Dentons looks set to secure another substantive merger after management of the firm and US suitor McKenna Long & Aldridge this week approved proposals for its mooted union, clearing the way for partners to vote on the tie-up in November. With both having confirmed the merger discussions in late September, the impending union looks set …
Clifford Chance (CC) and Hogan Lovells have plugged into the renaissance in US television production after advising on a $1bn (€750m) buyout by US entertainment group AMC Networks of Chellomedia, the international content division of media company Liberty Global. The acquisition announced on Monday (28 October) provides the entertainment group with 68 new television channels …
Continue reading “Deal Watch: Hogan Lovells and CC lead on AMC Networks’ $1bn buyout”
Despite a handful of well-publicised problems at alternative business structures (ABS), there are no shortage of entrants looking to pursue the ‘Tesco Law’ model. Just how many was confirmed this week when it emerged that that Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has now awarded more than 200 ABS licences. The move is a startling figure coming …
As the UK’s financial institutions and leaders in commerce and industry embrace a tougher regulatory landscape, Legal Business looks at the movers and shakers in their disputes and compliance teams. It’s December 2012 and the world’s third largest bank, HSBC, has just entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the US Department of Justice (DoJ). …
Continue reading “Sticking to the rules – the rise of the in-house litigator”
Just weeks after Wilberforce Chambers’ longstanding chief executive and senior clerk Declan Redmond announced he is leaving for Keating Chambers, Wilberforce QC Michael Bloch has announced he is to depart for rival Blackstone Chambers. A rated commercial and intellectual property specialist, Bloch QC’s recent caseload includes Nestles’ successful High Court battle with Cadbury earlier this …
Continue reading “The Bar: Bloch QC exits Wilberforce for Blackstone as Lord Hope joins Brick Court”
Clifford Chance (CC) has reached the first major milestone in its global managing partner elections, with the nominations stage now closed and global head of corporate Matthew Layton, Paris managing partner Yves Wehrli and real estate finance partner Andrew Carnegie confirmed as the three candidates going forward. Hustings will begin shortly and the first round of …
ASX-listed firm Slater & Gordon (S&G) continues to make inroads into the UK’s personal injury (PI) market having confirmed today (24 October) it has acquired Manchester-based clinical negligence and PI practice John Pickering & Partners. S&G, which generates an annual revenue of £27.7m, made the announcement at its annual general meeting in Australia yesterday, but made …
Continue reading “Slater & Gordon takes over Manchester PI firm as Pannone vote looms”
Back in the boom years, international law firms talked confidently regarding how liberalisation would soon be coming to major legal markets in the Asia Pacific region. This week provides another reminder that in reality such emerging jurisdictions have been rather more tactical – and protectionist – than starry-eyed managing partners believed back in the go-go …
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer corporate partner and former City head Tim Jones has been hired as general counsel to England Rugby 2015 ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup. Established by the Rugby Football Union, whose current legal and governance director is Karena Vleck, England Rugby 2015 will employ the corporate heavyweight three days a week, …
Continue reading “Bind and drive: Freshfields’ Tim Jones to join England Rugby 2015 as GC”
The recent dissolution of Tooks Chambers was widely regarded as a sign of the times, as legal aid cuts coupled with a turbulent economy have hit publicly funded sets at the Bar harder than most. Now, however, former chief Michael Mansfield QC has embarked on plans to reinvent a low-cost, virtual version of the civil …
