US firm Goldberg Segalla has parted ways with London insurance partner Clive O’Connell after he was filmed recently delivering an anti-Liverpool rant following a match at Stamford Bridge.
King & Wood strengthens capital markets bench with Sidley hire
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.
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Could it be your year? Nominations open for the Legal Business Awards 2016
Now is the time to show how your team has positioned itself ahead of the pack this year: nominations are open for the most prestigious showcase of talent in the industry, the Legal Business Awards 2016.
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‘A robust UK legal market’: Pearson GC confirms new panel with Freshfields, HSF, DLA and Pinsents winning corporate mandates
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), DLA Piper and Pinsent Masons have all won key mandates on Pearson’s new legal panel, as the company’s general counsel (GC) Bjarne Tellmann praised the robust state of the UK legal market.
Querying the bill: Treasury ‘concerned’ over Freshfields fees on Eurostar sale
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has been put under the spotlight for charging £2.8m in legal fees when advising HM Treasury during the £585.1m sale of the government’s 40% stake in Eurostar International Limited (Eurostar) in March this year. Continue reading “Querying the bill: Treasury ‘concerned’ over Freshfields fees on Eurostar sale”
Comment: It’s a people game – what private equity lawyers can teach bland global law firms
If a good chunk of the latest issue of Legal Business is focused on technology and machines replacing lawyers, our extended focus this month on private equity is an interesting contrast. After all, what good would a supercomputer be in the clubby, driven and entrepreneurial world of leveraged buyouts?
Bakers loses second star litigator to Linklaters in a week as Cassels heads for Silk St
Baker & McKenzie global litigation head Tom Cassels has become the second senior litigator to leave the firm for Linklaters in a matter of days.
Legal Aid Agency faces 100-firm challenge over criminal contract cuts amid whistleblower’s call for an external investigation
It was a decision never likely to sit well with the public defence profession and so it proved.
The ongoing saga over the reduced number of criminal legal aid contracts continues as it has emerged that the Legal Aid Agency (LAA), an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, is facing legal challenges from around 100 firms at the High Court to prevent execution of the contracts.
Blue chip clients: cutting-edge tech will reshape law in five years as more jobs taken by intelligent machines
In-house lawyers have been notoriously slow to embrace the tech-backed delivery of legal services, but Legal Business research drawing on responses from more than 600 global clients shows many believe technology will transform the way they work.
Bursting at the seams: Milbank makes room for 50 extra lawyers in the City
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy is gearing up for further growth in London by leasing extra office space, an extra 35% on top of its current City base.
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Easy access: EY lowers threshold for first UK trainee programme
Big Four accountancy firm EY will recruit eight trainee solicitors in the UK over the next two years, launching its first-ever lawyer training scheme in the UK.
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Ince & Co Singapore exits continue as energy head departs for Bakers
Ince & Co’s departures continue in Singapore with energy head Martin David being the latest to leave the firm, joining Baker & McKenzie as a partner in its Singapore energy practice.
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Freshfields and HFW criticised by Takeover Panel for breaching rules in Bumi transaction
In a rare step, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) have been publicly criticised by the UK Takeover Panel for breaching its code of conduct when advising on the formation of a multibillion-dollar Indonesian coal group.
Goodwin Procter opens Frankfurt base with the hire of four Ashurst partners
US firm Goodwin Procter is setting up shop in Frankfurt, establishing a real estate capital markets platform with four of Ashurst’s six Frankfurt real estate partners.
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The In-House Lawyer Survey – More than a number
Our fourth annual client survey shows the maturing role of in-house counsel leading to greater job satisfaction. But in winning more responsibility, are they taking on more than they can handle?
Career-wise, in-house is the new black. As Chris Fowler, general counsel (GC) for BT’s UK commercial legal services division, observes, there is now much more of a desire among millennials to work for companies than in private practice. With in-house teams evolving in status to become more important to the business, the role of the corporate counsel now is far more attractive to law graduates than ever before.
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The In-House Lawyer Survey – Bang for your buck
Our fourth in-house survey shows a softening stance towards external advisers from general counsel, reflecting the need for high-quality consultative advice.
With more than 20 years spent in multiple in-house legal positions, BAE Systems’ group general counsel (GC) Philip Bramwell has been at the centre of the evolution of the in-house legal profession. But despite seeing the GC rise in prominence to trusted adviser status, he doesn’t believe the role will shift so fundamentally that it will lessen dependence on external counsel.
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Linklaters ranked best adviser for second year in annual survey
Sarah Downey reports on the clients’ verdict
Linklaters has again been awarded top marks as an external adviser in Legal Business‘ fourth annual in-house survey, emerging as the clear overall favourite for both quality of advice on high-profile, strategic matters, as well as ranking first overall for value for money.
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Worldpay IPO to spark London fintech boom after £2.2bn float
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.
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Moving on: homebuilder McCarthy & Stone turns to A&O for its November listing
Regular counsel Freshfields advises lead arrangers on £1bn IPO
Retirement home builder McCarthy & Stone has selected Allen & Overy (A&O) to advise on its £1bn initial public offering (IPO) as it prepares this month to return to public ownership almost a decade after the developer was taken private.
McCarthy & Stone’s appointment of A&O is a move away from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, which was listed as the developer’s solicitor in its most recent annual report in 2014. However, Freshfields already has a lead role on the float, acting for underwriters Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Jefferies International, with partner Mark Austin leading the team.
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DealWatch Corporate activity in October
MAGIC CIRCLE DUO SERVE UP QUORN DEAL
Linklaters and Allen & Overy (A&O) took lead roles as the private equity owners of meat-substitute Quorn disposed of the business to a Filipino noodle maker. Linklaters advised Monde Nissin, which bought Quorn for £550m, while Quorn’s owners Exponent Private Equity and Intermediate Capital Group were advised by A&O.