International firms target local mergers in regional hub
Asia’s burgeoning economic growth coupled with new initiatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community has seen further interest in Singapore’s legal market spike as Global 100 firms explore new ventures in the city-state.
Garrigues continued its global expansion by hiring its first English-qualified partner in the City with the arrival of Winston & Strawn’s co-head of international arbitration, Joe Tirado, to start an arbitration practice. The launch comes in the same month the firm added Chile to its Latin American network.
Tirado will become co-head of international arbitration as the firm seeks to provide a London hub for disputes in Latin America, where alternative dispute resolution has become commonplace following a series of investor-state disputes stemming from the nationalisation of energy assets across the continent in the 1990s. Tirado becomes the second lawyer in Garrigues’ London office, alongside corporate lawyer Ignacio Corbera Dale.
Continue reading “Garrigues ramps up global push with London arbitration play and Chile tie-up”
Victoria Young talks to the singular City player about success and bucking the market
‘Strong culture’, ‘high quality’ and ‘entrepreneurial’ are phrases repeatedly associated with Macfarlanes among peers and former staff. And its recently re-elected executive has no desire to debunk the image of a hard-nosed, competitive shop.
REED SMITH REPLACED AS SIEMENS REFRESHES PANEL
Last month Eversheds and Osborne Clarke were reappointed to Siemens UK’s legal panel, while Addleshaw Goddard replaced Reed Smith, following a review. The new panel will last for three years.
TRAVERS SMITH ADVISES ON $540M SOFTWARE DEAL
Travers Smith and Kirkland & Ellis landed lead advisory roles on the $540m acquisition by Micro Focus of US firm Serena Software. In March, UK software firm Micro Focus said it would acquire Serena Software on a cash and debt-free basis for $540m. Travers Smith acted for longstanding client Micro Focus while Kirkland acted for Serena Software.
Continue reading “Deal watch: Corporate activity in March 2016”
Every time my father got a promotion we had to move. It trains you to fit in with new crowds. He worked for the Midland Bank. We lived in Carlisle, Shropshire, Birmingham, Kingston-upon-Thames and Manchester. It focused me on academic work as each new school had a different syllabus so I was always catching up.
I used to stand in our garage handing my father spanners. My favourite car in my youth was the Lancia Aurelia B20 GT, which was one of the classic Pininfarina designs of the ’50s. They were the embodiment of high-quality engineering. I went through a severe Lancia-buying phase in my 20s. I bought five!
Continue reading “Life During Law: Chris Saul, Slaughter and May”
Shell external roster set to dominate reconfigured in-house department
Royal Dutch Shell has kicked off a review of its external legal roster after finalising its £47bn takeover of BG Group last month and as their existing panels come to an end. As a result of the takeover, the second-largest energy deal on record, both companies will overhaul their legal divisions.
A tax on City lawyers floated by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to subsidise the criminal court system has been effectively abandoned amid Treasury opposition, according to senior City sources.
The levy was floated by the MoJ in October last year as a means to replace revenue generated from a controversial court charge on convicted criminals that was supposed to bring in £65m to £90m annually.
Continue reading “Gove’s City levy kicked into long-grass amid Treasury opposition”
Bank’s European in-house team reshuffled as GC Leistner departs
A strong reputation for derivatives work has seen Ashurst selected to join the Magic Circle’s big four international firms on Credit Suisse’s recently finalised UK law firm roster.
Continue reading “Derivatives experience helps Ashurst join Magic Circle on Credit Suisse UK panel”
Firm aims to save clients up to 30% on disclosure
Mishcon de Reya has launched a new venture with e-discovery provider Unified and software developer kCura, agreeing a fixed-price three-year contract that it claims will save clients between 10% and 30% on large disclosure exercises.
Continue reading “Mishcon de Reya launches e-discovery business”
