Friederike Heine
June 15, 2011 | International Edition
Firms warned of 'significant risks' of gifts & hospitality under Bribery ActThe Law Society has warned that the Bribery Act could present "significant risks" for law firms in relation to gifts and hospitality. The practice note, issued last week (6 June) suggests that firms should introduce procedures to "prevent the giving or receiving of gifts, hospitality or paying of expenses" that might "influence or be perceived to influence a business decision".
By Friederike Heine
2 minute read
June 14, 2011 | International Edition
Linklaters high yield hire heads up firm's team on House of Fraser bond issueLinklaters and Latham & Watkins have taken lead roles on department store group House of Fraser's £250m bond issue. The issuance, part of an effort by the company to refinance debt taken on when it was taken private in 2006, saw Linklaters take the lead role for House of Fraser. The magic circle firm's team was led by high yield partner Mark Hageman, who joined last year from US firm Cravath Swaine & Moore.
By Friederike Heine
2 minute read
June 14, 2011 | International Edition
Ashurst appoints partner duo to head up real estate practiceAshurst has appointed two partners to jointly head the firm's real estate group after former practice chief Adrian Dear's tenure came to an end. Corporate partner David Evans, who specialises in real estate fund structuring and investment, has been handed a remit to oversee the firm's European real estate practice. Evans has held a seat on the firm's management board since January 2009, when he was elected to serve a term of three years.
By Friederike Heine
2 minute read
June 10, 2011 | International Edition
White & Case confirms new four-year term for firmwide chair VerrierWhite & Case's partnership has reelected firmwide chair Hugh Verrier for a second four-year term at the helm of the US firm following an uncontested vote earlier this month. The US law firm's partnership was notified by email last month that no-one would stand against Verrier, despite speculation that New York-based banking chief Eric Berg and London project finance partner Philip Stopford would contest the role.
By Friederike Heine
2 minute read
June 08, 2011 | International Edition
GTM wins role alongside magic circle trio on hotel group's EMEA panelInterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has completed a review of its EMEA legal advisers, with Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) winning a coveted first-time spot on the four-firm line-up. The firm was appointed to the roster at the end of April alongside existing advisers Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Clifford Chance (CC) and DLA Piper.
By Friederike Heine
2 minute read
June 08, 2011 | International Edition
Bakers and Addleshaws lead as Jones Lang acquires King Sturge for £197mBaker & McKenzie and Addleshaw Goddard have taken lead roles on the £197m merger between global real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle and property consultancy King Sturge. Bakers was instructed by longstanding client Jones Lang LaSalle on the deal, which will create the largest property consulting group in the UK and Continental Europe.
By Friederike Heine
2 minute read
June 08, 2011 | International Edition
Ropes & Gray launches London tax practice with Kirkland partner hireRopes & Gray has launched a tax and benefits practice in its fledgling London office with the hire of tax partner John Baldry from Kirkland & Ellis. Baldry, who joined Kirkland's London office in 2006 from Weil Gotshal & Manges, advises on most areas of corporate tax, including structured finance, private equity fund structuring, M&A and restructurings.
By Friederike Heine
2 minute read
June 08, 2011 | International Edition
White-collar crime lawyers on alert as threat of SFO break-up recedes – but is split just delayed?The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) looks to have secured its future, at least for the time being, as expectations mount that the Government is to put controversial plans to break up the organisation on ice. Home secretary Theresa May is expected to confirm that the Government will not press ahead with controversial plans to split the SFO's prosecution division from its investigatory function – proposals that were strongly opposed by both staff within the agency and white-collar crime lawyers.
By Friederike Heine
5 minute read
June 08, 2011 | International Edition
Freshfields wins role on Treasury's billion-pound Northern Rock saleFreshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has picked up a high-profile mandate advising on the sale of state-owned mortgage lender Northern Rock by UK Financial Investments (UKFI), the body which manages the Government's stakes in UK banks. Corporate partner Barry O'Brien, a longstanding adviser to the Newcastle-based lender's board, is leading the team advising Northern Rock, working alongside global head of finance Alan Newton. The sale is hoped to generate more than £1bn for the Treasury.
By Friederike Heine
3 minute read
June 08, 2011 | International Edition
SFO handed 'stay of execution' as Govt delays decision on break-upThe Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been granted a 12-month reprieve, with the Home Office set to confirm that it will delay making a decision on whether or not the body will be merged into a new National Crime Agency (NCA) until next year. Home Secretary Theresa May is expected to make the announcement later this afternoon (8 June), confirming that plans to separate the SFO's prosecution division from its investigatory function have been put on ice.
By Friederike Heine
2 minute read
