Stephenson Harwood has instructed Lord Pannick QC on behalf of Robert Tchenguiz to go before the European Court of Human Rights in the latest stage of a long-running legal battle against the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and accountancy firm Grant Thornton. Blackstone Chambers veteran Pannick is set to argue that the businessman’s right to a […]
A growing number of London firms are targeting a reduction in property costs, new research from property company CBRE has revealed. CBRE said that 83 per cent of respondents to its survey were considering ways of reducing property costs, an increase from 76 per cent in 2012. However, 69 per cent also said they expected […]
Investment and asset management company Triangle has appointed Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) senior associate Liron Meister as its first general counsel. Meister will advise Triangle’s senior management team on all legal issues to do with transactions, regulatory compliance, contracts and potential acquisitions. Previously the London-based financial services group has used a roster of firms for […]
There is no end in sight for the current round of UK heavy hitters jumping ship for US rivals, with Linklaters’ real estate M&A practice head Matthew Elliott becoming the latest departee. As revealed by The Lawyer today, Elliot is joining Kirkland & Ellis, the firm that has contributed disproportionately to the current lateral hiring […]
Shoosmiths has advised Consilia Investments on its co-investment with members of the target’s management, into a newco and the company’s subsequent acquisition of Allied Textiles from Chamonix Private Equity. Allied Textiles is a group of four textile manufacturing companies, situated in Rawtenstall and Nelson in Lancashire, Barnsley in South Yorkshire and Ashbourne in Derbyshire. They manufacture […]
Kirkland & Ellis has made its second London lateral hire in a month, picking up Linklaters corporate star Matthew Elliott. The move follows Kirkland’s reappointment of former London managing partner Jim Learner (6 January 2015). Elliott has worked at Linklaters since 1998 when he joined the magic circle firm as a trainee solicitor. He has […]
Eversheds has expanded its Switzerland team with the appointment of three new partners in the areas of banking, international trade, transport and insurance. Patrick Eberhardt is an expert in international trade finance and advises banks, commodities traders, inspection agencies, logistic companies and insurers in contentious and non-contentious matters. As in-house counsel at the leading investment bank BNP […]
HSBC has instructed Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) for legal advice, following the leak of client accounts by whistleblower Hervé Falciani. The leaked documents show that HSBC helped thousands of wealthy clients to evade tax through its Swiss private bank between 2005 and 2007. Media outlets the Guardian, Le Monde, BBC Panorama and Washington-based International Consortium of […]
Shoosmiths has advised property consultants GBR Phoenix Beard on the acquisition of Optic Asset Management, a niche property management company based in London and Leeds. Shoosmiths corporate partner Ben Turner led the deal with assistance from corporate solicitor Georgina Gurnhill, tax partner Kate Featherstone and employment solicitor Liz Parkin.
Shoosmiths has advised on the acquisition of Homesitters Limited, a UK provider of homesitting and petsitting services. Shoosmiths’ partner Adam Dowdney, with solicitors Catherine Wigmore and Robert Pook, advised Dr Alan Irvine on the acquisition. This is the second transaction on which Shoosmiths has advised Dr Irvine recently, after advising him on the sale of […]
It’s fair to say that the UK’s public M&A market has been going through somewhat of a dry patch, at least compared to the heady days of the mid-2000s. The number of deals has shrunk, having a knock-on effect on the number of law firms instructed. And the legal fees paid by the companies involved […]
Pinsent Masons has won permission to bring a judicial review of HMRC’s use of accelerated payment notices (APNs) against its group action client, members of Ingenious Media’s film partnerships scheme. HMRC issued members of the scheme, believed to number up to 1,000 celebrities, television stars and footballers, with a £1bn tax bill after deeming it […]