Anna Reynolds

August 01, 2013 | International Edition

Macfarlanes and Olswang have taken roles on the buyout of London steak restaurant chain Hawksmoor by Graphite Capital. The deal sees the mid-market buyout house acquire a majority stake in the chain, valuing the business at a reported value of around £35m. Macfarlanes advised Graphite Capital - a longstanding client of the firm - on its acquisition of a share in the business from its owners Underdog Restaurants.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

July 29, 2013 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner's (BLP) flexible working business Lawyers on Demand (LoD) has posted turnover of £9m for the 2012-13 financial year, following strong growth since its 2007 launch. The venture - which now boasts a roster of 120 lawyers - has seen a steady increase in turnover since launch, from £1m in 2008-09 to more than £5m in 2010-11, before reaching £7m last year.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

July 29, 2013 | International Edition

Commercial litigation practice Signature Litigation has confirmed significant profit rewards to all of its staff under a collaborative remuneration model set up by the firm on its launch last year. Signature - which was launched by former Hogan Lovells litigation partners Graham Huntley (pictured) and Helen Brannigan in April last year - has confirmed that all of its 26 staff have received a profit share ranging from 21.1% to 36.1% of their salary, following a strong financial performance in its first year since launch.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

July 26, 2013 | International Edition

Mishcon de Reya has appointed Olswang head of construction Nick Lane to join its property litigation group. Lane - who will start at the firm on 2 September - will join Mishcon's property litigation group as a contentious construction specialist. His move will bring the group, which sits within the firm's real estate practice, to a total of four partners and 12 fee-earners. Mishcon's wider real estate department has 19 partners and a total of 78 fee-earners.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

July 26, 2013 | International Edition

Lawrence Graham has posted a 7% fall in revenue for the 2012-13 financial year, while profits per equity partner (PEP) dropped 14%. The firm recorded revenues of £51.8m, down from £56m in 2011-12 while PEP fell from £303,000 to £260,000. Net profit has fallen from £14.2m last year to £13.7m.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

July 25, 2013 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has identified key areas for growth in Africa as the firm looks to second more lawyers to the region amid much interest in the continent's fast-growing legal markets. The magic circle firm has identified Mauritania, Congo-Brazzaville and Zimbabwe as among those offering opportunities for growth, while Egypt and Morocco are also high on the firm's agenda. The firm has also seen an increase in projects work across Mozambique and Tanzania. The firm, which has a network of 80-100 referral firms across Africa, has seen a rise in secondments into and out of the continent after identifying it as a key area of focus.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

July 25, 2013 | International Edition

Herbert Smith Freehills' (HSF) prized litigation practice has been the subject of much attention in recent months, with a steady stream of senior departures providing an unwelcome narrative in the wake of last year's transformative Anglo-Australian merger. The departures – which have seen senior names such as Ted Greeno, Martyn Hopper and Kevin Lloyd head to magic circle rivals and ambitious US competitors in the City – come amid falling partner profits and much talk of post-merger tension following last October's Freehills tie-up. But as global dispute resolution head Sonya Leydecker draws up a new three-year strategy, she believes the practice remains at the top of its game, with the merger providing an opportunity to build the practice globally.

By Anna Reynolds

5 minute read

July 25, 2013 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC), Herbert Smith Freehills, White & Case and Mishcon de Reya have become the latest firms to confirm their trainee retention figures for autumn 2013. CC has offered 51 of its 60 newly qualified (NQ) trainees a role at the firm. Of those, 48 accepted, resulting in a retention rate of 80%. The figure is broadly in the line with the 82% of trainees the magic circle firm kept on in the spring when 54 out of 66 NQs took up a role at the firm.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

July 24, 2013 | International Edition

Allen & Overy corporate partner Seth Jones has been appointed as secretary of the Takeover Panel, becoming the latest City partner to take up a secondment at the regulator. Jones will take up a two year placement in September, replacing Ashurst corporate partner Tom Mercer in the role, who is now returning to the firm. Jones will be the fifth A&O partner to be appointed, the two most recent being Richard Hough in 2000 and Mark Gearing in 1992. He has advised on a wide range of corporate transactions including public and private M&A and joint ventures. He also has a broad international experience, having spent three years in Allen & Overy's Dubai office.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read

July 24, 2013 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells and DLA Piper have played roles on the £5.5m sale of fashion brand Nicole Farhi, after the business fell into administration. The upmarket fashion retailer entered administration at the start of July, with Zolfo Cooper appointed as administrator. Hogan Lovells advised Zolfo Cooper on the disposal, with a team fielded by London business restructuring and insolvency partner Joe Bannister and real estate partners Dan Norris and Mathew Ditchburn.

By Anna Reynolds

2 minute read