In-house leaders sign letter urging law firms to ramp up diversity efforts

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In-house leaders sign letter urging law firms to ramp up diversity efforts

A group of 65 general counsel (GCs) spanning major companies from the UK and Europe has collectively signed a letter urging law firms to improve their diversity efforts. Among those to have lent their support to the statement are Shell GC Donny Ching, Vodafone group GC Rosemary Martin (pictured), Unilever’s chief legal officer Ritva Sotamaa, …

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US firms deployed on $43bn Worldpay takeover as Freshfields scores lead on major bank merger

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US firms deployed on $43bn Worldpay takeover as Freshfields scores lead on major bank merger

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is advising payment processor Worldpay on a proposed $43bn takeover offer by financial technology company FIS, while Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has been drafted in to act for Deutsche Bank on merger talks with rival Commerzbank. The deal, announced yesterday (18 March), will see Worldpay shareholders receive $11 in cash for each …

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DWF becomes UK’s largest listed law firm as it completes £95m IPO

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DWF becomes UK’s largest listed law firm as it completes £95m IPO

After announcing its record £95m IPO on Monday (11 March), DWF has today (15 March) issued 300,000,000 shares and been admitted to the main board of the London Stock Exchange. With a £366m valuation and offer size of £95m, DWF has officially become the UK’s largest listed law firm. £19m of the proceeds will be …

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Ince & Co administrator reveals partners had ‘no appetite’ to rescue failing firm with £8.5m cash injection

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Ince & Co administrator reveals partners had ‘no appetite’ to rescue failing firm with £8.5m cash injection

Ince & Co partners ruled out a £8.5m capital injection that may have saved the firm from financial failure, according to a report from administrators Quantuma. At a meeting in October 2018, Ince partners were informed that if a sale to a third party could not be hastily arranged, partners would have to agree to a …

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‘A leading player’: Fieldfisher ups real estate game with RPC construction and projects team

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‘A leading player’: Fieldfisher ups real estate game with RPC construction and projects team

Enterprising top-25 firm Fieldfisher has made a significant construction and projects play, hiring a team including two partners from RPC. Dan Preston, who was RPC’s head of construction and projects, is joining Fieldfisher alongside fellow partner David Thorne in addition to a team of five associates. One of those is senior associate Jamie Key, who will …

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Watson Farley & Williams makes major City energy play with Clifford Chance Africa director

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Watson Farley & Williams makes major City energy play with Clifford Chance Africa director

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is set to hire Titus Edjua, director of Clifford Chance’s (CC) Africa group, to boost its project finance capabilities. According to a source, one other lawyer is due to be joining WFW from CC as part of the same move, but this has not been confirmed by either firm. He is set …

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DPAs in spotlight as SFO ends long-running Rolls-Royce and GSK investigations

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DPAs in spotlight as SFO ends long-running Rolls-Royce and GSK investigations

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has today (22 February) ended investigations into two landmark cases involving Rolls-Royce and GlaxoSmithKline, prompting scepticism from white-collar lawyers. Despite agreeing a £497.3m January 2017 deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the car manufacturer, the SFO has pulled its bribery and corruption probe into Rolls-Royce following a ‘detailed review of the …

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Corporate partner David Wilkinson wins Fieldfisher senior partner election

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Corporate partner David Wilkinson wins Fieldfisher senior partner election

Corporate partner David Wilkinson has beaten competition from real estate head Anthony Phillips to win Fieldfisher’s senior partner race, replacing incumbent Matthew Lohn after six years in the role. Wilkinson will serve a three-year term starting 1 May 2019. Fieldfisher managing partner Michael Chissick confirmed that Wilkinson will continue in a ‘dual role’ as fee-earner …

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