Friederike Heine

February 23, 2011 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells is to make three associates in its London tax practice redundant following a consultation that started in November last year. The consultation was led by tax partner Karen Hughes, with four associates in the group placed at risk of redundancy owing to reduced work levels across the practice. Taking the redundancies into account, the London tax practice will now have six partners and 19 lawyers, working with clients including Barclays, ExxonMobil and Ford.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

February 22, 2011 | International Edition

Linklaters has followed Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in handing out spring bonuses to its US associates for the first time. The firm's US managing partner Nick Rees announced the move in an email sent out to all lawyers who will receive the payout. In the email, Rees stated that "a number of our peer firms in New York have recently announced they will be paying spring bonuses to their associates. I am pleased to announce that we too will be paying an additional spring bonus to US associates."

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

February 21, 2011 | International Edition

Linklaters has become the latest City firm to post its March retention rates, with 50 out of 60 (83%) qualifying trainees offered a permanent position with the firm. Of the 50 trainees offered a newly-qualified (NQ) role, 49 accepted the offer, resulting in an overall retention rate of 82%.

By Friederike Heine

3 minute read

February 18, 2011 | International Edition

Ropes & Gray's fledgling London office has handled three high yield bond issues this year, following the transfer of US finance partner Jane Rogers to the City. Rogers, who joined the firm's London arm in September last year from the US firm's Boston base, has advised the issuers on three high yield transactions since her arrival.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

February 18, 2011 | International Edition

Linklaters has taken a lead role for Credit Suisse on a ground-breaking securities deal designed to bolster the banking giant's financial strength. The deal saw Credit Suisse issue $8bn (£5bn) in 'cocos' - a form of bond that converts into equity if the issuing bank's balance sheet becomes impaired.

By Friederike Heine

3 minute read

February 16, 2011 | International Edition

The Crown Estate is close to finalising its roster of legal advisers for its urban commercial property panel, following a three-month review that kicked off in the autumn. Legal director Vivienne King is leading the review alongside Alex Peeke, who joined the organisation in 2009 from Macfarlanes.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

February 16, 2011 | International Edition

K&L Gates' London senior partner Michael Johns is among nine former Farepak directors facing disqualification proceedings over the 2006 collapse of the UK Christmas savings company. The UK Insolvency Service - part of the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills - has made an application in the High Court for disqualification orders to be made against nine former directors of Farepak and its parent company European Home Retail (EHR). The orders would bar those named from serving as a company director in the future.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

February 15, 2011 | International Edition

Wragge & Co has taken the lead role on the administration of Auto Windscreens, with 1,100 jobs currently under threat at the company. Wragges is advising administrators Deloitte, fielding a team led by restructuring partner Vicki Conway and director Jasvir Jootla. Conway, who joined Wragges from HBJ Gateley Wareing in 2009, heads up the firm's Birmingham corporate recovery practice.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

February 15, 2011 | International Edition

Ashurst and Latham & Watkins have taken lead roles on the Kingdom of Sweden's sale of $2.9bn (£1.8bn) of its stake in Swedish bank Nordea. Ashurst advised the underwriters on the deal, which included Nomura, Morgan Stanley and Swedish bank SEB Enskilda. The City firm fielded a London and Stockholm team led by City-based head of capital markets Nicholas Holmes.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

February 15, 2011 | International Edition

Equity capital markets (ECM) lawyers eyeing up another year of uncertainty must be wondering which will win out in 2011: irresistible force or immovable object? On one hand, you have the building pressure to tap the equity markets from the growing queue of companies that have been put off braving the market for more than two years thanks to tough market conditions. In theory, at some point issuers with solid stories for investors must accept that there will be no quick return to rosy valuations and just get on with it.

By Friederike Heine

4 minute read