The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is appointing a new Western European panel with the bank intending to pick a small number of firms to do the bulk of the work in the region.
Continue reading “RBS to appoint new Western European panel as bank aims to cut costs”
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has kicked off a review of its 400-strong legal team to control costs and drive efficiencies, a move that could potentially lead to staff redundancies.
Cyber attacks, corporate scandals, environmental disaster… just some of the threats businesses face as they go global. Legal Business asks leading GCs how to handle – and avoid – a crisis.
‘I’ve dealt with many crises… government investigations, data privacy breaches, pollution… they’re all nauseating. Your gut churns when you get that call and know the next few weeks or even years are going to be tough.’
Bjarne Tellmann, general counsel, Pearson
‘What happened to Lehman Brothers? And to Bear Stearns? I’m not sure even the people at Lehman or Bear Stearns could tell you. The only certainty is the fourth and fifth largest investment banks in the US are no longer. And that it happened with breathtaking speed.’
Peter Beshar, general counsel, Marsh & McLennan
Continue reading “Keep calm and… The GC guide to handling a crisis”
The brewing giant’s legal and corporate affairs director discusses mergers and learning on the job
Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) legal director Anna Tolley describes the constant change at the drinks company as a rollercoaster she is still yet to get off. After joining (then) InBev as senior legal counsel in 2009, the young lawyer quickly moved up the ranks post-merger with AB InBev appointing her head of legal for UK and Ireland in 2011, two years after she joined. A year later Tolley was bumped up to UK and Ireland legal director and, following another promotion, is now the company’s legal and corporate affairs director for Northern Europe and sits on AB InBev’s UK operating board of directors.
Continue reading “Client profile: Anna Tolley, Anheuser-Busch InBev”
It is not easy to be an in-house lawyer. Thank goodness, however, because if it was why on earth would any business want to employ a lawyer? In fact, why would any lawyer go to the trouble of that expensive and gruelling training and working hours that risk burnout; then, just when they reach the point they can capitalise on their powers, decide to hop into a featherbed of routine, low-risk work that is more ‘admin’ than law?
Are you a Capitulator? A Coaster? A Champion? Comfortably Numb perhaps? To an in-house profession used to having its qualities of leadership and innovation praised to the hilt, the recently-produced report on ethical standards among general counsel from UCL’s Centre for Ethics and Law is an awkward read. Continue reading “Comment: GCs are just like private practice, so ‘Trust the lawyers’ won’t cut it for them either”
Former Santander head of banking legal Jason Elphick has joined OneSavings Bank as group general counsel and company secretary.
Continue reading “OneSavings Bank takes Santander’s Elphick for GC role”
KPMG’s UK general counsel (GC) Jeremy Barton is leading a transformation of its legal team, while also reviewing the broad range of relationships that KPMG has with law firm suppliers.
The latest corporate to boost its in-house legal capabilities through a high-profile recruit is Boston Consulting Group (BCG) which has appointed Ulrike Schwarz-Runer from property development company Grosvenor as global general counsel.
Following its US merger, international asset manager Columbia Threadneedle has carried out a restructure of its UK legal team, scrapping the head of legal and head of compliance roles.
Continue reading “US focus: Columbia Threadneedle restructures legal division post-merger”
