Claire Ruckin

May 05, 2010 | International Edition

K&L Gates and Addleshaw Goddard have taken lead roles on the £40m sale of Blackpool Tower and a number of other local attractions to Blackpool Borough Council. K&L Gates' City arm advised long-term client Leisure Parcs on the sale of assets including the Tower, the Golden Mile amusement arcade, Louis Tussaud's Waxworks and the Winter Gardens entertainment complex to the town's council, taking them into public ownership for the first time.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

May 04, 2010 | International Edition

DLA Piper has successfully defended itself against allegations of sexual discrimination brought by a former partner. A Liverpool employment tribunal cleared the firm of the charges brought by former real estate partner Sarah Sweeney, dismissing all of her claims at the end of last month.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

April 30, 2010 | International Edition

The battle to secure full privilege for in-house lawyers in Europe has suffered a reverse after a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) stated that company legal teams are not protected in competition cases. The opinion of the ECJ Advocate General Juliane Kokott says that in-house lawyers should not be afforded legal professional privilege in EU competition investigations, unlike their private practice counterparts.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

April 29, 2010 | International Edition

Dundas & Wilson has overhauled its management structure, creating a unified board and shaking up the leadership of its practice groups. The big four Scots firm has chosen to replace its advisory and executive boards with a single body in an attempt to streamline operations at the firm.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

April 28, 2010 | International Edition

Law firms will have to get used to competing against non-legal entrants to the market, senior lawyers have predicted in a set-piece debate on the future of the profession. The debate during Legal Week's Future of Legal Services Forum saw agreement from panelists including Osborne Clarke (OC) managing partner Simon Beswick and Russell Jones & Walker chief executive Neil Kinsella that new entrants were not interested in the law firm model.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

April 28, 2010 | International Edition

Burness and Eversheds have secured lead roles on the sale of cinema advertising business Pearl & Dean for a token value of £1. Scottish firm Burness advised long-term client STV, which sold the business - best known for its signature theme tune - for a nominal sum to newly-formed company Image. Corporate partner Grant Stevenson led the team advising STV - central Scotland's ITV franchise - on the deal. He was assisted by corporate finance associate Fraser McIntyre, while finance partner James Heaney provided advice on the loan arrangements.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

April 27, 2010 | International Edition

The implementation of the Legal Services Act (LSA) is likely to be delayed if the Conservatives form the next UK Government. Shadow business minister Lord Hunt of Wirral has indicated that the Act, which is timetabled to be up and running in full by October 2011, could now face delays if the Conservatives win the general election next month.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

April 27, 2010 | International Edition

Pinsent Masons is set to launch an Islamic finance practice with the return of Al-Harith Sinclair from DLA Piper. Sinclair, a specialist in Islamic project finance structures, will join Pinsents' City office as a partner on 1 May to establish and head up the firm's Islamic finance practice.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

April 23, 2010 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard is set to see the departure of two senior litigators as Simon Twigden and Pietro Marino leave the firm to set up their own litigation boutique. Litigation partner Marino and Twigden, the national firm's practice head, both handed in their notice last week. It is unclear if the duo, who will now serve a 12-month notice period, will take any other Addleshaws staff with them.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

April 23, 2010 | International Edition

Pinsent Masons has made up four lawyers in the firm's latest promotions round, with all four of the new partners based the UK. Pensions lawyer Matthew de Ferrars is promoted in London after 12 years at the UK top 20 firm, while construction lawyer Anthony Bradley, commercial lawyer Peter Feehan and employment specialist Jon Fisher join the partnership in the firm's Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds offices respectively.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read