Anna Reynolds

September 24, 2013 | International Edition

Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) is launching in Berlin, taking on Hogan Lovells' Berlin office. All nine partners in Hogan Lovells' Berlin office are joining the US firm, although it is currently unclear how many of the team of more than 20 associates and counsel are joining. Former Berlin office head Christoph Wagner is joining the US firm, alongside the head of the firm's German tax practice Jens-Uwe Hinder. Also joining are corporate partners Karin Arnold, Jorg Meissner and Dirk Besse, competition partner Eckhard Bremer, Andreas Grünwald (TMT regulatory, antitrust), Thomas Keul (litigation) and Hanno Timner (employment, data privacy).

By Anna Reynolds

3 minute read

September 23, 2013 | International Edition

Tooks Chambers is to dissolve, citing a loss of public funding as a result of the Government's policies on Legal Aid. The set has announced it will begin winding up operations from 11 October as a "direct result" of Legal Aid policies, and will formally dissolve on Friday 27 December to ensure that all past work is billed and fees are collected.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

September 23, 2013 | International Edition

Ashurst's dispute resolution partner Ben Tidswell and legacy Blakes competition and consumer protection partner Peter Armitage will run against current senior partner Charlie Geffen for the role of chairman. Partners were informed this morning that Geffen, Tidswell and Armitage had come forward as contenders for the role, which will replace the senior partner position.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

September 16, 2013 | International Edition

Mishcon de Reya and Field Fisher Waterhouse advised on the BBC's sale of the international rights for popular childrens' TV shows Teletubbies and In the Night Garden to DHX Media.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

September 15, 2013 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner's (BLP) flexible working business Lawyers on Demand (LoD) has hired the firm's former HR director, Geoff Griffin, to act as a mentor for LoD's core team in London and attract more senior level partners.

By Anna Reynolds

3 minute read

September 12, 2013 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has kicked off a review of its Africa three-year strategy with a focus on markets driven by energy, mining and infrastructure work. The firm's core Africa group, which comprises five partners in London headed up by banking disputes partner Segun Osuntokun (pictured), has already identified several key jurisdictions it wants to target, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

September 12, 2013 | International Edition

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is set to roll out a firmwide diversity initiative aimed at boosting the number of female lawyers making partner at the firm. Over the past year, the firm has been working with Wanda Wallace, the CEO of US consultancy Leadership Forum, to develop five key programmes that will be rolled out across its international offices this month. Global M&A head Stephen Wilkinson and competition partner Susan Black have been taking lead roles in the initiative. Wallace has previously developed similar programmes for major bluechips including BP, Credit Suisse and Vodafone, but this is her first project with a law firm.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

September 12, 2013 | International Edition

Linklaters, DLA Piper and Travers Smith have taken the lead roles on the sale of David Lloyd Leisure to private equity group TDR Capital for a reported value of £750m. Linklaters advised TDR on M&A aspects of the deal, with a team led by corporate partner David Holdsworth. DLA Piper took the lead role for David Lloyd Leisure Operations Holdings, with corporate partner Ed Griffiths heading up the firm's team. The company is jointly owned by private equity firm Caird Capital and London & Regional Holdings Limited. Travers private equity partner Paul Dolman advised David Lloyd's management.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

September 12, 2013 | International Edition

Ashurst is set to begin voting on its new management line-up and full financial integration with its Australian arm at the end of September, amid speculation over a challenge to current senior partner Charlie Geffen. A vote on full financial integration with Blake Dawson, now known as Ashurst Australia, will take place on 26 September – ahead of the previous expectation of the end of October – with a 75% majority required for the combination to go ahead.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

September 12, 2013 | International Edition

Davis Polk and Latham & Watkins have taken the lead roles on Tesco's sale of its US Fresh & Easy chain to investment firm Yucaipa. The supermarket giant has been looking to offload the loss-making business for some while, with the deal seeing Tesco loan the new business around £80m.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read