Dealwatch: Advisers wrapped up in flurry of deals in final push before Christmas

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Dealwatch: Advisers wrapped up in flurry of deals in final push before Christmas

In the conspicuous absence of the traditional round of festive parties, advisers have instead busied themselves with getting a host of deals across the line ahead of the Christmas break. As the pandemic continues to rage on, Coronavirus-driven transactions show no sign of abating, with a €1.8bn financing package for tourism company TUI and the …

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Comment: Failings in Beckwith prosecution undermine #MeToo fight and muzzle regulator

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Comment: Failings in Beckwith prosecution undermine #MeToo fight and muzzle regulator

The ink is barely dry on Friday’s High Court ruling that overturned the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal’s finding against ex-Freshfields partner Ryan Beckwith and the shockwaves are starting to be felt around the legal industry. In the unlikely event that the substance of the ruling has escaped anyone, the Queen’s Bench Division’s judgment reversed the SDT’s …

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‘Popular outcry is not proof’: Beckwith’s #MeToo decision overturned in controversial court judgment

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In what has been described as a landmark ruling, former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Ryan Beckwith has prevailed in his appeal in the High Court against the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal’s findings against him in a high-profile sexual misconduct case. The Queen’s Bench Division today (27 November) overturned the tribunal’s October 2019 findings that Beckwith’s behaviour with …

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LB100 Second 25: Once more unto the breach

Posted on | Analysis Legal Business 100 2020 |
LB100 Second 25: Once more unto the breach

A 10% jump in average revenue to £149.2m for firms ranked 26-50 in the LB100 appears to extend the robust fighting spirit of this group from last year – again eclipsing a more sedate 5% increase among the top ten and top 25 – but, as usual, this fails to tell the whole story. In …

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Dealwatch: strategic acquisitions, disposals and restructuring moves dominate as firms continue advice on Covid-19 fallout

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Dealwatch: strategic acquisitions, disposals and restructuring moves dominate as firms continue advice on Covid-19 fallout

As has become customary in recent months, the deal market last week was characterised as being noticeably coronavirus driven – particularly in the tech, software, high street restructuring and strategic acquisitions spheres. Nielsen’s $2.7bn spin-off of its Global Connect business – which provides research data to consumer goods companies – is another timely example of companies extracting …

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Dealwatch: Magic Circle firms strike £3bn mining take-private as counsel game for $1.5bn Genius Sports deal

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Dealwatch: Magic Circle firms strike £3bn mining take-private as counsel game for $1.5bn Genius Sports deal

This week has seen a wealth of substantial transactions as advisers strive to capitalise on opportunities presented by the coronavirus business environment. The most eye-catching have been the £3bn sale of Kazakhstan-based and London-listed copper company KAZ Minerals to Nova Resources and special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) dMY Technology Group Inc II on its agreement …

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‘US firms have more buying power’ – Allen & Overy tight-lipped as partnership ushers in lockstep reform

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‘US firms have more buying power’ – Allen & Overy tight-lipped as partnership ushers in lockstep reform

The partnership of Allen & Overy has voted through reforms to its lockstep in a bid to increase rewards for star performers as market pressure from US competitors continues to take its toll on London’s big four international firms. Partners voted through the changes last week after being presented with the proposal earlier this month. It comes at a …

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Dealwatch: Links and Goodwin gain bandwidth on $2bn telecoms carve-out as Eversheds and DLA relish Gourmet Burger Kitchen rescue 

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Dealwatch: Links and Goodwin gain bandwidth on $2bn telecoms carve-out as Eversheds and DLA relish Gourmet Burger Kitchen rescue 

The deal market continues to be a product of the coronavirus environment, with the rescue buyout of Gourmet Burger Kitchen dominating headlines as the pandemic devastates the UK’s high street. Elsewhere, I Squared Capital’s $2bn acquisition of GTT Communications’ infrastructure business is the latest to illustrate the attractiveness of telecoms assets at a time when connectivity …

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Mixed results for A&O on gender pay gap but disability disclosure shows the right attitude

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Mixed results for A&O on gender pay gap but disability disclosure shows the right attitude

Allen & Overy has become the first of its peer group to reveal its pay gap statistics and, while gender disparities are still concerning, the firm has made a positive statement of intent by disclosing its disability pay gap for the first time. On gender pay disparity, A&O’s figures are a mixed bag, with the firm moving …

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