A Supreme Court has for the first time spelt out the difference between civil and criminal contempt in English and Welsh law Serious Fraud Office v O’Brien [2014] is a massive, landmark legal victory for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). The case is important for two reasons. First, for the first time, the Supreme Court […]
The world is a stressful place, what with an uncertain economy, Saharan smog and the fragility of all human endeavour. And the workplace has pressures of its own, of course, which is why it’s undoubtedly a Good Thing that Clifford Chance has a programme designed to promote psychological well-being among its workforce. It isn’t the […]
DLA Piper has been recognised as a technology ‘powerhouse’ by the BTI Consulting Group in its newly published 2014 BTI Client Relationship Scorecard. BTI also ranked DLA Piper number 20 out of 650 law firms serving large clients for having the best client relationships, placing the firm on the ‘Power Elite’ list. Between March and July 2013, BTI conducted […]
DLA Piper has advised Halton Borough Council on the £600m Mersey Gateway Project, a major scheme to build a new six-lane toll bridge over the Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes. The DLA Piper team advised on the procurement of a private sector partner for the design, build, financing, operation and maintenance of the new 1km-long cable-stayed bridge over […]
DLA Piper has secured the dismissal of patent infringement claims against subsidiaries of St Jude Medical, a global medical device manufacturer, by device maker Volcano Corp. On 18 March, Judge Richard G Andrews of the US District Court for the District of Delaware dismissed Volcano’s claims, finding St Jude did not infringe two of Volcano’s patents for […]
Allen & Overy has advised Old Mutual on the sale of Skandia Germany and Skandia Austria, part of Old Mutual Wealth, to a Cinven and Hannover Re acquisition vehicle (shortly to be renamed Heidelberger Leben Group). The transaction volume is €220m (£180m) in cash, plus interest to completion. The transaction is still subject to regulatory approvals and other […]
According to Simmons & Simmons’ graduate recruitment partner Alan Gar, top of most of his fellow partners’ wish lists for future trainee qualities is ambition. At first glance, this seems rather anodyne. A little like saying, “we want the best of the best” or, “we’re looking for the most able and enthusiastic candidates”. As opposed […]
Want to know the latest legal developments in banking and finance from all over the globe? Head over to our briefings section of the website and get yourself up to speed courtesy of DLA Piper, Arendt & Medernach, Conyers Dill & Pearman, Ogier and Schoenherr DLA Piper: European Acquisition Finance Debt Report 2014 Arendt & Medernach: […]
Washington lobbying firm Patton Boggs is facing a legal battle against oil giant Chevron following a US court ruling that the New York court had jurisdiction to hear fraud claims being pursued against the firm. On Monday US District Judge lewis Kaplan has said he had “difficulties” with Patton Boggs’ argument that the New York court […]
Beverage giant Britvic is looking to build an informal panel of advisers in the US off the back the beverage company’s recent 15-year exclusive distribution deal with PepsiCo. The deal secures bottling and distribution for Britvic’s Fruit Shoot products in 41 US states, hitting its initial US distribution target almost two years ahead of schedule. […]
Morgan Cole has promoted two partners to its Oxford and Cardiff offices as well as promoting 20 others members of staff within the firm. The firm has made up succession wills and tax lawyer James Greig in the Thames Valley and commercial lawyer Jason Richards, based in Oxford and Cardiff. Last year the firm promoted […]
All the latest partner hires and other appointments within Continental European firms and offices. Benelux A group of four former Allen & Overy (A&O) and Linklaters lawyers have teamed up to launch the latest in a string of Dutch boutiques (2 April 2014). Orange Clover Law was launched on 1 March by Machiel Galjaart, Alex […]