Claire Ruckin

December 07, 2010 | International Edition

Olswang has overhauled its partner appraisal system in a move which will see partners assessed by clients and business creation teams. The City firm approved the changes in a vote last month, with the new system set to come into effect from the end of the year.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 03, 2010 | International Edition

Hammonds reduced its net debt by more than 30% during the last financial year, according to the firm's latest limited liability partnership (LLP) filings.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 03, 2010 | International Edition

Travers Smith and Linklaters have bagged roles advising on the £1.6bn sale of the Trafford Centre. Travers advised long-standing client Peel Holdings, which sold the Trafford Centre to Capital Shopping Centres Group (CSC) for £1.6bn. The deal was announced last month (25 November) and is set to close by the end of the year.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 01, 2010 | International Edition

Hammonds has made its first partner hire since agreeing its transatlantic tie-up with Squire Sanders & Dempsey, with the appointment of construction specialist Simon Bradley. Bradley joined the national firm's Birmingham office yesterday (1 December) as a partner in the construction team. He was previously a partner with local rival Clarke Willmott.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 01, 2010 | International Edition

Bird & Bird has played a key role in England's bid to secure the 2018 World Cup. The City firm beat 16 other law firms in April 2009 to secure the advisory mandate for England's bid to host the championships. It is due to find out later today (2 December) whether the England committee has successfully seen off competition from rival bids including Russia and Spain/Portugal to host the tournament.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 01, 2010 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) is gearing up to split away from its groundbreaking Lawyers on Demand (LoD) service. The City firm's management is in talks that could see LoD, which provides clients with freelance lawyers on a temporary basis, spinning off from the law firm and operating as an independent business.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

December 01, 2010 | International Edition

Liverpool FC's former owners are set for a return to the High Court in the latest twist in the long-running saga over the takeover of the football club. US businessmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who are being represented by City firm Peters & Peters and Paul Girolami QC of Maitland Chambers, are due to return to the High Court on 9-10 February next year. Hicks and Gillett are seeking to overturn an anti-suit injunction granted by Mr Justice Floyd in the High Court on 14 October, which dismissed a restraining order taken out in Texas by the pair to block the sale of the club.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

December 01, 2010 | International Edition

Ashurst, Latham & Watkins and Travers Smith have taken lead roles on the £450m sale of Britax Childcare to Nordic Capital. Ashurst fielded a team led by corporate head Stephen Lloyd advising Nordic on the deal, which represents the first buyout of a UK company for the Scandinavian-based private equity group. The City firm has advised Nordic in the past on deals in the Scandinavia region.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 30, 2010 | International Edition

Mishcon de Reya has bolstered its residential property group with the hire of two new partners. Sonal Gandhi joined the law firm last month (8 November) from Charles Russell, while Beverley Lewis is set to joint the team from Forsters at the beginning of next year (10 January). Both were partners in their former firms.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

November 29, 2010 | International Edition

Hammonds' Hong Kong arm is set to split off from the firm in the wake of the merger agreement with Squire Sanders & Dempsey. The six-partner Hong Kong arm told Hammonds' management last week (24 November) that it intends to separate from the firm, with the partners rejecting the merger with US firm Squire Sanders. The transatlantic tie-up is due to go live on 1 January 2011.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read