Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised a group of 29 international and local banks who were acting as financiers on a $14bn merger between shipping giants Hapag-Lloyd and United Arab Shipping Company (UASC).
Linklaters has landed a significant mandate acting for SoftBank Group Corporation on the launch of the SoftBank Vision Fund, the world’s largest technology fund focusing on innovation including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and mobile applications. Continue reading “Linklaters advises technology giant SoftBank on launch of $100bn investment fund”
Theresa May’s pledge to scrap the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and incorporate it into the National Crime Agency (NCA) has dominated the City’s reaction to the release of the Conservative Party manifesto, which also makes clear the need for proper approval of bidders on M&A transactions.
Continue reading “Big leap forward? City reacts to Conservative manifesto pledge to scrap SFO”
Experienced financial regulation partner Bob Penn, who moved to Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton last year and advised HSBC on the controversial bank ring-fencing reforms while at Allen & Overy (A&O), is clear on whether those reforms are fit for purpose. ‘This is a hugely unwelcome and disruptive process, and frankly yet another distraction from running a profitable bank at a time when they are already facing a cascade of regulatory reform and the prospect of Brexit.’
Six finance partners left Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer at the end of April, with two more losing equity status as the Magic Circle law firm implemented a restructure of its finance practice.
Clifford Chance (CC) has picked up its first significant deal for Prudential Capital Group in the UK government’s £11.8bn sale of buy-to-let mortgages from failed lender Bradford & Bingley.
Slaughter and May, Allen & Overy (A&O) and CC all picked up advisory roles on the disposal of loans purchased at the height of the financial crisis.
Victoria Young assesses the advisers targeting the alt lending crowd
‘Almost every partner in our team is working on a direct lending mandate right now and that’s reflective of where markets are moving,’ notes White & Case partner Gareth Eagles. ‘It began as a niche, but it’s now a regular part of the funding mix. It’s not alternative finance. People said the Beatles were alternative in 1962 but they didn’t by 1966!’
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has announced the appointment of a three-partner bankruptcy team from Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, with the team joining the firm’s New York office. Continue reading “Freshfields makes major New York play with three-partner bankruptcy hire from US firm”
Weil, Gotshal & Manges confirmed today (19 April) that it has hired infrastructure and real estate finance partner Paul Hibbert from Baker McKenzie, as the US firm continues to ramp up its finance coverage in the City. Continue reading “Weil adds to banking practice with Baker McKenzie infrastructure specialist Hibbert”
Six finance partners will leave Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer at the end of this month, with two more to leave the equity while the Magic Circle law firm implements a restructure of its finance practice.
Continue reading “Six partners to exit Freshfields this month as finance restructure takes effect”
