Victoria Young assesses the advisers targeting the alt lending crowd
‘Almost every partner in our team is working on a direct lending mandate right now and that’s reflective of where markets are moving,’ notes White & Case partner Gareth Eagles. ‘It began as a niche, but it’s now a regular part of the funding mix. It’s not alternative finance. People said the Beatles were alternative in 1962 but they didn’t by 1966!’
PINSENTS LAUNCHES IN MADRID
Pinsent Masons has launched in Madrid, the firm’s third international office in less than a year. The new office comprises six partners, four from local Madrid firm Ramón y Cajal Abogados. The firm has also hired from contractor OHL and promoted a Pinsents associate to partner.
MAGIC CIRCLE ADVISE ON VODAFONE’S INDIA MERGER
Slaughter and May, Allen & Overy (A&O) and local advisers S&R Associates, Vaish Associates Advocates and Bharucha & Partners all gained mandates as Vodafone struck a deal to acquire Indian rival Idea Cellular. The merger will create India’s largest communications business by revenue, valued at more than $23bn. Slaughters and S&R represented Vodafone and Vodafone India, while A&O, Vaish and Bharucha advised Idea.
Continue reading “Deal watch: Corporate activity in May 2017”
My father, who sadly died last year, did his articles. Absolutely hated it. Left as soon as he could. He did briefly work in London and then went to Edinburgh, and carried out his career as a fund manager. He was always much more interested in stock markets than the law. He was a very kind, calm and perceptive man.
I joined SJ Berwin in 1991, qualified in 1993, became a partner in 1999, left in 2004. Came back in 2006. Until the bitter end.
Linklaters has undertaken a review of equity points in its finance practice, as banking groups continue to move toward sponsors and away from traditional lenders.
Continue reading “‘Needed a degree of reinvigoration’ – Linklaters reviews banking equity points”
Around 25 associates across Freshfields are part of the initiative, which began when a client invited associate Adam Ryan to pitch alongside another associate, Claire Harrop. The pair now lead the fintech associate initiative.
Continue reading “Freshfields gives power to associates to pitch for fintech clients”
While more than a dozen firms – including the entire Magic Circle – have made it onto Deutsche Bank’s latest global legal panel, an attempt by the bank to remove fees for junior lawyers has proved controversial.
The review process, which is understood to be mostly complete, stemmed from a request for proposal sent out to help Deutsche analyse its current policies and processes for external legal counsel. The process, dubbed ‘Project Eagle’, was led by global chief operating officer of legal and compliance Rose Battaglia, with appointments expected to last two years.
Continue reading “City elite dominates again as Deutsche Bank nears conclusion of panel review”
In a joint statement, Iain Blatherwick, managing partner at Browne Jacobson, and Antony Smith, senior partner at Beale, said the combination, which would have over 1,000 staff and 137 partners, could offer clear strategic benefits.
The London outposts of leading international firms reported mixed results for 2016, with White & Case and Baker McKenzie reporting income growth while Reed Smith and Debevoise & Plimpton both struggled.
City firms have voiced their concerns over Britain’s arrangements to leave the European Union as prime minister Theresa May pulled the trigger on article 50 last month.
Continue reading “‘An extremely big deal’: profession lays out key threats as article 50 triggered”
