Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer former corporate head Barry O’Brien last month (31 March) hung up his Magic Circle boots to move into a client development role at US investment bank Jefferies. Before joining, the former rugby playing high flyer spoke to Legal Business about diet coke partnerships, retirement, and moving away from the Magic Circle.
Emerging markets M&A down as King & Wood tops league
With the emerging markets continuing to dominate the expansion strategies of many City and international firms, the short term picture remains mixed as the value of M&A activity in the region bucked a global trend by dropping to $125.7bn during the first quarter of 2014, down by 4.7% from $131.9bn compared with the first quarter of 2013. Continue reading “Emerging markets M&A down as King & Wood tops league”
Partner promotions: Linklaters beats Magic Circle rivals with 21 lawyers made up to partner
With the latest promotions round among the City elite so far showing a marked drop in the number of associates made up to partner, Linklaters has elected 21 new partners across its global network, with seven made up in London. Continue reading “Partner promotions: Linklaters beats Magic Circle rivals with 21 lawyers made up to partner”
Weil Gotshal hires restructuring heavyweight Wilkinson from Goldman Sachs
It has long been renowned as the top restructuring shop in the US but Weil, Gotshal & Manges was a late entrant to Europe’s work-out scene. As such the New York-bred law firm has taken a headline-grabbing step to take its City practice ‘to the next stage of growth’ with the hire of Goldman Sachs heavyweight Andrew Wilkinson, who is to join the firm at the end of April.
Continue reading “Weil Gotshal hires restructuring heavyweight Wilkinson from Goldman Sachs”
Partner promotions: Macfarlanes defies downward trend by making up nine lawyers
Macfarlanes is the latest of a small number of City firms to announce growth in the number of lawyers made up to partner, with the firm confirming today (7 April) nine new partners, its highest number since 2005.
Continue reading “Partner promotions: Macfarlanes defies downward trend by making up nine lawyers”
High-value commercial litigation rises 16% as recession-related disputes filter through to courts
2013 saw a sharp rise in high-value commercial litigation as major disputes arising from the recession filter down to the courts in greater numbers, according to research released today (7 April) by RPC.
In-house: LinkedIn general counsel Rottenberg steps down as Tele2 unveils its new legal head
Alstom thermal power sale gifts Freshfields and Linklaters with $1bn deal
Magic Circle firms Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have won lead roles advising on the sale of Alstom’s thermal power division to German private equity firm Triton in a deal worth around $1bn. Continue reading “Alstom thermal power sale gifts Freshfields and Linklaters with $1bn deal”
Guest post: Boring, boring Irwin Mitchell – there’s more to life than floating
It’s not often that I feel sorry for law firm PR people, but I sense that Irwin Mitchell is getting a little fed up with being asked when the firm is going to float. Continue reading “Guest post: Boring, boring Irwin Mitchell – there’s more to life than floating”
Ince & Co blames prevailing economic conditions in core sectors for redundancy of 10 fee-earners and six secretarial staff
Ince & Co confirmed today (4 April) that ten shipping and insurance fee-earners along with six secretarial staff have been made redundant following the conclusion of a consultation launched in February. Continue reading “Ince & Co blames prevailing economic conditions in core sectors for redundancy of 10 fee-earners and six secretarial staff”
Anger as the Bar prepares to vote on legal aid deal and QASA appeals continue
High emotion and anger over the Criminal Bar Association’s (CBA) decision to strike a deal with the Government on legal aid cuts has seen barristers given until next Wednesday 9 April to vote to accept the deal or take further industrial action, as further legal challenges were also brought this week to the controversial Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA). Continue reading “Anger as the Bar prepares to vote on legal aid deal and QASA appeals continue”
Paul Hastings and Cleary advise on Marriott London Grosvenor sale and £200m buy-in of UK’s Victoria Plumb
The London offices of US firms Paul Hastings and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton are advising on the £125m sale of the Marriott London Grosvenor Square Hotel and the acquisition of a majority stake in British online bathroom retailer Victoria Plumb for around £200m respectively. Continue reading “Paul Hastings and Cleary advise on Marriott London Grosvenor sale and £200m buy-in of UK’s Victoria Plumb”
Asia: Latham hires V&E ex China co-head in HK; NRF hires DLA’s Singapore corporate head; Clayton Utz ends HK association
The past week has seen global top three firm Latham & Watkins hire Vinson & Elkins’ former China co-head David Blumental in Hong Kong, as Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) takes on DLA Piper’s Singapore corporate head Sheela Moorthy and big six Australian firm Clayton Utz ends its association in Hong Kong with Haley & Co. Continue reading “Asia: Latham hires V&E ex China co-head in HK; NRF hires DLA’s Singapore corporate head; Clayton Utz ends HK association”
Partner promotions: Skadden makes up 1 City partner out of 11; Morgan Cole promotes two
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom has promoted just one London lawyer to partnership in this year’s US-centric round of partner promotions.
The US top 5 Global 100 firm has promoted eleven lawyers in total, up three from last year Continue reading “Partner promotions: Skadden makes up 1 City partner out of 11; Morgan Cole promotes two”
‘Why don’t parties and their donors pay to run Parliament?’ MoJ pushes ahead with controversial court fees reform
Despite fierce accusations from within the senior echelons of the legal profession that the Government has failed to comprehend the Courts’ standing as an essential institution of the State, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) this week announced it will push ahead with the first stage of its proposals to overhaul court fees in civil claims. Continue reading “‘Why don’t parties and their donors pay to run Parliament?’ MoJ pushes ahead with controversial court fees reform”
Hogan Lovells calls on non-equity partners to inject £60k to £100k in response to HMRC shake-up
Hogan Lovells has called on its non-equity partners to make a significant capital contribution in light of HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC’s) decision to overhaul the way salaried partners are taxed, which is set to kick in this month.
Comment: Democracy and half measures are not delivering for Addleshaws
I wrote recently of the need, when commenting on the firms and individual lawyers we cover, to give the benefit of the doubt, and I meant it, but sometimes it’s hard to find that silver lining or constructive slant. Addleshaw Goddard, unfortunately, has become a case in point. Continue reading “Comment: Democracy and half measures are not delivering for Addleshaws”
Eversheds in merger talks with German partner as it opens a new Berlin office
Eversheds has confirmed it is in talks over a full merger with its German partner Heisse Kursawe Eversheds as the firm opens a third German office in Berlin. Continue reading “Eversheds in merger talks with German partner as it opens a new Berlin office”
Squire Sanders’ merger talks partner Patton Boggs approached by Dentons
Squire Sanders‘ merger talks partner Patton Boggs has been approached with an offer to combine from top 50 Global 100 firm Dentons. Continue reading “Squire Sanders’ merger talks partner Patton Boggs approached by Dentons”
Irwin Mitchell’s departing CEO John Pickering points to ‘the changing legal sector’ as Tucker takes over
Irwin Mitchell’s longstanding head John Pickering has pointed to changes in the legal sector for his decision to step down as group chief executive (CEO), as he prepares to leave the firm and the former CEO of the firm’s personal legal services (PLS) division Andrew Tucker steps into the lead role. Continue reading “Irwin Mitchell’s departing CEO John Pickering points to ‘the changing legal sector’ as Tucker takes over”