Claire Ruckin

August 13, 2010 | International Edition

A raft of national firms have won roles on the first panel for the London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC). The line-up, which was announced earlier this month (1 August), sees 13 firms appointed to provide legal advice to the LUPC's 60 members, which include the London School of Economics and Political Science, the Royal College of Music and the British Museum. Thirty-four firms tendered for roles on the panel, with succesful firms set to advise for a three-year period with an option to extend for a fourth year.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 12, 2010 | International Edition

Eversheds has begun its fifth round of redundancies in two years, with up to 100 roles under review as the firm prepares to outsource back office functions to Accenture. A consultation process has already begun which could affect 100 jobs in finance and human resources across Eversheds' Birmingham, Cardiff and Leeds offices. Over the next 12 months, Accenture is likely to assume responsibility for Eversheds' HR support services and administration, general accounting functions, billing and collections, and business processes involved from procurement to payment.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

August 11, 2010 | International Edition

A band of national firms have been appointed to computer game retailer GAME group's new legal panel. Pinsent Masons, Hammonds, Bond Pearce and Shoosmiths have all been appointed to the gaming company's legal panel. The competitive tender process, which involved a number of firms, kicked off in March. GAME is a new client for Pinsents; however, it is understood that both Hammonds and Bond Pearce have advised the company previous on employment and commercial matters respectively.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 11, 2010 | International Edition

A third of the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) 80,000 staff could see their jobs at risk under plans to cut £2bn from the department's annual budget, a union has warned. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has expressed fears that £2bn of the MoJ's £9bn budget will be axed within the first two years of the next spending review, which will be announced on 20 October. The union fears that 15,000 of the MoJ's 80,000 staff could be at risk of losing their jobs under the cuts, which it says are the equivalent of the entire budget for prisons.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 10, 2010 | International Edition

Pinsent Masons' Leeds chief Nigel McClea has announced that he is to step down as head of the office, with property partner Mark Owen set to take the helm in the city. McClea will step down in October after six years in the role of Leeds office head, but will remain at the firm in a consultant capacity.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 10, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy (A&O) have taken lead roles on CVC Capital Partners' €1.2bn (£999m) buyout of food and drink vending machine operator Autobar from Charterhouse. Freshfields corporate partners Chris Bown and Piers Prichard Jones led a team advising longstanding private equity client CVC on the acquisition, which is subject to regulatory clearance and is set to close in September.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 04, 2010 | International Edition

Travers Smith is tightening its relationships with overseas law firms via a number of measures designed to replicate the service of 'one-stop shop' global rivals. The City law firm is aiming to present an integrated service to clients including the use of single engagement letters, cross-adviser pricing structures including arrangements such as abort fees and even agreeing to cover cross-border instructions under one insurance policy, which would see any liability fall on Travers' insurance cover.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 03, 2010 | International Edition

Hammonds has continued its recent real estate hiring spree with the appointment of four senior lawyers including former Halliwells partner Mark Gaffney. Gaffney has joined the UK top 25 firm as a partner in Manchester as one of four new hires to Hammonds' built environment group, which covers property, planning and construction. Gaffney joined from Halliwells' Liverpool office, following the sell-off of the now defunct firm. Prior to Halliwells, he led Mace & Jones' Liverpool property practice.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 03, 2010 | International Edition

Travers Smith and Taylor Wessing have won roles on the $475m (£308m) acquisition of US broadband manufacturing company 2Wire by Yorkshire-based set-top box maker Pace. Travers head of corporate finance Spencer Summerfield advised longstanding client Pace on the purchase, which was announced last week (26 July) and will now see Pace look to raise debt from banks, with the deal set to close by the end of the year.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

August 03, 2010 | International Edition

Lord Grabiner QC is to head up an elite line-up of judges, barristers and solicitors discussing the key dispute trends at next month's Legal Week Commercial Litigation Forum. Grabiner will chair the event alongside a roster of senior lawyers, including Citibank litigation head Peter Fisher-Jones, Barclays Bank director of litigation and special investigations Jonathan Peddie, Clifford Chance (CC) commercial litigation head Simon Davis, Law Society chief executive Des Hudson and Ernst & Young head of fraud investigation John Smart.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read