Disputes round-up: Vannin Capital hires Fountain Court’s Martenstyn as managing director as Stewarts makes litigation tech play

In a further indication of the growing prominence of litigation funders, Vannin Capital has turned to Bar stalwart Paul Martenstyn for its new managing director as Burford Capital announces a robust 17% increase in income.

Elsewhere, Stewarts has struck a partnership with tech start-up Solomonic, while the Supreme Court has ‘with reluctance’ dismissed the appeal of a wife who wants to divorce her husband in the Owens v Owens case. Continue reading “Disputes round-up: Vannin Capital hires Fountain Court’s Martenstyn as managing director as Stewarts makes litigation tech play”

Slaughters’ high-profile move for ex-SFO chief hits watchdog’s review

Slaughters’ high-profile move for ex-SFO chief hits watchdog’s review

Slaughter and May’s high stakes move on former Serious Fraud Office (SFO) director David Green QC is being held up by regulatory approvals, which could delay his hire by up to two years.

Slaughters is the frontrunner to secure the highly-coveted Green, who stepped down as SFO director in April. He has considerable expertise following his six-year stint at the SFO, raising ethical questions around how quickly he should be allowed to move into private practice. Continue reading “Slaughters’ high-profile move for ex-SFO chief hits watchdog’s review”

Addleshaw Goddard seeks material Asia growth with former BLP region head hire

Addleshaw Goddard seeks material Asia growth with former BLP region head hire

Addleshaw Goddard has brought in the former Asia head of legacy Berwin Leighton Paisner as it looks to triple the size of its presence in Asia.

Bob Charlton is joining Addleshaws after leaving BLP, now Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) following its US merger in February, where he was the legacy firm’s head of Asia since 2014. Charlton previously held a similar role for DLA Piper in the region. Continue reading “Addleshaw Goddard seeks material Asia growth with former BLP region head hire”

Disputes Eye: Crime pays as white-collar hires dominate recruitment

If you are a senior litigator looking for a lucrative move, it does not hurt to be a white-collar specialist. As Edwards Gibson founder Scott Gibson observes: ‘It’s like private equity, where individuals can always move. In the white-collar world, people’s reputations can be enough to attract interest.’

Such moves include last September, when King & Spalding hired Gareth Rees QC from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). Rees has pedigree, having acted as the FRC’s executive director of enforcement and executive counsel, leading prosecutions since 2012. But such moves are becoming common. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) bribery and corruption co-head Ben Morgan joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer last year after a five-year stint at the agency (an ultra-rare London partner hire for the firm). Stewarts last summer hired Dechert fraud veteran David Hughes and in the autumn Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher recruited SFO veteran Sacha Harber-Kelly, a key figure in crafting the agency’s deferred prosecution agreement with Rolls-Royce. Since January, King & Spalding hired Berwin Leighton Paisner head of corporate crime and investigations, Aaron Stephens, while Ropes & Gray in February secured Clifford Chance partner Judith Seddon to lead its seven-strong team in London, alongside US-trained Amanda Raad. Continue reading “Disputes Eye: Crime pays as white-collar hires dominate recruitment”

An ‘amicable’ discussion sees Weil Gotshal exit Hungary as 20-strong team joins Bird & Bird

An ‘amicable’ discussion sees Weil Gotshal exit Hungary as 20-strong team joins Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird has bolstered its Budapest operations by adding a 20-strong Weil, Gotshal & Manges team, bringing the US firm’s presence in Hungary to an end.

Both parties insisted that the two-partner team move on 1 February was the result of an ‘amicable arrangement’ between the firms rather than headhunting by Bird & Bird. Continue reading “An ‘amicable’ discussion sees Weil Gotshal exit Hungary as 20-strong team joins Bird & Bird”

A shock to the system as Freshfields heavyweight departs

A shock to the system as Freshfields heavyweight departs

Given that it has been so well telegraphed that the $10m lateral was coming to the Square Mile, the shock among City peers at the hire of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer private equity veteran David Higgins (pictured) has been, well, shocking. ‘Outrageous’, ‘obscene’ and ‘mildly appalling’ are among the reactions from peers. One hopeful partner at a US firm notes: ‘The clients won’t be impressed with that number splashed all over the news.’

But such sentiments are a naive reading of how the industry is evolving. Yes, if you think of a lateral as wrangling an immediate book of business, such a package suggests needing to preside over $30m within three years to be called a success on a conventional yardstick. That would certainly be a stretch – though not impossible given what some of the strongest City laterals have managed – but that is not the benchmark. Kirkland & Ellis has been stuffed with leveraged finance talent for years while lacking an unquestioned corporate A-lister. The hyper-productive Matthew Elliott delivered that when he joined from Linklaters in 2016, but his practice has a very precise real estate slant. Continue reading “A shock to the system as Freshfields heavyweight departs”

In-house: Former Aviva leader Risam lands at Blackstone wealth management firm

In-house: Former Aviva leader Risam lands at Blackstone wealth management firm

The highly-regarded former Aviva UK Life general counsel (GC) Monica Risam has joined Luxembourg wealth-structuring company Lombard International Assurance as its Europe GC.

Risam (pictured) will lead a multi-disciplinary team of about 60 people across legal, regulatory affairs, company secretariat, risk and compliance at the company, which is owned by private equity giant Blackstone Group and has €74.6bn in assets under management. Risam will join the executive committee and report to Lombard Europe chief executive Axel Hörger. Continue reading “In-house: Former Aviva leader Risam lands at Blackstone wealth management firm”

All-round leader: former Co-op Bank legal chief McKeown appointed GC of British Land

All-round leader: former Co-op Bank legal chief McKeown appointed GC of British Land

Swapping the banking sector for real estate, former general counsel (GC) of The Co-operative Bank, Brona McKeown, has been appointed GC and company secretary of FTSE 100 company British Land.

She arrives after previous incumbent Elaine Williams left for UK logistics company Eddie Stobart in November 2017 after two years in the role. Continue reading “All-round leader: former Co-op Bank legal chief McKeown appointed GC of British Land”

Bumpy start to 2018 for Norton Rose Fulbright as Japan corporate head departs and two offices close

Bumpy start to 2018 for Norton Rose Fulbright as Japan corporate head departs and two offices close

While 2017 saw Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) further expand its global footprint through two mergers in the US and Australia, the new year has begun with the firm losing out internationally with Paul Hastings recruiting its Japan head of corporate and NRF closing its Abu Dhabi and Kazakhstan offices.

Paul Hastings confirmed Eiji Kobayashi has joined its Tokyo office today (12 January), with his four-person team, including two associates, expected to join him in the coming weeks. Continue reading “Bumpy start to 2018 for Norton Rose Fulbright as Japan corporate head departs and two offices close”

Weil Gotshal to shut Hungarian operations as team jumps to expansive Bird & Bird

Weil Gotshal to shut Hungarian operations as team jumps to expansive Bird & Bird

Weil, Gotshal & Manges will close its Budapest office after its 20-strong Hungarian team agreed to join Bird & Bird in the latest chapter of the UK top 20 firm’s international expansion.

In what both firms described as the result of an ‘amicable’ discussion, Weil’s Budapest managing partner David Dederick will co-lead Bird & Bird’s local operations from 1 February. Continue reading “Weil Gotshal to shut Hungarian operations as team jumps to expansive Bird & Bird”