Payments company TransferWise is in the process of finalising its first ever roster of firms in what general counsel Jenifer Swallow describes as a ‘non-panel, panel review’. Continue reading “US heavyweights big contenders in TransferWise external counsel review”
Channel 4’s Prash Naik is to leave the media company just over three years after his appointment as general counsel (GC). Naik (pictured) has been at Channel 4 for almost 23 years, starting as a legal and business affairs executive and taking on positions including senior lawyer and controller of legal and compliance before landing the role of GC in 2014. Continue reading “Media moves: Channel 4 general counsel Prash Naik to depart after more than two decades”
Social gaming giant King Digital Entertainment has seen the departure of its chief legal officer and company secretary Robert Miller for virtual reality start-up Improbable. Continue reading “In-house: King chief legal officer Miller leaves Candy Crush maker for tech start-up”
Coca-Cola European Partners has freshened up its legal leadership team as the expiration of the soft drink giant’s UK panel nears. Continue reading “In-house: Coca-Cola refreshes leadership roles appointing RB’s Huma Allana”
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has unveiled its panel for general legal advice services, with 18 firms making it onto a two tier panel. Continue reading “Twelve firms make it onto top tier of reduced Crown Commercial Services panel”
Ahead of the tripartite merger between CMS, Nabarro and Olswang, Facebook has announced that it has taken on commercial disputes partner Anna Caddick from its external adviser Olswang as its EMEA head of regulatory and litigation.
Shell’s in-house legal team recently took the lead on the sale of $3.8bn worth of its own North Sea oil and gas assets, with help from panel firm Clifford Chance (CC), as part of a debt reduction push following its takeover of BG Group.
The deal sees British investment firm Chrysaor Holdings pay an initial sum of $3bn plus an additional payment of up to $600m, subject to commodity prices, and $180m for future discoveries. A Shell spokesperson said: ‘This approach to legal delivery, with a Shell team in the lead and backed up by limited external legal support, is typical for us. It allows our in-house business lawyers to work on the most complex, high-value projects, drawing on the expertise of a wide network of internal legal experts, and delivering value to the business at competitive cost and appropriate risk profile.’
Continue reading “‘Sign of things to come’: Shell leads on sale of own North Sea assets”
Outside the limelight of London’s legal community, Scotland’s GCs toil in low profile. Legal Business assesses the talent north of the border
The professional life of a public company general counsel (GC) in Scotland can feel isolated at times. As a member of a small club, opportunities to plug into the professional networks that their peers in the South East of England take for granted can be limited. ‘We do get a sense sometimes that we are a decreasing community!’ confesses Christopher Morgan, GC and company secretary at Glasgow-based engineering plc Weir Group. ‘Certainly the number of Scottish-based plc GCs is thin on the ground and it’s dwindling.’
Continue reading “Northern lights – The trials and treasures of Scotland’s leading GCs”
James Wood talks to lawyers in an industry that attracts advisers for the long haul
Transport and infrastructure has long been viewed as one of the less glamorous legal practice areas, best suited to lawyers with the patience for ploughing through the minutiae of statutes. But with increasing public and political scrutiny and a rush of private investors looking to park their money in safe assets, it has become one of the most high-profile – and demanding – areas of legal work.
In what could be the end of its 18 month old general counsel consultancy group, RPC has seen the exit of in-house guru Julia Chain, who moves to join eDiscovery provider Millnet.
