Hogan Lovells has hired James Kwan as an international arbitration partner from Baker & McKenzie’s Hong Kong office, where he led the firm’s Hong Kong arbitration practice. Kwan is known for his focus on energy, infrastructure and engineering disputes and has represented clients in arbitrations in Asia, the US, the Middle East and Europe. During […]
EY has announced Berwin Leighton Paisner head of legal risk Matthew Whalley will be joining the firm’s legal services arm to launch its legal risk practice. Whalley built BLP’s risk practice from the ground up. He will join EY as a director in January 2016. He joins former BLP head of finance Matthew Kellett […]
Bevan Brittan has added another three partners to its new Leeds office in a move which brings total partner headcount in the city to seven. Hugo Stephens and Richard Stirk will join Bevan Brittan as partners within the firm’s property practice. Stephens and Stirk both join from DWF where they specialised in the affordable housing […]
Vinson & Elkins has become the latest American firm to raise its newly-qualified salary to £100,000 – a 25 per cent pay rise. The Texas-founded firm, which takes four trainees a year, has bumped up 1PQE salaries by 22 per cent, to £110,000, while 2PQE salaries rise to £120,000, an increase of 20 per cent. […]
Eversheds has signed a deal with client Communisis which will see the listed communications company transfer its in-house legal team to the firm’s outsourcing arm, Eversheds Ignite. This is the first major deal to be signed by Eversheds’ managed service offering. As well as outsourcing a large proportion of the company’s legal work it will […]
It has emerged that Arnold & Porter has gained AstraZeneca as a patent litigation client, strengthening its relationship with the pharmaceuticals giant. According to The Lawyer Market Intelligence (LMI), the US outfit began advising AstraZeneca on patent litigation matters in 2014, with its first case involving an asthma medication claim against claimants Teva Pharmaceutical. The […]
Less than a month after downsizing its Singapore office, Stone Chambers has seen the departure of commercial and shipping silk Timothy Hill QC in London. Hill will join 20 Essex Street, which also recently took Gordon Nardell QC from 39 Essex. Stone Chambers saw the departure of Singapore-based barrister Steven Walker in November, at the […]
Matrix Chambers has hired former Treasury Solicitor and head of the Government Legal Department Paul Jenkins QC as an associate member. Jenkins will join the set’s investigations and audits team, which advises governments and businesses on inquiries, audits and reviews. The appointment comes just one day after Matrix hired Allen & Overy senior associate Angeline […]
Dechert has promoted just one lawyer to its partnership in London, despite making up 14 lawyers in an increased global round. Financial services counsel Richard Heffner is the sole London partner promotion, having joined the firm in 2004. He is dual-qualified English solicitor and US attorney focussing on financial services regulation in both nations. Last […]
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) general counsel John Collins has resigned after less than a year in the top job to join Santander UK as director of legal, compliance and regulatory affairs. Collins will remain at the bank until mid-2016, a spokesperson at RBS confirmed. His successor has not yet been named. His exit could disrupt […]
Pinsent Masons has turned to Simmons & Simmons for the hire of real estate finance partner Richard Hughes. Hughes advises both borrowers and lenders active in the real estate, energy, infrastructure and financial services industries. The hire continues a busy year for Pinsents on the lateral hiring front. The firm picked up an energy team […]
A host of firms have advised on the £3.8bn acquisition of a portfolio of first lien mortgage loans from General Electric’s (GE) UK home lending business. GE Capital was represented by Allen & Overy (A&O), with a team including partner Daniel McKimm. Meanwhile Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) advised the investment consortium made up of funds […]