Linklaters continues to leverage its relationships with Chinese banks and corporates, winning four high-profile capital markets mandates as the country internationalises its economy.
With China looking to open up an offshore renminbi debt market, Linklaters won the race to handle the People’s Bank of China debut international bond sale, a move that will act as a calling card for Chinese mandates in the future.
Continue reading “China’s offshore push: Linklaters picks up high-profile mandates”
Latham & Watkins continues to enhance its finance roster, this time with experienced Hogan Lovells partner Gary Hamp. The hire comes shortly after Hogan Lovells had taken three Latham partners in Dubai.
Continue reading “Latham taps Hogan Lovells as City finance push continues”
Increased demand for US capital markets capability in recent times has seen King & Wood Mallesons dip into the laterals market, and appoint US securities partner Bart Capeci in London.
Continue reading “King & Wood strengthens capital markets bench with Sidley hire”
Further proposals for banking reform issued last month by the Bank of England are expected to cause significant internal restructuring of in-house legal teams, with some banks effectively having two separate legal functions.
Under the reforms, banks with core deposits greater than £25bn, including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander UK and The Co-operative Bank, will from 2019 need to separate their retail banking function from the rest of their group, which will divide the activities in the legal team. Banks are currently in a transitional phase of determining where the line is drawn between retail banking and investment banking operations.
Continue reading “‘Like Scotland leaving the UK’: Bank ring-fencing reforms herald big changes”
Dealmakers predict end-of-season deal flourish in Q4
London’s goal of becoming a hub for tech companies to list took a further step in October, after payment processing company Worldpay floated on the London Stock Exchange in the largest City listing so far this year.
Allen & Overy (A&O), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Weil, Gotshal & Manges all scored roles as City-headquartered Worldpay sold 51% of its outstanding shares, raising £2.16bn with Worldpay receiving about £947.8m.
Continue reading “Worldpay IPO to spark London fintech boom after £2.2bn float”
King & Wood Mallesons has advised on Hong Kong’s largest rights issue to date this year, with investment house Fosun International raising $1.5bn to fund a push into financial services.
Continue reading “KWM’s Hong Kong office doubles up on prime capital markets deals”
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) and Dentons have leveraged their considerable Asia platforms to secure roles as lead advisers on a landmark agreement between Germany and China to create the first dedicated platform for yuan-denominated trading outside China.
HSBC is planning to move about 20 of its London lawyers to Birmingham by 2017 in line with the new ring-fencing reforms, Legal Business has learned.
Continue reading “Trading places: HSBC to move 10% of London legal team to Birmingham”
During a tough year for insurance specialists, Holman Fenwick Willan has hired a partner from rival Ince & Co, appointing Stephen Marais to build its asset finance practice.
Continue reading “Holman Fenwick Willan takes London banking partner from Ince & Co”
White & Case’s march on the London private equity market has stepped up another gear with the hire of Caroline Sherrell from Clifford Chance and Kenneth Barry from Debevoise & Plimpton.
