Gerard Starkey

May 13, 2013 | International Edition

Fixed-priced legal services business Riverview Law has signed a strategic alliance with southeast commercial law firm DMH Stallard. The alliance, which will cover a range of areas including dispute resolution, M&A and real estate, will see DMH Stallard providing additional services to Riverview clients when needed, with the law firm benefiting from additional work from new customers and an extended range of services.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

May 09, 2013 | International Edition

A host of firms including Pinsent Masons, Allen & Overy (A&O), Proskauer Rose and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have all played roles on UK building products company Tyman's acquisition of US building manufacturer Truth Hardware from Melrose Industries for $200m (£129m). The deal, which will see Truth combine with Tyman's existing US division Amesbury, is being funded by a debt and equity fundraising followed by a proposed move to the London Stock Exchange main market. The transaction is expected to close in June, with Melrose using the funds to pay down some of its existing borrowings.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

May 09, 2013 | International Edition

Slater & Gordon and Parabis have both unveiled major plans for UK expansion this week, in the latest examples of consolidation in the tightly fought UK personal insurance (PI) market. Australia-listed Slaters, which last year entered the UK through the £53.8m takeover of Russell Jones & Walker (RJW), is set to continue its push into the market with the proposed A$35.5m (£23.4m) triple acquisition of UK firms Simpson Millar, Goodmans Law and the PI practice of Taylor Vinters. Slaters has agreed terms on the three purchases, with the deals expected to be completed between August and December, while the firm is also expecting to make further acquisitions over the next six to 18 months.

By Gerard Starkey

4 minute read

May 08, 2013 | International Edition

DWF has recruited five partners from Eversheds as part of a 13-strong group of lawyers moving between the two firms. The fast-growing firm is taking on a 12-strong Newcastle real estate team including partners Adam Heather, Gavin Jackson, Mitch Brown and Adrian Stanley, while eight further lawyers are also making the move to DWF's Great North House offices.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

May 08, 2013 | International Edition

Wragge & Co is to cut up to 30 full-time equivalent roles in a back office restructuring that will see the firm outsource support functions to business process outsourcing (BPO) company Intelligent Office. The news was announced to staff by managing partner Ian Metcalfe yesterday (7 May) and comes after a comprehensive review of the firm's back office, which was launched at the start of the year.

By Gerard Starkey

3 minute read

May 08, 2013 | International Edition

Hill Dickinson has promoted five lawyers to the partnership as part of the firm's latest partner promotion round, three more than the previous year. Liverpool based trio Matt Noon (corporate), Jonathan Anslow (professional risk) and Stuart Kempson (shipping) have all joined the firm's partnership. In addition, City-based yacht advisory duo Pawel Wysocki and Ian McLean complete the all-male promoted quintet.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

May 07, 2013 | International Edition

Slater & Gordon is set to continue its push into the UK market with the proposed $35.5m (£23.3m) triple acquisition of personal injury (PI) law firms Simpson Millar, Goodmans Law and the PI arm of Taylor Vinters.

By Gerard Starkey

3 minute read

May 07, 2013 | International Edition

Plexus Law is to merge with insurance dispute resolution firm Greenwoods in a deal that will create a £90m defendant insurance litigation business. Plexus is part of the Parabis Group, which last year sold a majority stake in its business to private equity house Duke Street, handing it a war chest of around £50m to fund ambitious expansion plans.

By Gerard Starkey

3 minute read

May 02, 2013 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard is continuing its global expansion with the launch of an office in Hong Kong and the creation of a new international division. The firm recently gained its Hong Kong licence from the local law society, gifting it its fourth international launch in the past 12 months. The Hong Kong base, which has been set up to target opportunities in China and the Far East, is expected to be fully operational by the end of May. This follows moves into Oman last month, and Singapore and Dubai last year.

By Gerard Starkey

3 minute read

May 02, 2013 | International Edition

RPC and Dentons have taken roles on a major London regeneration deal that will see the development of 645 flats in Greenwich. Hadley Mace, a joint venture (JV) between construction company Mace and developer Hadley Property Group, has been instructed to deliver the £225m revamp of Greenwich Square in south London under the Government's Public Land Initiative (PLI) model. The PLI is a new scheme designed to get homes built on land owned by public bodies. Under the scheme, developers will be given Government land to develop, with payment deferred until the project is complete and the units are sold.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read