Friederike Heine

November 03, 2010 | International Edition

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge has strengthened its London intellectual property (IP) team with the hire of the head of Rouse Legal's global IP commercialisation group. The arrival of Ben Goodger will bring the number of IP partners in Edwards Angell's City base to six.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

SNR Denton has appointed a new global chief operating officer with the hire of Sally King from Clifford Chance (CC). At CC, King most recently served as COO for the Americas region. Her newly-created role at SNR Denton will see her implement, direct and manage the support structures and resources needed for the integration of newly-merged firm, which went live at the end of September.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

Baker & McKenzie has appointed corporate partner and former executive committee member Poh Lee Tan as managing partner for China and Hong Kong following an overhaul of the firm's executive committee. Tan replaces corporate partner David Fleming as managing partner of Hong Kong, China and Vietnam. Fleming will remain in Hong Kong, but will now focus on client work.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

LG has lined up opposite Linklaters to take a lead role on United Technologies Corporation's (UTC's) acquisition of the outstanding shares of struggling wind turbine manufacturer Clipper Windpower. LG London-based corporate partner Jeffrey Elway led a team advising longstanding client Clipper Windpower on the sale of its remaining 50.1% stake to UTC, in a deal which values the AIM-listed company at £139.5m.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

It appears that M&A advisers will have to get used to the fertile hunting ground of the UK becoming that little bit less bidder-friendly, judging by recently-published recommendations by the Takeover Panel to reform its code. Certainly that is the clear theme running through the proposals that the Panel released last month (22 October) in a review largely triggered by controversy over Kraft Foods' unsolicited takeover of Cadbury. The Panel recommended tightening the so-called 'put up or shut up' rules - effectively forcing bidders to clarify their intentions towards a target or walk away within four weeks of their interest going public.

By Friederike Heine

4 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

Ropes & Gray has ramped up in London with the hire of a restructuring partner and the promotion of its first home-grown City partner. The US firm has brought in former Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft restructuring partner James Douglas, doubling the number of partners in its London restructuring team.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

A number of Linklaters partners could be in line for a five-figure windfall if they choose to cash in shares they received in lieu of fees during the dotcom boom. Roughly 25% of the existing partnership, as well as a number of ex-partners, still hold a stake in online betting company Betfair, which listed on the London Stock Exchange late last month (22 October). The firm gained the shares through an equity-for-fees arrangement agreed more than a decade ago.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

November 02, 2010 | International Edition

Credit Agricole is close to finalising its new global legal panel after a competitive tender process that kicked off over the summer, as Societe Generale begins talking to its advisers with a view to launching its own review next year. Credit Agricole's review is being led by Paris-based head of legal and compliance Martine Leimbach, with the results due before the year's end. All of the firms sitting on the existing panel were invited to pitch, including Ashurst, Baker & McKenzie and Norton Rose.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

November 01, 2010 | International Edition

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton's London office has received half of the new partners made up in the firm's latest global promotions round. The US firm has made up four partners around the world including City-based corporate lawyers Sam Bagot and Mike Preston. Bagot, who specialises in public and private M&A, has worked on several high-profile deals including acting for the financial advisers to Cadbury on the company's acquisition by Kraft.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read

November 01, 2010 | International Edition

Linklaters has appointed a new head of client sectors, with project finance partner Fiona Hobbs succeeding Richard Godden after he stepped down from the role in october. Hobbs, who has advised clients including Centrica and BG Group, has been appointed for a four-year term, which takes effect today (1 November). The new role also sees her take up a post on the magic circle firm's executive committee.

By Friederike Heine

2 minute read