The head, the tail, the whole damn thing: UK firms suffer again as Global London sharks circle

Posted on |
The head, the tail, the whole damn thing: UK firms suffer again as Global London sharks circle

With recent financial results displaying the added bite of US firms in the City, it appears their approach to the lateral recruitment market will continue to be just as aggressive. Paul Hastings continued to signal its M&A ambitions with the hire of Steven Bryan from Hogan Lovells, while Latham & Watkins proved again it is one of the biggest predators of the City elite after hiring Linklaters insurance partner Victoria Sander.

For Paul Hastings, the hire of Bryan is of little surprise. The firm has made no secret of its ambition to strengthen in public M&A and private equity, as seen last spring with the hires of Roger Barron from Linklaters and private equity star Anu Balasubramanian from DLA Piper. The addition of Bryan, meanwhile, sees another highly-rated M&A practitioner leave for a US firm – an area widely considered the last bastion of the institutional City firms. Continue reading “The head, the tail, the whole damn thing: UK firms suffer again as Global London sharks circle”

Apathy and a multimillion-pound shortfall define beleaguered KWM Europe insolvency

Posted on |
Apathy and a multimillion-pound shortfall define beleaguered KWM Europe insolvency

Thomas Alan finds reality setting in for creditors and former partners more than two years on

‘My immediate thought was: “Can’t we just move on?” I can’t be bothered with it,’ says one former King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) Europe and Middle East partner when asked for their thoughts on the firm’s latest administration report. Indeed, it is hard not to share some of the sentiment. Two years after the collapse of KWM EUME, the saga continues to limp forward in a fashion considered onerous even by law firm insolvency standards. Continue reading “Apathy and a multimillion-pound shortfall define beleaguered KWM Europe insolvency”

‘A third way’: Taylor Wessing enters alliance with West Coast leader Wilson Sonsini

Posted on |
‘A third way’: Taylor Wessing enters alliance with West Coast leader Wilson Sonsini

Marco Cillario assesses Taylor Wessing’s alliance with Silicon Valley royalty Wilson Sonsini as RPC forges US insurance partnership

While the issue of securing a meaningful US footprint for many UK-bred firms endures, Taylor Wessing UK managing partner Shane Gleghorn claims his firm has found the way to gain transatlantic coverage without a complicated merger. Continue reading “‘A third way’: Taylor Wessing enters alliance with West Coast leader Wilson Sonsini”

Moment of truth: New Law champion Axiom unveils float plans but break up of its business raises doubts

Posted on |
Moment of truth: New Law champion Axiom unveils float plans but break up of its business raises doubts

Axiom making good on long-trailed plans to float will be a milestone for New Law. Thomas Alan assesses if the trailblazer can live up to its own rhetoric

When Axiom announced in February its intentions to float, it was a seminal moment for New Law, with the pioneering flexible lawyering company established as the most prominent global brand in the sector. Back in 2013 one excited commentator forecast 2018 as the year Axiom would become the world’s largest legal provider (spoiler alert, it still wouldn’t make the Global 100). Continue reading “Moment of truth: New Law champion Axiom unveils float plans but break up of its business raises doubts”

International Arbitration Centre launches: the City finally gets the world-class disputes space it has been waiting for

Posted on |
International Arbitration Centre launches: the City finally gets the world-class disputes space it has been waiting for

For years, seasoned practitioners have bemoaned the lack of top-notch arbitration facilities in London, casting an envious eye at the polished offerings in rival hubs like Singapore, even as the City has boomed as a global centre for dispute resolution. Now advisers sick of arguing about venues and decamping to hotels for major disputes are about to have their wishes granted with the launch last month of a world-class arbitration centre from Legalease.

Following more than two years of development – including extensive consultation with senior arbitrators to refine its bespoke design – the new International Arbitration Centre (IAC) covers four floors at 190 Fleet Street, right in the heart of London’s legal community. Continue reading “International Arbitration Centre launches: the City finally gets the world-class disputes space it has been waiting for”

Apollo hamstrung as Freshfields helps Berry complete eleventh-hour bid for UK plastics group

Posted on |
Apollo hamstrung as Freshfields helps Berry complete eleventh-hour bid for UK plastics group

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer successfully advised US manufacturing company Berry Global as it completed a late bid for UK-headquartered RPC Group, after private equity house Apollo Global Management cornered itself with a best and final offer.

The £3.43bn Berry bid only slightly surpassed the previous £3.3bn bid from Apollo, but was approved in early March by RPC’s board. Apollo made its final bid for RPC in a no-increase statement, leaving out the necessary caveats to return with an improved offer. Continue reading “Apollo hamstrung as Freshfields helps Berry complete eleventh-hour bid for UK plastics group”

Dealwatch: Global 100 firms share spoils on flurry of private equity and public M&A mandates

Posted on |
Dealwatch: Global 100 firms share spoils on flurry of private equity and public M&A mandates
  • Slaughter and May is acting on the £1.3bn unsolicited bid for doorstep lender Provident Financial. Corporate head Andy Ryde (pictured) is joined by Paul Mudie in advising the bid from Non-Standard Finance. Provident, meanwhile, has enlisted Clifford Chance corporate partners Lee Coney and Mark Poulton.
  • Eversheds Sutherland fielded a team led by partner Aleen Gulvanessian on Dairy Crest’s £975m sale to Canadian dairy company Saputo. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted for the buyer, with energy and natural resources head Laurie McFadden and corporate partner Stephen Hewes at the helm. Ashurst advised Lazard as buy-side financial adviser.

Continue reading “Dealwatch: Global 100 firms share spoils on flurry of private equity and public M&A mandates”

Sponsored briefing: Tracing assets – what you need to know

Posted on |
Sponsored briefing: Tracing assets – what you need to know

K2 Intelligence’s Darren Matthews on what successful asset search and recovery looks like

Understanding the form, value and recoverability of an adversary’s assets is an essential part of legal strategy in any dispute. What may appear relatively simple – locating material assets and determining their value – invariably turns complex when assets are held through multi-level corporate structures layered over multiple jurisdictions. Methods used to hide assets are becoming more sophisticated and asset-recovery experts must keep up to date with the latest asset-searching techniques, practices and technologies. Understanding the form, value and recoverability of an adversary’s assets is an essential part of legal strategy in any dispute. What may appear relatively simple – locating material assets and determining their value – invariably turns complex when assets are held through multi-level corporate structures layered over multiple jurisdictions. Methods used to hide assets are becoming more sophisticated and asset-recovery experts must keep up to date with the latest asset-searching techniques, practices and technologies. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Tracing assets – what you need to know”