Emma Sadowski

July 07, 2009 | Law.com

A number of partners at top 10 London firms claim banks are putting them under too much pressure to provide in-house legal teams with lawyers. With larger numbers of secondees from different firms being used effectively as extensions of banks' own legal teams because of in-house redundancies and recruitment freezes, the benefits to ongoing relationships are less evident. Despite the criticism, banks insist they will not be changing their stance.

By Emma Sadowski

4 minute read

February 20, 2008 | National Law Journal

Clifford Chance has boosted its Asia litigation team with the hire of a partner from Mayer Brown JSM, the Magic Circle law firm announced Monday. Brian Gilchrist joins Clifford Chance's Hong Kong arm on May 1, which currently has four other full-time litigation partners. He specializes in banking and insurance disputes, directors' duties and minority shareholders' rights matters, as well as tax-related areas.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

September 05, 2008 | Corporate Counsel

Ashurst has scored the main corporate advisory role for Emap after the publishing company reviewed its legal panel in the wake of its takeover last year. The review was conducted by Emap group legal director Nilema Bhakta-Jones, who joined earlier this year to replace general counsel Nick Folland, who left in 2007 to join Kingfisher. Ashurst has been appointed as main corporate adviser, focusing on high-value and complex matters.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

February 15, 2008 | National Law Journal

Latham & Watkins looks set to become the latest adviser to launch in the competitive Middle East market after hiring a partner from Vinson & Elkins. Meanwhile, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is transferring more lawyers from London to the region. As top firms flock to the Middle East, a related trend has seen advisers proactively target sovereign wealth fund clients, which are typically based in the world's key emerging markets.

By Charlotte Edmond and Emma Sadowski

3 minute read

August 14, 2009 | Law.com

Beachcroft has strengthened its Irish practice with the hire of a four-lawyer clinical negligence team. The U.K. firm has hired four lawyers for its Dublin office, which opened in March, led by Ann O'Driscoll from Mason Hayes+Curran. O'Driscoll, who was previously a partner in Mason Hayes' litigation and healthcare practice, advises healthcare professionals and hospitals on clinical negligence and risk management issues.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

February 25, 2008 | National Law Journal

Shipping and insurance specialist Holman Fenwick & Willan has moved to bolster its international offices with partner appointments in Dubai, China and Australia. The firm has strengthened its Middle East practice with the hire of Christian Taylor as a partner from Manches in London; moved energy partner Paul Aston from Singapore to Shanghai to head its office there; and transferred litigation partner Chris Lockwood from London to Melbourne.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

July 10, 2009 | Corporate Counsel

Banco Santander is finalizing a shake-up of its external advisers in the U.K., as JP Morgan has launched a review of its preferred law firms. The bank's review, which involved an online bidding process, has seen Berwin Leighton Paisner, Nabarro, Eversheds and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer confirmed as new appointments to the 16-firm panel. JP Morgan, meanwhile, is using its in-house procurement team to coordinate a review of its preferred firms for own-account work globally.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

January 07, 2009 | Corporate Counsel

Clifford Chance has bolstered its U.S. antitrust offering with the high-profile hire of former Federal Trade Commission general counsel, William Blumenthal. Blumenthal joins as a partner in the firm's corporate and litigation groups in New York, and will act as chairman of the antitrust group. The hire follows a spate of recent U.S. activity for the Magic Circle firm.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

July 25, 2008 | Law.com

Allen & Overy continues to sit ahead of rivals in global project financing by advising on the largest number of deals for the first half of 2008. Infrastructure Journal research shows the Magic Circle law firm advised on 36 deals worth a combined total of $30.5 billion. Clifford Chance fell just behind the deal volume rankings with a total of 31 deals, but pushes ahead in deal value with an overall sum of $46.3 billion.

By Emma Sadowski

5 minute read

November 01, 2009 | Corporate Counsel

RBS puts select firms on fast track; Nestlé unveils U.K. counsel.

By By Emma Sadowski, Sofia Lind, and Jeremy Hodges

4 minute read