Shearman and Sterling is among a raft of firms to advise Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) on its $11bn (£6.79bn) takeover of NYSE Euronext. The deal makes the 14-year old ICE group the third-largest exchange operator in the world by market value. It also puts it in control of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), as well […]
More than 100 firms have ben warned to prepare for the worst case scenario after failing to secure professional indemnity insurance (PII) on the open market ahead of the 1 October renewal deadline. The SRA has written to 141 firms that are currently sitting in the extended policy period (EPP) reiterating compliance obligations. The regulator […]
Allen & Overy (A&O) is rolling out a new initiative featuring self-employed legal consultants aimed at topping up resource at peak periods of demand. The move coincides with a call from managing partner Wim Dejonghe for “greater flexibility” in the traditional law firm model. The new service, called Peerpoint, will initially contract A&O alumni to work […]
What is Speechly Bircham up to in Europe? The firm has ballooned from a single-site City outfit into a five-office European network in just over two years. Its first foray with the Continent saw it encroach into Luxembourg and Zurich in 2011, before setting up shop in Geneva in September. No doubt managing partner James […]
After weeks of deliberation, the shortlist for The Lawyer European Awards 2014 has been revealed. A host of independent European firms are in the running for the coveted awards, to be held next February in London. Last year’s European Firm of the Year, Noerr (26 October 2012) is among the larger firms named on the […]
Soft drinks company Britvic has appointed Addleshaw Goddard M&A partner Clare Thomas as its new general counsel after a period of secondment. Thomas said Britvic had an informal panel with Addleshaw Goddard, Baker McKenzie, Barker Brettell, Linklaters selected as regular advisers in the UK. She said: “Every change in the business will mean appraising the […]
By Suzanne Burrell The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has issued draft regulations for consultation. This follows the change in the statutory definition of money purchase benefits, due to come into force next year. Following the decision in Bridge Trustees v Holdsworth, the DWP announced that it would amend the definition of money purchase […]
By David Durham Many technology companies elect not to use their own employees to perform collateral functions such as running the corporate cafeteria or performing security and maintenance functions. Instead, they contract with outside vendors to perform these services, often through a competitive RFP process. Since the technology company does not employ the individuals performing the […]
Ogier has been awarded ‘Best Offshore Law Firm of the Year’ in the AsianInvestor 2013 Service Provider Awards. Ogier has won twice in the three years that the awards series has included an offshore law firm category. The award recognised the technical expertise and client service levels of the firm’s Hong Kong office and its […]
Shoosmiths’ Manchester corporate and banking team has advised on the £15.9m management buy-out of online wine retailer Virgin Wines, which has a significant part of its operations in the north west. The firm advised a newco backed by private equity funds Mobeus Equity Partners and Connection Capital, together with management in relation to the acquisition […]
Shoosmiths has advised on the acqusition of Anglia Retirement Homes, which was acquired by Ravelstone Care Homes — a company backed by August Equity Partners III and its new management team. The firm’s team was led by private equity specialist partner Emma Gibson with assistance from corporate specialist associate Nina Smith. Specialists from Shoosmiths’ commercial […]
By Sophie Wilkinson The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has published a response to its consultation on the implementation of the Recast WEEE Directive 2012, along with the draft Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013. The consultation also considered how to cut compliance costs relating to WEEE in accordance with the red-tape […]