral market to bulk out the new hub. Continue reading “Quinn Emanuel expands European footprint with fifth German office in Berlin”
Nathan Peart, managing director of the Associate Practice Group at Major, Lindsey & Africa, analyses associate retention
The race to recruit and fill multiple vacancies in 2021 was a surprise to all after the first year of the pandemic. Law firms were busy across several practice areas and keen to attract the brightest and best lawyers into firms. However, after the rush of hiring, increase in salaries and sign-on bonuses paid out with guarantee periods long expired, how are firms keeping their new and existing lawyers, while balancing the tightrope between transparency and remaining competitive in the market? Continue reading “Guest comment: How are law firms retaining the top talent?”
Eversheds Sutherland’s corporate crime and investigations team has been strengthened by the addition of Anupreet Amole from Brown Rudnick, who represents clients from the banking, retail, energy and defence sectors.
The firm’s global co-head of corporate crime and investigations Zia Ullah said: ‘By building on our existing skills in fraud issues and white-collar crime defence and making significant investment in the development of our team, via promotions and lateral hires, we can provide our clients a high degree of subject matter experience. The addition of Anupreet to the team will add another layer of specialism as we support our corporate clients on their complex and often high-profile, investigations. We look forward to working with him.’ Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Eversheds snaps up white-collar specialist as Kirkland adds US funds team”
A trio of City firms acted on the sale out of insolvency of McColl’s to supermarket chain Morrisons, in a week that also saw significant mandates in the renewable energy and software sectors.
The transaction, which was structured as a pre-pack sale following the initiation of administration proceedings by McColl’s board on 6 May, ensured all employees would avoid redundancy, while also protecting all pension schemes. Continue reading “Dealwatch: Ashurst and Travers double up on McColl’s and Ideagen acquisitions as Freshfields energises offshore wind deal”
