Shearman & Sterling’s London office has taken the lead advising New York-listed global exchange and clearing house operator IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) on its initial public offering (IPO) of pan-European exchange group Euronext on Euronext Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, for what ICE says is likely to be valued at in excess of $2bn. Continue reading “Shearman London and Linklaters Paris lead on circa $2bn Euronext float”
Mishcon de Reya to launch independent private client business with offshore fiduciary firm
Mishcon de Reya has today (11 June) announced it is set to launch an independent, private client advisory business entitled ‘Mayfair Private’ with offshore fiduciary firm Opus Private to provide ‘discreet professional solutions’ to wealthy individuals, families and private offices. Continue reading “Mishcon de Reya to launch independent private client business with offshore fiduciary firm”
Sandy Thomas sees off early challenge to leadership in Reed Smith’s contested managing partner elections
Alexander ‘Sandy’ Thomas has been elected as global managing partner at Reed Smith after John Martini, vice-chair of the firm’s global business and finance department, challenged his position less than a year into the role.
Clifford Chance, Covington and Skadden lead on £930m AA IPO
Clifford Chance (CC), Covington & Burling and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom are advising on the £930m flotation of over two thirds of vehicle breakdown group the AA to City investors. Continue reading “Clifford Chance, Covington and Skadden lead on £930m AA IPO”
‘Hundreds of thousands of pounds are earmarked’: Linklaters’ senior partner Robert Elliott talks new diversity targets
As Linklaters yesterday (9 June) became the second Magic Circle firm after Allen & Overy to put in place gender diversity targets, senior partner Robert Elliott explained to Legal Business why partners have voted to set a target of 30% of all partner promotions to be made up of women and how they plan to double their female management figure to that ratio by 2018. Continue reading “‘Hundreds of thousands of pounds are earmarked’: Linklaters’ senior partner Robert Elliott talks new diversity targets”
Genus turns to Shire Pharmaceuticals to fill GC and company secretary role
Following the return of Tom Kilroy to Misys, Genus, a leading provider of bovine genetics and reproduction services yesterday (June 9) announced the appointment of Dan Hartley as group general counsel (GC) and company secretary. Continue reading “Genus turns to Shire Pharmaceuticals to fill GC and company secretary role”
UK big six energy giant SSE announces seven-strong inaugural legal panel
Big six energy giant SSE has set up an inaugural seven-strong law firm panel following an ‘extensive selection process’.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Addleshaw Goddard, CMS, Osborne Clarke, Gillespie Macandrew, Thorntons and Kennedys have been appointed to advise across various legal disciplines, including but not limited to construction, property, finance, litigation and corporate. Continue reading “UK big six energy giant SSE announces seven-strong inaugural legal panel”
Ashurst corporate partner Nigel Stacey quits for Gibson Dunn’s City office
Ashurst’s corporate partner Nigel Stacey has quit the firm to join the London office of Los Angeles-founded firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.
Stacey, who focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and general corporate matters, follows in the footsteps of fellow corporate partner Jonathan Earle, who left Ashurst in April after being with the firm for 16 years. Continue reading “Ashurst corporate partner Nigel Stacey quits for Gibson Dunn’s City office”
Contested senior partner elections at Pinsent Masons as Chris Mullen challenged by head of construction
Pinsent Masons senior partner Chris Mullen will next month face construction head challenger Richard Foley in the first contested elections at the top 20 firm since David Ryan was voted in as managing partner in 1998. Continue reading “Contested senior partner elections at Pinsent Masons as Chris Mullen challenged by head of construction”
Revolving Doors: HSF’s Rosen QC returns to the Bar; laterals for Weil Gotshal; Simmons; Rosenblatt and Payne Hicks
The latest standout lateral moves have seen Herbert Smith Freehills’ (HSF) former advocacy chief Murray Rosen QC return to the Bar, as Weil Gotshal & Manges boosts its City finance practice, Simmons & Simmons expands in Bristol, with further partner hires at Rosenblatt Solicitors and Payne Hicks Beach.
California dreaming: Clyde & Co expands US practice
Clyde & Co announced today (9 June) that it is expanding its West Coast US practice, opening an office in southern California led by Joe Walsh, formerly a partner at local firm Keesal, Young & Logan.
Continue reading “California dreaming: Clyde & Co expands US practice”
Financial results 2013/14: Addleshaws posts mixed results as profit down 11% after partner restructuring and CFA write-off
Addleshaw Goddard today (9 June) unveiled mixed financial results for the 2013/14 period, with turnover up by 3% to £171.4m but net profit down 11% from £44.9m to £39.8m. Continue reading “Financial results 2013/14: Addleshaws posts mixed results as profit down 11% after partner restructuring and CFA write-off”
Deloitte plots legal market assault with appointment of global managing director
Deloitte has become the last of the Big Four accountancy firms to announce plans to re-enter the legal market with the appointment of Rotterdam-based Piet Hein Meeter as global managing director of Deloitte Legal. Continue reading “Deloitte plots legal market assault with appointment of global managing director”
Eversheds real estate head and tax partner to form high-end boutique
The head of Eversheds’ international real estate group, William Naunton, is to leave the firm alongside tax partner Clive Jones to set up a high-end real estate boutique, after both have served a one-year notice period. Continue reading “Eversheds real estate head and tax partner to form high-end boutique”
A bit of hustle, a bit of love – GCs expect attention and pitching from advisers
In our focus on Nabarro this month the firm comes in for some criticism at the hands of an important client for its failure to engage, to make the client aware of its strategy, or simply to make the general counsel (GC) feel sufficient love.
While this is just one client and Nabarro could undoubtedly rustle up on the spot a dozen others that have a different take on their client service levels, this prestigious client legal head says: ‘I’ve spoken to other GCs about it and they have similar issues, it’s bewildering.’
Continue reading “A bit of hustle, a bit of love – GCs expect attention and pitching from advisers”
Eversheds real estate head and tax partner to form high-end boutique
William Naunton and Clive Jones to depart after year-long notice period.
The head of Eversheds’ international real estate group, William Naunton, is to leave the firm alongside tax partner Clive Jones to set up a high-end real estate boutique, after both have served a one-year notice period.
Jones and Naunton, who was a main board member until he stepped down in 2011, made their intentions clear when they handed in their notices in January, meaning they will be free to set up on their own in the New Year of 2015, with the unusually long notice period understood to reflect Naunton’s significant book of business.
Continue reading “Eversheds real estate head and tax partner to form high-end boutique”
‘The right to be forgotten’: Cleary client Google dealt a blow by ECJ’s privacy ruling
Decision contradicts EU advocate general’s previous non-binding guidance.
After years of attempts by Brussels to tighten up Europe’s data privacy rules in the face of US lobbying, in May the European Court of Justice (ECJ) achieved that effect by backing a ‘right to be forgotten’ against Google, in a blow for the search engine and advisers Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
The court in Luxembourg found that in certain circumstances individuals can request that operators remove the links that appear during searches of their name, meaning Google will now need to set up a technical solution to a potential minefield of requests.
Clyde & Co whistleblower case sees Supreme Court hand partners protection
Partners who expose malpractice in their own law firm will now be protected by whistleblower legislation, the Supreme Court ruled on 21 May, in a precedent-setting judgment that follows a claim brought by former Clyde & Co partner Krista Bates van Winkelhof.
The Supreme Court held – overturning a Court of Appeal finding in 2012 – that members of limited liability partnerships are ‘workers’ for the purpose of employment legislation and therefore have the same protections as employees if they have ‘blown the whistle’ at work.
Continue reading “Clyde & Co whistleblower case sees Supreme Court hand partners protection”
Barclays’ Americas chief Michael Crowl set to join UBS
Barclays’ high-profile managing director and general counsel (GC) for the Americas, Michael Crowl, is to head UBS’ US wealth management division, replacing former permanent head Jonathan Eisenberg, who returned to K&L Gates earlier this year.
A spokesperson for Barclays last month confirmed the bank has, until a permanent replacement is announced, put in place two interim heads: New York-based Kevin Genirs and Marcelo Riffaud.
Continue reading “Barclays’ Americas chief Michael Crowl set to join UBS”
Sainsbury’s unveils new panel as Lloyds appoints insurance GC
Significant in-house announcements in May saw King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin and TLT awarded first-time spots on Sainsbury’s panel, while Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) appointed RSM Tenon’s former group general counsel (GC) Joanne Jolly to lead its insurance group.
Sainsbury’s recently concluded the third review of what it calls its ‘legal community’: a 12-strong collaborative law firm panel, which saw reappointments for Addleshaw Goddard; Bond Dickinson; CMS Cameron McKenna; Croner; Dentons; DWF; Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co; Linklaters; Shepherd and Wedderburn; and Winckworth Sherwood.
Continue reading “Sainsbury’s unveils new panel as Lloyds appoints insurance GC”