Anna Reynolds

November 21, 2013 | International Edition

Travers Smith has appointed partners to head its six key sector groups, two years after realigning the firm along sector lines. The firm's corporate chief Spencer Summerfield will lead the energy and natural resources team, while head of commercial, IP and technology Tom Purton is overseeing the business services sector. M&A partner Edmund Reed will take charge of healthcare and head of private equity Phil Sanderson will head up retail, with private equity partner Paul Dolman leading on leisure and IP partner Richard Brown the new head of media. Travers' senior partner Chris Hale (pictured) leads the firmwide sector-based model, which was first launched in September 2011 and was part of the firm's strategy to both strengthen existing client relationships and attract new work.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 21, 2013 | International Edition

A surge of interest among law firms in low-cost legal centres has yet to be mirrored by the in-house community, with many general counsel still to be convinced of the benefits of legal process outsourcing (LPO). The availability of LPO – including outsourcing to external providers and the use of own service centres – was deemed to be the least important factor when selecting a law firm, according to Legal Week Intelligence's annual Client Satisfaction Report, which polled more than 1,400 in-house lawyers. GCs gave an average rating of just 4.4 out of 10 when asked to grade the importance of low-cost centres. However, despite this apparent apathy, satisfaction levels with LPO centres scored an average of 5.7 out of 10 – one of only a few areas in the report where contentment with service levels outstripped the relative importance they were given.

By Anna Reynolds

5 minute read

November 21, 2013 | International Edition

The top-earning partner at Macfarlanes took home 17% more in 2012-13 than in the previous year, according to the firm's limited liability partnership (LLP) accounts. The accounts, filed with Companies House, show that Macfarlanes' highest earner received just under £1.4m, compared with £1.2m in 2011-12.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 21, 2013 | International Edition

Herbert Smith Freehills has hired Leïla Hubeaut as a corporate partner from Gide Loyrette Nouel to boost its Africa practice after the firm called off plans to open on the continent earlier this year.

By Anna Reynolds

1 minute read

November 21, 2013 | International Edition

Once a Birmingham-centric firm, news this week that Wragge & Co is in merger discussions with Lawrence Graham (LG) marks a significant step in the firm's long-held ambition to build in the City. International expansion, including most recently in Germany and the Middle East, has helped Wragges move away from its origins as a regionally focused firm. It has also largely got over its struggles in the immediate post-crisis years, caused by a dominating real estate practice. The firm reported a marginal increase in turnover at the end of the 2012-13 financial year to £120.5m, while profits per equity partner (PEP) climbed 2.7% to £339,000. However, Wragges has been seeking a tie-up with a smaller London firm with several niche practice areas since realising it was struggling to make real headway in the competitive City market, since launching there in 2000.

By Anna Reynolds

4 minute read

November 20, 2013 | International Edition

Linklaters and Clifford Chance (CC) have acted on Ophir Energy's sale of its stake in a Tanzanian oil and gas development to Singapore investment company Temasek. Temasek has acquired the 20% stake in the offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) development from Ophir for $1.3bn (£810m), although the Lakshmi Mittal-controlled company will remain an investor in the joint venture.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 20, 2013 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed New York-based partner Michael Lacovara co-head of its general industries sector group. Lacovara takes over from London dispute resolution partner Paul Lomas whose term has just ended. He will begin his four year term with immediate effect and will lead the group alongside Munich-based partner Barbara Keil.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 20, 2013 | International Edition

Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells and Maclay Murray & Spens have landed the top legal roles on Lloyds Banking Group's sale of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership Group (SWIP) to Aberdeen Asset Management.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 19, 2013 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells is to merge with South African law firm Routledge Modise, with the combination set to go live on 1 December. Routledge Modise became a formal ally of Eversheds in April 2008 http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/1159962/eversheds-enters-africa-jo-burg-tie but split with the Johannesburg-based practice in October last year http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/2218732/eversheds-to-split-with-south-africa-arm-over-client-conflicts due to issues over client conflicts.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

November 19, 2013 | International Edition

Slaughter and May, Allen & Overy and Linklaters are among a raft of firms to have won a spot on The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU) first ever legal panel. The panel covers Europe, the Middle East and Africa and is split into a preferred firms' panel and a transactional panel.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read