Olswang is leading a major online privacy case against Google in the High Court this week, in which the internet giant is arguing for the case to be heard in the US. The current jurisdiction hearing will decide whether the case should be heard in the UK, but the lawsuit itself involves the privacy of […]
Debevoise & Plimpton has hired litigation partner Tony Dymond from Herbert Smith Freehills in London, a year after the firm took heavyweight Kevin Lloyd from its City rival. The move comes just nine months after Dymond was appointed to lead the firms venture in Seoul. He was instrumental in the launch of the base (30 […]
One Direction star Harry Styles turned to 5RB media barrister David Sherborne to secure an injunction preventing the paparazzi from pursuing him. The 19-year-old boy band star was granted a court order by Mrs Justice Nicola Davies and is aimed at preventing alleged harassment by photographers. He turned to long-time adviser Lee & Thompson to […]
Eversheds litigation partner Paul Smith has been elected as the firm’s new chairman, beating corporate partner Robert Pitcher in a partnership vote last week. Smith will take up the role on the 1 May 2014 and hold the position for four years. Current chairman John Heaps did not stand for re-election. Smith was the client […]
Powerful, controversial, fascinating: the energy sector is constantly evolving. Barely a week goes by without energy companies hitting the headlines; catch up on some of the legal angles by clicking on the links below. Shell: taking the power back Exclusive: Energy giant Shell names UK legal chief in top level reshuffle Environmental law: Drills, spills […]
The London office of Jones Day is piloting the use of damages-based agreements (DBAs), making it one of the few major firms to offer these alternative fee arrangements (AFAs) since new regulations came into force in the UK earlier this year. Jones Day already has some experience of contingent fees from the US side of […]
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published its “dramatic” proposals for changes to the partnership tax regime, a move aimed at dealing with the so-called ‘disguised salary’ of LLP members that looks set to create upheaval in finance teams across the UK. The draft legislation, which has also been designed to catch any potential tax […]
A pair of King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin (KWMSJB) partners have quit the newly-merged firm for local firms in France and Germany. French real estate partner Vincent Lassalle is taking a team of two lawyers with him to local firm SBKG & Associés, while finance partner Thomas Schrell is joining Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek’s Frankfurt […]
Think you’ve spent a fortune on your Christmas shopping? Perhaps spare a thought for Kuwaiti property company St Martins. Last week it was announced that the business had been on quite a spree, popping City law and finance hub More London into its festive shopping bag. The London Bridge development, home to Ernst & Young, […]
Pundits across the board generally agreed that George Osborne had a good run-out in Britain’s House of Commons some 10 days ago with his autumn statement. Anything that gets the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s shadow spluttering and steaming is thought to be good value by impartial observers and Tory Party faithful alike. But apart from […]
All the latest partner hires and other appointments within firms and offices in the Asia Pacific region. Australia Herbert Smith Freehills has promoted three lawyers to partner in its employment, pensions and incentives (EPI) practice in Sydney. The new partners are Michael Gonski, Sonia Millen and Drew Pearson. Gonski focuses on senior executive issues, the […]
The collapse of the SFO’s case against Dahdahleh represents a low point in a bad year for the SFO. By Barry Vitou, partner, Pinsent Masons The continuing fall-out from the botched Tchenguiz investigation, lost Serious Fraud Office (SFO) documents relating to the BAE Systems investigation found in a cannabis warehouse in East London and now […]