‘Steven has been a tremendous force’: Proskauer turns to KWMSJB’s best-known London M&A lawyer as it shifts focus

Steven Davis, who led SJ Berwin’s City corporate team before its $1bn Sino-Australian merger, is set to leave the firm for Proskauer Rose, whose own merger plans with SJ Berwin collapsed before the City firm looked eastwards for growth.

Continue reading “‘Steven has been a tremendous force’: Proskauer turns to KWMSJB’s best-known London M&A lawyer as it shifts focus”

PwC Legal makes City corporate push with McDermott partner hire

PwC Legal has hired McDermott Will & Emery City-based corporate partner Mark Crofskey in a bid to boost its UK legal arm’s M&A team. Expected to join the accountancy giant next month, Crofskey will work in PwC Legal’s M&A practice alongside corporate partner Alistair Hogarth in leading a team. Continue reading “PwC Legal makes City corporate push with McDermott partner hire”

Reviving deal market lifts LB100 as top UK firms edge up profits and fees

While the headline Legal Business 100 (LB100) results are once again inflated by significant merger activity at every level, there is evidence that many of the top 100 grossing firms in the UK are enjoying organic growth again.

Total revenue for the LB100 for 2013/14 is £20.82bn, an increase of 9%, while lawyer headcount swelled 6% to 65,111. With revenue growth slightly faster than 2012/13 but headcount growth slower, average revenue per lawyer (RPL), profit per lawyer (PPL) and profit per equity partner (PEP) were all up by 3% to £320,000, £98,000 and £640,000 respectively.

Continue reading “Reviving deal market lifts LB100 as top UK firms edge up profits and fees”

Edwards Wildman sees final corporate partner exit for Olswang as Arnold & Porter emerges as ‘in talks’ with disputes team

US firm Edwards Wildman has seen the last of its quintet of disgruntled corporate partners resign as it has emerged that Niall McAlister has departed for Olswang. Continue reading “Edwards Wildman sees final corporate partner exit for Olswang as Arnold & Porter emerges as ‘in talks’ with disputes team”

Willkie Farr moves to build City private equity capability with hire of Kirkland duo

New York firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher has moved to build a City buyout practice with the hire of private equity duo Matthew Dean and Claire McDaid from Kirkland & Ellis, which also recently lost Dan Oates to O’Melveny and Myers and Ross Allardice to White & Case. Continue reading “Willkie Farr moves to build City private equity capability with hire of Kirkland duo”

Further Edwards Wildman City fallout as CMS set to take on corporate partner

The fallout from the embattled City office of US firm Edwards Wildman continues as it emerges that corporate partners Eero Rautalahti and Stuart Blythe have resigned, with Blythe set to join CMS Cameron McKenna. It was not known at the time of going to press where Rautalahti is headed. Continue reading “Further Edwards Wildman City fallout as CMS set to take on corporate partner”

Ashurst corporate partner Nigel Stacey quits for Gibson Dunn’s City office

Ashurst’s corporate partner Nigel Stacey has quit the firm to join the London office of Los Angeles-founded firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

Stacey, who focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and general corporate matters, follows in the footsteps of fellow corporate partner Jonathan Earle, who left Ashurst in April after being with the firm for 16 years. Continue reading “Ashurst corporate partner Nigel Stacey quits for Gibson Dunn’s City office”

Election fever: Clifford Chance corporate head Tinkler steps down as Nabarro prepares for first MP elections in 15 years

Clifford Chance (CC) private equity partner Simon Tinkler has stepped down from his role as London head of corporate after a four-year term, as top 30 LB 100 firm Nabarro gears up for its first managing partner elections in 15 years this summer, with current head Andrew Inkester expected to stand again.

Continue reading “Election fever: Clifford Chance corporate head Tinkler steps down as Nabarro prepares for first MP elections in 15 years”