Last year’s standout performer Latham & Watkins is facing competition from White & Case after the firm edged ahead in London with around £2m more in revenues.
Continue reading “White & Case edges ahead of Latham in the City with £185m turnover”
‘Earth has not anything to show more fair’
Cogence Search’s Mark Husband on London litigation.
TripAdvisor has declared London the ‘number one destination on Earth’ for 2016, beating Paris, New York and Rome for the honour. For international corporates, London is an attractive jurisdiction in which to litigate or arbitrate disputes, offering quality legal services as well as a multinational/multilingual talent pool, a variety of funders and funding options, top-tier hotels and cultural attractions.
Continue reading “‘Earth has not anything to show more fair’”
Litigation funding: Levelling the playing field
Kobre & Kim’s Robert Henoch and Michael Ng discuss third-party financing.
Outward-facing Israeli companies often find themselves facing off against larger, deep-pocketed adversaries, such as joint venture partners, investors, distributors, customers, licensees, or those who have infringed on their intellectual property (IP) rights. When this happens, well-financed opponents can leverage the threatened expenses of the legal process in their home countries to destroy the rights of smaller Israeli companies. Third-party litigation funding offers a potential solution for Israeli companies to vindicate their legal rights under such circumstances.
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Does populism have a price?
HFN’s Alan Sacks highlights the economic inequality issue.
Despite the obvious successes of the Israeli business sector – driven by Israel’s extraordinary achievements in the technology arena – there are clearly systemic problems in the economy. There are few who begrudge the sudden wealth of hi-tech entrepreneurs who secure an ‘exit’ for their technology and knowhow. The situation changes though when the disparity between rich and poor is highlighted, and when large sections of the public feel that a limited group of individuals is growing rich at their expense.
Israel: ‘Early exit’ controversy
Yigal Arnon’s Barry Levenfeld discusses tech sector exits.
Do Israeli companies exit too early? Some, primarily government officials, but also esteemed academics, think so. Israeli technology companies should resist being sold, they say. Instead, the companies should develop into global giants, employ thousands of Israelis – including those without advanced computer science degrees – and thereby enhance their contribution to the Israeli economy. The most recent salvo came from Manuel Trajtenberg, a Knesset member and respected economist, who warned at a conference: ‘The exits we applaud today are a disaster for the state of Israel.’ And then, twisting the knife further, he added: ‘A handful of people grow rich by selling the future of the nation.’
A&O focuses on banking in reduced promotions round
Allen & Overy (A&O) has made up six in London in a reduced promotions round of 21, with almost half the promotions made in the firm’s banking team.
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Pinsent Masons, Shearman and Clyde & Co major winners at 2016 Legal Business Awards
Pinsent Masons, Shearman & Sterling and Clyde & Co were among the major winners at the 2016 Legal Business Awards, with Slaughter and May’s outgoing senior partner Chris Saul named Lawyer of the Year in recognition of an outstanding career.
Nine European partners down in one week at KWM as restructuring brings unintended consequences
Just four days after losing a six-partner private equity team in Paris to Goodwin Procter, three partners have left King & Wood Mallesons‘ London office for Mishcon de Reya, Dentons and Goodwin Procter.
News in brief – April 2016
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.
Deal watch: Corporate activity in March 2016
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”
Outgoing Slaughters senior partner Saul to launch mediation boutique
Slaughter and May‘s longstanding leader, Chris Saul (pictured), will launch a mediation boutique once he retires from his role as senior partner on 30 April.
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Comment: Stefan Stern – Just remember, GCs, Enron thought it was all perfectly legal
Earlier this year the 67th annual oil and gas conference was held by the Center for American and International Law in Houston. Lucky delegates got to hear from a special guest speaker – CFO magazine’s chief financial officer of the year, 2000. The speaker displayed the trophy he had received for his work, and then held up another item – a red prison ID card. Continue reading “Comment: Stefan Stern – Just remember, GCs, Enron thought it was all perfectly legal”
Simpson Thacher tops first quarter global deal tables, as Davis Polk dominates Europe
Despite a looming Brexit referendum swaying levels of transactional activity, certain law firms are enjoying a healthy pipeline of deals with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett emerging on top for global M&A deal value in Q1 2016.
A new model: Ince & Co brings in bonus pool at top of equity
Ince & Co is moving away from its traditional lockstep model and introducing a bonus pool above the top of its equity to reward its highest billers.
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Canada bound: Freshfields prepares to launch second legal services hub in Vancouver
A year after launching a nearshoring office in Manchester, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has taken its plans to hive off low-level legal work to legal services centres has accelerated with plans in place to open a hub in Vancouver, Canada.
Guest post: After the Panama Papers expect rhetoric to quiet the mob, not meaningful change
Two days in. Lots of column inches. But what will it all mean for the future? Some embarrassment, a scalp or two, then business as usual? Or meaningful change?
Freshfields and Linklaters take the lead as Glencore disposes of $2.5bn stake in agricultural arm
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters are advising on Glencore’s $2.5bn sale of a 40% stake in Glencore Agricultural Products to Canada’s largest pension fund, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).
A&O and Linklaters win advisory roles on $965m financing of Travelex and UAE Exchange
Allen & Overy (A&O) and Linklaters have won roles advising on a $965m combined financing deal for UAE Exchange Centre and Travelex Holdings backed by nine banks, to support both forex companies’ growth plans.
US law firms’ secret deal weapon blunted as Pfizer pulls plug on $160bn inversion bid
The wave of ‘inversion’ bids into Europe from US companies could be set to end, with the strategy pioneered by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom hit this week as US drug maker Pfizer terminated its $160bn deal to acquire Allergan amid US tax reforms.
Clydes misses out as Eversheds and Burness Paull take away places on Yum! panel
Eversheds and Burness Paull have won places on Yum! Brands slimmed down legal panel, with Clyde & Co missing out on reappointment.
Continue reading “Clydes misses out as Eversheds and Burness Paull take away places on Yum! panel”