Last year’s growth in confidence in the corporate sector together with fundraising activity among a number of large private equity houses has culminated in deals totaling almost $100bn being announced yesterday (13 January), with one of the largest being Japanese investment firm Suntory’s $16bn offer for Beam, throwing up heavyweight roles for Cleary Gottlieb Steen …
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has landed a role advising Barclays, JP Morgan and Investec on Cineworld Group‘s £107m rights issue and £504m acquisition of Warsaw-listed Cinema City International, a deal announced yesterday (09 January) that would create a cinema chain with almost 2,000 screens across Europe and Israel. Corporate partners Mike Flockhart and Chris Haynes …
With only Asia showing any real growth in M&A work for law firms during 2013, it is unsurprising that major international players are focusing their expansion plans in the region. Clifford Chance today (10 January) announced a formal association with Indonesian firm Linda Widyati & Partners (LWP), while K&L Gates has bulked up its Tokyo office …
For many watchers of the upper reaches of City law, Latham & Watkins has in recent years established a profile as one of the most upwardly mobile players in London, a reputation the US-based giant has moved to underline early in 2014 with the recruitment of Weil, Gotshal & Manges funds partner Nick Benson. The …
Continue reading “Latham sets pace for 2014 as expansive City arm hires Weil private equity partner”
It’s a deal that brings together one of the most touted ‘alternative’ legal service providers with one of Europe’s top private equity investors – just a few days into 2014. The announcement this week that Permira is investing over £100m in LegalZoom is a reminder of the growing interest from financiers in the legal sector. Fried Frank …
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has made another change to its practice management team just months after restructuring its leadership following its merger with SJ Berwin in November. Legacy SJ Berwin partner Craig Pollack was today (7January) named as its new global co-ordinator for dispute resolution replacing Beau Deleuil, who left KWM a month after …
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Having completed a crucial overhaul of its management and remuneration structures towards the end of 2013, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) would have hoped to get 2014 off to a positive start but has instead suffered another setback, with news that the head of the firm’s mining practice in Perth, Justin Little, will join independent Australian outfit Gilbert + …
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The long-awaited consolidation of the legal market accelerated in 2013, which was a record year for large UK law firm mergers, with 28 deals announced involving at least one top 100 UK firm or firms that when merged will be likely to join the top 100 in 2014. This follows a similarly record year in …
Following a year of partner departures and a significant drop in profit per equity partner, Berwin Leighton Paisner’s limited liability partnership (LLP) accounts have revealed a 221% increase in bank borrowing in the 2012/13 financial year. The 790-lawyer firm’s borrowing has risen to £45m from £14m the previous year. However, in what appears to be a re-financing …
Continue reading “LLP filings 2012/13 – BLP sees bank borrowing increase from £14m to £45m”
After much speculation, Herbert Smith Freehills announced today that it has appointed Sonya Leydecker (pictured) and Mark Rigotti as joint chief executive officers (CEOs). The appointments come after a recommendation by the firm’s governance body, the council and following ratification by partners. Leydecker and Rigotti will take their positions for a term of three years …
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