Friederike Heine

April 14, 2011 | International Edition

Ashurst has promoted three London lawyers to its partnership as a part of a 12-strong global promotions round. The appointments, which will take effect on 1 May, are spread across the firm's antitrust, corporate, dispute resolution, energy, finance, infrastructure and real estate practices. The London promotions are Chris Bates and Tom Mercer in corporate, as well as Ross Mackenzie in competition.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

April 14, 2011 | International Edition

Linklaters and Baker & McKenzie have taken lead roles on a $4bn (£2.5bn) energy deal that saw French oil company Total buy a 12% stake in Russian gas producer Novatek as part of a strategic partnership. Linklaters advised the acquirer on the deal, which also saw Total take a 20% stake in Novatek's Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. London corporate partner Dominic Sanders led the Linklaters team advising Total.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

April 14, 2011 | International Edition

Royal Mail Group has appointed Slaughter and May corporate partner Jeff Triggs as its interim general counsel, following the departure of former legal chief Doug Evans. Triggs, who has worked with Royal Mail for more than 20 years, will serve as GC while the company looks for a permanent replacement for Evans, who joined pub operator Mitchells & Butlers as company secretary and general counsel in January.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

April 14, 2011 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells has been selected to serve as the Crown Estate's main litigation adviser on all non-routine matters. The Queen's property company had been seeking a firm to advise on complex litigation since late last year, when it also launched a review of its external legal adviser roster for its urban property portfolio.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

April 14, 2011 | International Edition

Nabarro has recruited two partners for its London headquarters with a double hire from Pinsent Masons and Reed Smith. The new additions, George Lubega and Philip Olmer, will join Nabarro next month (3 May) in the City law firm's commercial litigation and real estate practices respectively. Litigator Lubega is joining from Pinsents as the 27th partner in Nabarro's commercial disputes practice. He specialises in commercial litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution, and acts for a number of corporate clients and government departments.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

April 14, 2011 | International Edition

Banco Santander has kicked off a review of its external legal advisers in the UK as it emerges that Barclays is set to grill its global panel firms on corporate hospitality spending for the first time. Santander's review of its own-account legal panel began around two weeks ago and covers the legacy Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley brands.

By Friederike Heine

3 minute read

April 13, 2011 | International Edition

Kirkland & Ellis has strengthened its City office with the addition of a partner from Shearman & Sterling. Shearman capital markets partner Ward McKimm (pictured) is understood to have handed in his notice yesterday (12 April), with the intention of joining US rival Kirkland.

By Friederike Heine

3 minute read

April 12, 2011 | International Edition

Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker has appointed corporate vice chairman Ronan O'Sullivan as managing partner of the US firm's London office, following the announcement that incumbent Phil Feder is set to return to Los Angeles. O'Sullivan, who joined Paul Hastings six years ago from Herbert Smith and made partner in 2006, will continue to drive the firm's global strategy to grow its corporate practice in London.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

April 12, 2011 | International Edition

Linklaters and Clifford Chance (CC) are in line to take lead roles on commodities trader Glencore's planned initial public offering (IPO), which is set to value the company at around $60bn ($36.7bn). The offering, likely to become the largest ever in London, will see the Swiss-based company sell a 20% stake worth between $10bn (£6.1bn) and $12bn (£7.3bn).

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

April 11, 2011 | International Edition

Linklaters has become the latest magic circle firm to announce its partner promotions, with six London lawyers joining the partnership in a global round of 18. The promotions, which will take effect next month (1 May), come after the firm's annual partners' conference in Paris last week.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read