Shoosmiths has been recognised for its role advising train manufacturer Hitachi Rail in a multibillion-pound order for trains. IJGlobal (Infrastructure Journal and Project Finance magazine) presented the Intercity Express Programme with the Rail Deal of the Year award at its annual Europe and Africa awards ceremony on 19 February. IEP is a 30-year design, construction and […]
Aim-listed ABS Quindell has extended the exclusivity period relating to Slater & Gordon’s potential acquisition of its professional services division to 31 March 2015. The latest statement comes amid speculation that following a due diligence process Slater & Gordon offered just £700m for the company’s legal services division, despite a top-end price tag of £1bn. […]
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has reported a 33 per cent bounceback in London office revenue for 2014, with turnover rising to £26.2m from £19.8m in 2013. The increase in revenue follows a 28 per cent drop in turnover between 2012 and 2013 (5 March 2014). In 2012 Quinn Emanuel recorded London turnover of £27.5m […]
McGuireWoods has been criticised for filing a 94-page claim for its client Vincent Tchenguiz that “flouts all the principles” of the Commercial Court Guide in a ruling by Mr Justice Leggatt. The lawsuit, which was filed in November, must now be resubmitted after Leggatt J ruled the claim included “background facts, evidence and polemic in a […]
African lawyers believe global firms do not understand the realities of doing business in their country and have a tendency to “fee-hog”, but remain highly dependent on work from international players. Research carried out by consulting company Redstone shows that while global firms have woken up to the need to manage their African capabilities in […]
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher partner Peter Gray will undergo cross-examination in the High Court in early March over allegations that he submitted evidence containing falsified information during a September 2013 case for the government of Djibouti. Gray, who was instructed by the Djibouti government in its long-running case against African businessman Abdourahman Boreh, is alleged […]
The offshore legal market has seen another year of growth, The Lawyer can reveal, with turnover rising by an average of 13.8 per cent among those firms which disclose it. The annual Offshore Top 30 report, published today, shows that headcount has continued to grow among the 30 largest firms operating in the key offshore […]
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), DAC Beachcroft (DACB), Nabarro, Macfarlanes, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Linklaters have played key roles in the £770m sovereign wealth deal expected to resurrect the Pinnacle at 22-24 Bishopsgate. Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Tamasek Holdings is understood to be the principle member of the buying consortium of four investors, lead by […]
Fifty Shades of Grey is out and lawyers are getting in on the action. No, not like that, although what you do in your private lives is none of our concern. But for a little piece of legal-related Fifty Shades gossip, check in with The Lawyer’s legendary diarist, Tulkinghorn, who’s come out of retirement and […]
Scottish firms Burness Paull and Levy & McRae are facing legal action from the liquidators of Heather Capital over their involvement in the collapse of the $400m hedge fund. Heather Capital is the now defunct offshore financial empire run by Scottish lawyer turned hedge-fund entrepreneur Gregory King that folded following the financial crisis in 2008. […]
Blackstone Chambers has successfully defended Ofcom against a claim brought by Travellers Movement alleging that Channel 4 programme My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding portrayed travellers in an “unfair and racially stereotypical way”. Charity Travellers Movement put forward a claim against Ofcom after a complaint against Channel 4 programmes My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and Thelma’s […]
The majority of UK businesses support strike law reform, says Eversheds. On the back of main political parties’ HR commitments, Eversheds has conducted a study of nearly 400 businesses to gauge their thoughts on these proposals, with some surprising findings. Some of the most interesting findings are around strike laws, with 62 per cent of […]