Gavriel Hollander

February 07, 2014 | International Edition

Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) has agreed merger terms with Manchester boutique Heatons. The tie-up will add eight partners, 12 associates and a further six fee earners to the London-based firm's headcount. Partners voted the merger through earlier this week (4 February). FFW, which has had a Manchester base since 2004, will merge its practice with Heatons' headquarters in the city. The office will be managed by Heatons' current managing partner, Matt Fleetwood.

By Gavriel Hollander

3 minute read

February 06, 2014 | International Edition

BT has signed a landmark outsourcing deal with alternative legal services provider Axiom to take on chunks of its larger commercial work. The agreement, which came into effect this week, comes as the telecoms giant's previous deal with legal process outsourcing (LPO) provider UnitedLex comes to an end after three years. The deal will see Axiom take on new work for BT in the UK, US and Asia, particularly in relation to commercial contracts, including contract negotiation. Axiom will also take over work previously carried out by UnitedLex, such as antitrust work and transactional support.

By Gavriel Hollander

4 minute read

February 06, 2014 | International Edition

One can't, so the old saying goes, choose one's family. Friends, on the other hand, are a different matter. The maxim has clearly resonated over the years with Slaughter and May. When it comes to its foreign policy, the City's most profitable – not to mention most idiosyncratic – firm has famously eschewed the option of settling down to raise little partnerships of its own. Instead, it has carefully cultivated a network of alliances: its illustrious 'best friends'. But as the legal market becomes ever-more internationalised, how sustainable is Slaughters' model?

By Gavriel Hollander

5 minute read

January 31, 2014 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells has made a high-profile hire in its corporate team with the capture of former Allen & Overy partner Don McGown.

By Gavriel Hollander

2 minute read

January 30, 2014 | International Edition

While rainmaking partners tend to grab the limelight, it is a truth grudgingly acknowledged in the City that much of the leg-work on the deals they bring in is done a little further down the career ladder. It is often a senior associate on a deal who has to burn the midnight oil coordinating teams and poring over heads of terms while their partners are pressing the flesh at The Ivy. So who were the junior lawyers who kept themselves busiest during 2013? Did working on any of these transactions provide new challenges? And how will their experiences help their career prospects? Last year was by no means a vintage one for the M&A market, both in the UK and beyond. The overall value of domestic deals in 2013 was the lowest for more than a decade, following a particularly uninspiring first half of the year.

By Gavriel Hollander

8 minute read

January 30, 2014 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells has posted a 5.3% rise in operating profit for 2012-13 for its non-US business, despite a drop in revenue over the year.

By Gavriel Hollander

2 minute read

January 29, 2014 | International Edition

Channel 4 has named Prash Naik as its first ever general counsel amid a shake-up of the broadcaster's in-house team. Naik, who is currently controller of legal and compliance at Channel 4, will now report directly to director of commercial affairs Martin Baker.

By Gavriel Hollander

2 minute read

January 24, 2014 | International Edition

Two remarkable things happened this morning: England beat Australia in a game of cricket and Slaughter and May hired a partner from another firm. Given such seismic events, it would be little surprise to see a pig in a bowler hat take to the skies over the Royal Exchange this afternoon.

By Gavriel Hollander

3 minute read

January 24, 2014 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed three leading industry figures to an independent board to oversee its corporate responsibility programme.

By Gavriel Hollander

2 minute read

January 23, 2014 | International Edition

One of the less appreciated effects of the growth of in-house legal teams in recent years has been the evolution of the interim general counsel. While fans of Premier League football will be all-too familiar with the concept of an interim boss, the phenomenon is one that is relatively new to the legal world. But a slew of temporary appointments to high-profile in-house teams at banks, retailers and other major corporates suggests it is no longer possible to leave the top legal job vacant for extended periods of time. So what has driven the push for interims, and what status do those who take these impermanent roles really have?

By Gavriel Hollander

10 minute read