German firms Boesebeck Barz & Partners and Droste are to merge to form Boesebeck and Droste Killius & Triebel. It will be the fifth largest practice in Germany, with 75 partners and more than 150 lawyers. The new firm will have five national offices, as well as bases in Brussels, Warsaw, Zagreb and Alicante. Frankfurt-based […]
A multi-million-pound claim over the alleged negligent valuation of property is heading for the High Court. The claim centres on a valuation of five hotels bought by Tower Hill Property Investments from subsidiaries of Queens Moat Houses. Tower Hill, which paid more than £53m for the hotels, is suing valuers Weatherall Green and Smith, Terence […]
TWO SENIOR partners at the collapsed Liverpool firm Deacon Goldrein Green have been found guilty of using client funds for their own purposes and withholding information from the Legal Aid Board. A solicitors’ disciplinary tribunal last week found Andrew MacFarlane and Alan Sprince guilty of conduct unbefitting to a solicitor after hearing how the firm […]
Conveyancing solicitors should see the Hambro/Shoosmiths alliance both as a threat to the very existence of the high street solicitor network and as a great opportunity for the profession. Obviously other large organisations will follow Hambro and I have no doubt that within five years the public will become used to a “one-stop” moving service. […]
A leading defamation specialist, Keith Mathieson, has left Oswald Hickson Collier to build up the media practice at Davies Arnold Cooper. He joins the commercial litigation department as a partner and has brought his assistant solicitor Kirsty Watt with him. Mathieson advises mainly on libel, copyright, passing off, confidentiality and contempt of court. He is […]
Nearly twice as many commercial solicitors read The Lawyer than any other specialist legal magazine, journal or newspaper, according to an independent survey. The survey of 1,500 solicitors practising in City, West End, regional and national law firms was carried out by the commercial barristers’ chambers 11 Stone Buildings as part of a marketing exercise. […]
Juries in fraud cases do not bring about justice, according to the next director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Rosalind Wright. “If you really want to see justice done, I don’t think juries in fraud are the way to achieve it.” she told The Lawyer in one of the most outspoken criticisms so far […]
Herbert Smith acted for Yorkshire Water on its pioneering capital reorganisation designed to return around £150m to shareholders. Other companies are expected to follow its lead.
SJ Berwin advised venture capital trust Murray VCT2 on its £35m share offer by subscription. Ashurst Morris Crisp acted for issue sponsor Merrill Lynch.
Travers Smith Braithwaite advised Barnes Trust Television on a £12m financing of its £9m purchase of Pearson Television’s Teddington studios business. It advised Barnes on a bank loan and Gresham Trust on taking an equity stake in Barnes. Edmonds Bowen & Co advised Barnes on the purchase
Rickerby Watterson acted for automotive engineering company Howle Holdings on its £1m listing by placing on the London Stock Exchange.
Bevan Ashford advised gemstone explorer Cambridge Mineral Resources on its £3.5m listing on AIM.