Gibson Dunn swoop for HSF capital markets duo boosts English law capability

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Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s appointment of Herbert Smith Freehills’ (HSF’s) capital markets duo Steve Thierbach and Chris Haynes is an important step in building the firm’s English law transactional capability.

Thierbach, who was HSF’s global markets chief, is one of the City’s most established capital markets lawyers. His hire, along with corporate partner Haynes, comes as part of Gibson Dunn’s wider corporate play in London.

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Vaulting ambition: Clydes expands with Scottish tie-up

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Simpson & Marwick merger signed as firm eyes 2016 Miami launch

After months of negotiations, Clyde & Co successfully secured a merger with Scottish firm Simpson & Marwick last month, following other London-based insurance players in establishing a presence in Scotland and adding £30m to the Global 100 firm’s top line.

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Blowing in the wind: is legal education change creating a perfect storm for reform?

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Victoria Young assesses legal education sector in wake of Kaplan exit and ULaw sale

With news breaking recently that Kaplan Law School is to close its doors in 2016, a contest between BPP University and The University of Law (ULaw) broke out in September as both institutions grappled for increased market share.

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News in brief – October 2015

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FIRST-TIME GC FOR BRITISH LAND

Property developer British Land has hired HSBC deputy company secretary and former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Elaine Williams as its first general counsel. Williams, who was a partner at Freshfields between 2000 and 2011 before joining HSBC in 2011, will become British Land’s first ever general counsel when she starts in November.

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Korea still a boon for global firms as A&O, White & Case set up shop

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Global 100 firms continue to pile into South Korea, with Allen & Overy (A&O) and White & Case launching in Seoul in recent weeks, while disputes boutique Kobre & Kim has also opened a base in the Korean capital.

White & Case launched an office in Seoul in the summer with plans to relocate three partners and build on relationships with project finance clients. The venture is led by James Lee, who heads the Korea practice group and relocated to Seoul from Los Angeles. He will be joined initially by Mark Goodrich, a construction partner in London who will also transfer to Seoul, and Hong Kong partner Kyungseok Kim, who recently joined the firm’s M&A practice from Linklaters where he was an associate.

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Linklaters takes lead role for SAB on proposed mega-merger

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Freshfields and Hogan Lovells win roles on deal

Brewing giant SABMiller turned to Linklaters, alongside its regular adviser Hogan Lovells, as it became the focus of a takeover approach in September from Anheuser-Busch InBev (InBev), which has instructed Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer on a deal that would create a $275bn company.

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Finance view: The night of the living wills – bank resolution work offers opportunity for FinReg counsel

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Michael West reports on the introduction of bank resolution protocols

Financial regulatory lawyers returned from their holidays this year to a lot of calls on one topic – bank resolution. The implementation this year of the EU’s Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) combined with the Greek crisis has pushed an issue that’s been simmering for years back up the list of priorities for bank and investment firms’ legal teams.

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