Alternative providers such as the Big Four accountancy firms are an increasingly visible component of the UK legal services market. The implementation of the Legal Services Act has brought a range of new players into the UK market while at the same time outfits such as Axiom, offering ‘alternative legal services’, have gained momentum. All […]
Alternative providers such as the Big Four accountancy firms are an increasingly visible component of the UK legal services market, exclusive research for The Lawyer UK200 2015 has confirmed. The implementation of the Legal Services Act has brought a range of new players into the UK market while at the same time outfits such as […]
Charles Russell Speechlys is looking to fully integrate its remuneration system by May next year, with a partner group expected to review the firm’s options next month. The firm’s remuneration system is not fully integrated as yet, following the merger of Charles Russell and Speechly Bircham last November. As a result, a partner group has […]
Last week the Government announced that it was making office-to-residential development rights permanent. However, Irwin Mitchell’s head of London planning and infrastructure Martha Grekos believes there is still a long way to go in fixing the UK’s housing crisis. The office-to-residential permitted development rights were originally introduced in 2013 in an attempt to create more […]
Ashurst and Osborne Clarke have both won key roles advising on Gala Coral’s £241m sale of Gala Bingo to Caledonia Investments. Gala Bingo has a 38 per cent market share in the UK’s retail bingo market and has 1.1m active members. The sale involves 130 of the company’s bingo clubs. Ashurst advised Gala Coral during […]
Ashurst became the latest firm to win IPO work this month, as it became IT infrastructure provider Softcat’s first chief City legal adviser. The company has tended to turn to regional firms in the past, but chose Ashurst to represent it on its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) as it needed […]
No5 Barrister and deputy head of international law Emma Edhem CC attended the China State Banquet at Guildhall in Honour of the President of The People’s Republic of China on 21 October 2015. The Lord Mayor and the President both made speeches at the end of the banquet. The banquet is part of the President’s […]
S Chelvan attended last night’s third annual PinkNews awards at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. As a judge of the Politician and Peer of the Year, Corporate Equality and Public Sector Equality award categories, Chelvan joined the celebrations, recognising the outstanding achievements of politicians, community activists, media personalities and business leaders in advancing the rights […]
Royal property portfolio manager the Crown Estate has announced Rob Booth will replace Vivienne King as general counsel from 1 January 2016. The Crown Estate’s managed assets are valued at over £13bn. Its portfolio of properties include London’s Regent Street, much of St James’ in central London and 340,000 acres of rural land. The appointment […]
Shoosmiths has advised Poundland Group plc on all real estate matters on its £55 million acquisition of 99p Stores Ltd. The deal follows approval from the Competition and Markets Authority and includes 99p Stores’ network of over 250 stores, which serves more than two million customers a week. Poundland paid £47.5 million in cash plus […]
Shoosmiths has advised The Royal Bank of Scotland plc on the £4.5m refinancing of student accommodation provider Ziggurat Student Living. Ziggurat is a private student accommodation provider offering high-spec accommodation in close proximity to Edinburgh, Newcastle and Dublin universities. The firm has completed a number of student accommodation schemes across the UK and Ireland, including […]
The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has created a new general counsel position in the run-up to becoming an independent government company next year. Currently, the OGA is set up as an executive agency of the Department of Energy & Climate Change but will become fully independent when the Energy Bill is implemented in the […]