Emma Sadowski

January 19, 2010 | International Edition

A raft of firms including Dewey & LeBoeuf and Simmons & Simmons have won roles on the proposed acquisition of a uranium company set to create a group worth more than £400m. The deal will see Canada's Uranium Participation Corporation (UPC) take over Guernsey-based Uranium Limited, which is valued at around £84m.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

January 19, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has bolstered its litigation and dispute resolution offering in Washington DC with the hire of William Wallace from Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy. Wallace joins CC after nine years as a partner with Milbank and will head up the magic circle firm's US corporate and financial services litigation group.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

January 18, 2010 | International Edition

The total number of lawyers in England and Wales is continuing to rise, according to new figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). According to the SRA, the number of solicitors holding practising certificates (PCs) at the end of 2009 stood at 112,589 - a 2% rise on the previous year's total of 109,952.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

January 13, 2010 | International Edition

The UK's top 100 law firms saw fee income fall for the third consecutive quarter in the three-month period ending 31 October, with the largest firms seeing the biggest decline according to new research from professional services firm Deloitte. The accounting giant's quarterly legal sector survey found fee income fell by 5.7% in the second quarter of 2009-10, with this drop almost doubling at the top 10 UK firms to 10.5%.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

January 13, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) partners are preparing to vote on a number of changes to the firm's governance structure including measures to speed up management appointments. Partners received a proposal paper last week detailing the suggested changes, with the vote set to close in the first week of February.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

January 13, 2010 | International Edition

Senior City lawyers are facing 2010 in a considerably more optimistic mood according to new research, which shows business confidence rising sharply over the last three months. Legal Week's quarterly business confidence survey found that 83% of responding partners expect revenue growth at their own firm over the next 12 months, a result that is up sharply on the last poll in October, when just 58% were expecting growth.

By Emma Sadowski

4 minute read

January 12, 2010 | International Edition

Bird & Bird and Burges Salmon have won spots on Virgin Group's UK legal panel after a review of the organisation's preferred advisers. Six other firms - Allen & Overy (A&O), Bond Pearce, Denton Wilde Sapte, Harbottle & Lewis, Herbert Smith and Macfarlanes - have been reappointed to the eight-firm roster as of 1 January.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

January 11, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Latham & Watkins have taken lead roles on Manchester United's £500m bond issue. A&O advised the Premier League club - a longstanding client of the firm - with a team led by recently recruited high yield partner Kevin Muzilla.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

January 11, 2010 | International Edition

Denton Wilde Sapte has strengthened its African referral network with the addition of Libya's Tumi Law Firm. Dentons entered into the agreement with the nine-lawyer firm in December, formalising a relationship that has seen the two firms work together since 2007.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read

September 03, 2008 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have landed leading roles on Gas Natural's E19bn (£15bn) takeover bid for Spanish energy rival Union Fenosa. The deal will mean Freshfields reprising a role for longstanding client Gas Natural while A&O is acting for the banks financing the acquisition through a E19bn (£15bn) syndicated loan.Freshfields is fielding a team from both its Spanish and UK offices, with M&A partner Armando Albarran leading a team in Madrid advising the gas giant. The team also includes finance partner Inaki Gabilondo, antitrust partner Alvaro Iza and Spanish chief Miguel Klingenberg. Meanwhile, leveraged finance partner Sean Pierce is advising in London.

By Emma Sadowski

2 minute read