Osborne Clarke (OC) has published its first set of LLP results for its UK and US offices which show an increase in annual revenue of 17% to £114.7m from £98.2m, while the firm’s highest paid member took home a fifth more than the year prior. Continue reading “First Osborne Clarke LLPs show revenue up as highest paid member takes home 22% more”
High-profile BP general counsel Bondy to move to Reckitt Benckiser
BP’s group general counsel (GC) Rupert Bondy, one of the most high-profile in-house leaders in the community, is to step down from his role by the end of the year to join Reckitt Benckiser, Legal Business can reveal. Continue reading “High-profile BP general counsel Bondy to move to Reckitt Benckiser”
‘A brave new world’: City firms anticipate further changes after new white collar reforms introduced
City lawyers anticipate more cooperation between the public and private sectors as the introduction of the Criminal Finances Bill into the House of Commons brings greater reform to white collar crime.
US quartet line up on AT&T’s $85.4bn takeover of Time Warner
Demonstrating dominance in their home market, four US firms have taken advisory roles as AT&T has offered to acquire Time Warner for $85.4bn. Regular adviser Sullivan & Cromwell is advising AT&T alongside Arnold & Porter, while Cravath, Swaine & Moore has taken the lead for CNN and HBO owner Time Warner, with Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Continue reading “US quartet line up on AT&T’s $85.4bn takeover of Time Warner”
Addleshaws restarts salary review for all staff and pledges to backdate increases
Addleshaw Goddard has restarted its delayed salary review for all staff, including the annual review of fixed profit share for salaried partners, and the next profit distribution for equity partners. Continue reading “Addleshaws restarts salary review for all staff and pledges to backdate increases”
Eversheds defends £100m Northern Rock claim over allegations of professional negligence
Eversheds is being sued by Northern Rock Asset Management (NRAM) over allegations of professional negligence, in a claim worth £100m. Continue reading “Eversheds defends £100m Northern Rock claim over allegations of professional negligence”
Revolving doors: Ropes & Gray takes HSF finance partner as Harbottle & Lewis makes private client play
Ropes & Gray has strengthened in the City as Harbottle & Lewis has made a major private client play. Meanwhile, at the Bar, Essex Court Chambers has made several appointments.
The next step
Are in-house counsel ready to be business leaders? It seems a strange question to have to ask given the level of education and training of most in-house lawyers and the dramatic expansion of the size and responsibilities of legal teams over the last 15 years.
GCs are seizing the day (from their advisers)
Can anything truly threaten the premier league of global law firms? Certainly the going has been more challenging since the banking crisis for all sections of the legal industry, whether you are betting on ‘flight-to-quality’ or ‘more-for-less’, but overall the world’s top 100 commercial law firms look no nearer to an existential threat. AI? The accountants? New Law providers? The former reflects a genuine force set to substantially change the industry, though it is not apparent whether that will come at the expense of high-end law firms. The latter two players have yet to come near to living up to the fanfare made for them. Continue reading “GCs are seizing the day (from their advisers)”
Taught leaders
In 2012 the MBA degree established itself as the most popular subject of postgraduate education in the US, accounting for more than a quarter of all enrolments according to the US Department of Education. Along with the usual diet of macroeconomics, management theory and financial accounting, MBA programmes have ensured that those who seek to carve out a corporate career focus on one quality above all others: leadership.
Significant matters – Autumn 2016
Panel roundup
Unilever is currently carrying out an informal review of its panel firms, after the existing roster expired in June 2016. Led by operations legal director Saswata Mukherjee, the last panel review began in February 2014 and constituted the company’s first formal panel arrangement.
Herbert Smith Freehills and Cravath act as BAT lights up $47bn Reynolds takeover
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Cravath, Swaine & Moore are advising British American Tobacco (BAT) on its offer to acquire the remaining 57.8 % stake in Reynolds American for $47bn. BAT had already owned 42.2% of Reynolds for the last 12 years. Continue reading “Herbert Smith Freehills and Cravath act as BAT lights up $47bn Reynolds takeover”
Mishcon and Hogan Lovells line up as KWM takes case against Goodwin Procter over PE team
Mishcon de Reya and Hogan Lovells are to face off as King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) issues a claim against Goodwin Procter over several private equity hires made by the US firm. Continue reading “Mishcon and Hogan Lovells line up as KWM takes case against Goodwin Procter over PE team”
The art of leadership in Asia
‘Becoming an in-house lawyer has not traditionally been a desirable career path for Asia’s top graduates,’ says Amy Ng, general counsel for the Asia-Pacific region at global real estate company CBRE. ‘But we are seeing a lot of change now in the number of people leaving private practice to work for a business.’
Soft law, hard sanctions
It turns out that the next risk front facing business and promising to reshape the role of general counsel is a piece of legislation notorious among lawyers for having no teeth and little direct liability for companies.
Artificial bad, intelligence good
Paul Gilbert argues that AI has become a marketing gimmick that
obscures the shortcomings of legal teams.
The words ‘artificial intelligence’ bother me. I want to have a little rant about the words, but I also want to challenge the way in-house lawyers approach technology. On the words, I can legitimately stand accused of using ignorance as a shield for my laziness, but what bothers me is not that artificial intelligence isn’t clever and potentially useful, but that it sounds like the marketing kids have got hold of the dressing up box again. Continue reading “Artificial bad, intelligence good”
The governance dilemma
Stefan Stern forecasts that GCs will be forced to address a renewed
attempt to fix what ails governance in UK plc
Who knew that the staid term ‘corporate governance’ could create so much excitement? That Latinate phrase seems designed to reassure: ‘governance’ suggests order, calm, and mastery. But the chaps in the boardroom – and they still are mostly chaps for all the progress on appointing women directors – had better brace themselves for an interesting few months. Continue reading “The governance dilemma”
Perspectives: Geoffrey Timms
I’ve been lucky. I didn’t always want to be a lawyer. I used to party a lot; I liked going out. I always have done. In my twenties my girlfriend suggested I do something with my life instead of faffing around. She binned me.
Brexit proofing – protecting the UK securitisation market
U
K collateralised loan obligation (CLO) managers have adapted their risk retention structures in response to the EU referendum vote, effectively ‘Brexit-proofing’ their structures in the event of a full Brexit where UK firms do not continue to enjoy financial passporting rights into the EU.
Continue reading “Brexit proofing – protecting the UK securitisation market”
Debt finance in the UK – still open for business?
The UK has long prized its reputation as an attractive place to do business. Successive governments of all persuasions have consistently taken measures to make sure the UK has the most competitive corporate tax regime across the G20. With its low headline corporate tax rate and generous rules on deductibility of interest compared to other G20 partners, the UK has been ideally positioned as a place for businesses to invest and thrive. Continue reading “Debt finance in the UK – still open for business?”