Skadden impresses as it takes lead on Abbey Life acquisition

US firm takes first-time instruction from Freshfields client Phoenix

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is in line for a windfall after taking the lead role advising on Phoenix Group Holdings’ proposed £935m acquisition of Abbey Life Assurance Company from Deutsche Bank, pocketing a significant chunk of £17m in fees in the process.

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Hogan Lovells becomes third firm to launch in Shanghai Free-Trade Zone

Association with Fidelity Law to lead to joint office offering Chinese law advice

Hogan Lovells is the third international law firm to enter the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone (FTZ) after agreeing an association with local outfit Fujian Xiamen Fidelity Law Firm in October.

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The Finance View: Global firms jostle for position in panda bond market

Victoria Young reviews how global firms are positioning themselves to cash in on a market on the cusp

As the internationalisation of China’s currency continues, global firms are making much of the pioneering Yankee bond-style deals in the Chinese market, eyeing opportunities in the orient and beyond.

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Deal watch: Corporate activity in November 2016

PE DOUBLE FOR CC

Clifford Chance (CC) completed two major private equity deals in a month, advising as Cinven, Permira and Mid Europa Partners acquired Allen & Overy client Allegro for $3.3bn. In addition, CC acted for Cinven as well as CVC Capital Partners on the acquisition of consumer finance provider NewDay, opposite Slaughter and May, which advised long-time client and seller Värde Partners, and Jones Day, which represented the management of NewDay.

 

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Outside the Box: Can Reed Smith’s new Euro heads take the firm’s London practice to the next level?

Georgiana Tudor and Victoria Young talk to Tamara Box and Andrew Jenkinson about competing in the London market

Three years ago, Legal Business noted that an upwardly-mobile Reed Smith was, in its own understated fashion, making notable strides in the City under EMEA head Roger Parker. The London office had been performing well on the back of investment in lateral hires to develop its key sector groups. In 2012, London revenues jumped 21% to £114.7m from £94.5m, with Parker predicting UK revenues of $200m for 2013.

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What goes up: Linklaters to vote next month on new partner pay model

Moore pulls together proposals for flexible model as lockstep set to evolve

With Magic Circle rivals Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer having recently remodelled their remuneration structures following pay pressure from more profitable US firms, Linklaters has plans of its own.

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QBE reviews UK panel following appointment of global GC

Australia’s largest global insurer QBE is to launch a review of its UK claims panel, following the appointment of a new group general counsel (GC) earlier this year.

One partner, whose firm is tendering for the panel, told Legal Business that while the terms of engagement were not yet clear, the review was ‘imminent’. QBE refused to comment on the process.

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