After the Withers fiasco, Speechly targets a more realistic link with Charles Russell Merging firms with different histories, characters and personalities is never going to be easy. That’s a lesson Speechly Bircham has learned the hard way. Last year’s failed merger talks with fellow private client-focused firm Withers fell flat after just two months of […]
Hogan Lovells ‘under-45’ board policy may highlight generation gap in aspirations Has the next generation of managing partners already lost interest in private practice? In a recent Eversheds survey of 1,800 lawyers aged between 23 and 40, 39 per cent say they feel the partnership model is out of date. In fact, the majority of […]
Taking the lead on compliance matters to stay one step ahead of the regulator ‘scalp-hunters’ is a priority for Chris Pinney at loss adjuster Crawford The wettest winter on record is expected to cost the insurance market in excess of £1bn in claims. Loss adjustor Crawford & Company is at the centre of the ongoing […]
DWF has hired Pinsent Masons ’ financial institutions head Stephen Miles. Miles is to take on the role of CEO for the commercial services division, which accounts for around half the firm’s turnover. UK London Matthew Arnold & Baldwin has hired Roger McCourt as a partner in the firm’s banking and finance litigation department. […]
A host of billion-dollar plus deals and some chunky litigation have characterised the last six months offshore. CORPORATE Bermuda/Cayman Bermuda British Virgin Island Cayman Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey BERMUDA/CAYMAN Alliance Group acquisition of Alliance Oil Company December 2013 The Alliance Group, which was previously a major shareholder in the Stockholm-listed Alliance Oil Company (AOC), […]
The City’s halfway-house location and diverse market is drawing new offshore players – including litigators There are more Top 30 offshore firms present in London than any other jurisdiction apart from the Cayman Islands. Although the raw number of lawyers is small, 12 firms now have an office in the City, operating a base to […]
A dearth of experienced candidates has opened offshore firms’ eyes to the talent existing beyond the magic circle. But recruits must be ready for a culture shock If you look at the CVs of many partners in offshore firms a pattern emerges – a top degree at a top university followed by a stint in […]
Three from Europe: enhanced regulation for cross-border workers; beefed-up measures to protect trade secrets; and a ruling on Austrian bread rolls Nearly 20 years ago, Brussels legislative boffins gave us the Posted Workers Directive, which to the uninitiated sounds like a law requiring businesses to parcel up in brown paper wrapping a minimum number of […]
How a Los Angeles-born firm became one of London’s biggest legal success stories The most noteworthy thing about Latham & Watkins rise to the peak of this year’s international top 30 is that it has done it without a transatlantic merger or a significant UK bolt-on. For many of those in The Lawyer’s International Top 30 list, […]
Conyers Dill & Pearman has provided British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Cayman Islands legal advice to China Aoyuan Property Group in connection with issue of $300m (£180m) 11.25 per cent senior notes due 2019 (ranking pari passu with all unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness subject to priority rights pursuant to applicable law) supported by subsidiary guarantees […]
Conyers Dill & Pearman has provided British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Cayman Islands legal advice to Agile Property Holdings in connection with an international offering of the company’s $500m (£300m) 8.375 per cent senior notes due 2019 (ranking pari passu with all existing notes in issue, banking facilities and unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness but senior […]
DLA Piper has advised German media house Burda Magazine Holding on the acquisition of Wunder Media Production, a digital marketing specialist. The transaction, which was subject to clearance by the Austrian Competition Authority, saw Burda acquire 100 per cent of the shares in Wunder Media Production directly from its mother company, Wunder Media. The DLA […]