- White & Case boosted its City recruitment drive and funds credentials with London partner Shane McDonald joining its global banking practice, the firm’s sixth London lateral this year alone. McDonald’s previous role of senior vice president at fund manager Hudson Advisors allowed him to forge valuable links with private equity firm Lone Star Funds. He has experience of the financing of a large number of investments, including the acquisitions of non-performing loan portfolios and private equity portfolio companies. Dual-qualified to practise in England and Australia, he was previously an associate at Ropes & Gray and, before that, at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Life during law: Amy Mahon
My dad is a Marxist. Imagine how he felt when I became a City solicitor and married a banker. He might have brought that up in his wedding speech!
I decided to study law when I was 11 or 12. I thought it would be nice to be a lawyer. I envisaged courtroom law. My family couldn’t believe I didn’t do a PhD or become a barrister. Continue reading “Life during law: Amy Mahon”
Who Represents Who: The data behind the story
Kirkland & Ellis’ Fortune 100 representation
Everyone knows Kirkland has strong ties with financial institutions, but you don’t get to be the world’s largest firm without strength in depth across other practice areas. Here’s how they represent the Fortune 100 in those. Continue reading “Who Represents Who: The data behind the story”
Legal 500 Data: Behind the story
UNITED STATES, 2018
Antitrust
- Cartel (tier 3)
- Civil litigation/class actions: defence (tier 1)
- Merger control (tier 2)
Focus: Wild West or new frontier? Securities counsel divided as the cryptocurrency ‘float’ rears its blockchained head
Marco Cillario sizes up the pros and cons for legal advisers of the current ICO boom
‘We are in an odd position: we feel we need to be closely involved in this, but there is a reputational risk because there is a lot of fraud.’ Understandably, the partner expressing this view does not want himself or his firm identified. But such words still sum up many securities lawyers’ feelings on the hottest topic in their field for years. Continue reading “Focus: Wild West or new frontier? Securities counsel divided as the cryptocurrency ‘float’ rears its blockchained head”
Full disclosure: Links and HSF usher in personal relationship policies in bid to face #MeToo demons
City firms Linklaters and Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) have been spurred into action by the swathe of sexual misconduct allegations that in recent months have plagued the industry, launching personal relationship disclosure and whistleblowing initiatives within a fortnight of one another.
In early May, Linklaters issued ‘guidance on how to manage relationships at work’, with the imperative that partners and staff disclose any relationship with colleagues to an office, group or practice head, or someone in HR, in order to manage ‘actual or potential’ conflict of interest. Continue reading “Full disclosure: Links and HSF usher in personal relationship policies in bid to face #MeToo demons”
Paul Hastings doubles up in the City as A&O loses global IP head to Kirkland
Paul Hastings pulled off two headline lateral hires in London in a week as the US firm strengthens its corporate offering in the City.
Private equity rising star Anu Balasubramanian was the first hire announced, as DLA Piper lost another key dealmaker in the City. The addition will be a major boost to Paul Hastings’ City corporate and private equity practice, with Balasubramanian bringing experience in an array of mid-market work, acting for sponsors such as ABRY Partners, Accel-KKR, Oakley Capital and Aurium Capital Markets. Continue reading “Paul Hastings doubles up in the City as A&O loses global IP head to Kirkland”
Rosenblatt unveils third-party funding ambitions following £43m float
London litigation specialist Rosenblatt became the fourth UK firm to list in May, simultaneously revealing plans to establish a third-party disputes funding division.
Rosenblatt raised £43m in its AIM flotation, giving the 21-partner outfit a £76m market capitalisation in what it described as a ‘significantly oversubscribed’ listing. In terms of value, it was the largest law firm initial public offering (IPO) in the UK to date. This could change with Knights’ listing slated to take place this summer. Continue reading “Rosenblatt unveils third-party funding ambitions following £43m float”
Refreshing revamps: EDF and Co-op Group look to new firms in panel reviews
One of the UK’s big six energy suppliers, EDF Energy, has nearly halved its external advisers in a bid to plug into ‘deeper’ relationships, while the addition of two new firms mirrors the refreshment seen elsewhere in the Co-operative Group’s revamped legal panel.
In late April, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) were added to EDF’s new panel of eight firms, which has been cut from the previous 14. Continue reading “Refreshing revamps: EDF and Co-op Group look to new firms in panel reviews”
Veteran Novartis GC Ehrat steps down over ‘error’ in Trump lawyer agreement
A longstanding and well-respected member of the in-house community, Felix Ehrat has abruptly stepped down from his role as general counsel (GC) of Swiss healthcare giant Novartis after becoming entangled in a controversy involving US President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer.
Ehrat said in mid-May he would retire from Novartis shortly thereafter. He had been GC and a member of the executive committee at the Basel-based pharmaceuticals company since 2011, but was forced to admit ‘an error’ relating to an agreement between the company and Michael Cohen – Trump’s lawyer. Continue reading “Veteran Novartis GC Ehrat steps down over ‘error’ in Trump lawyer agreement”