Gerard Starkey

July 23, 2013 | International Edition

DAC Beachcroft has postponed its planned move into new Birmingham premises for at least 12 months while it sizes up more cost-effective alternatives. The firm had agreed to take up 58,000 sq ft at 2 Colmore Square in Birmingham's business district but last week pulled the plug on the deal with landlord Nurton Developments due to concerns over cost. The firm is to remain in its existing office at Nine Brindleyplace while it weighs up its options in the city.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 22, 2013 | International Edition

Irwin Mitchell is strengthening its restructuring practice through the hire of DLA Piper partner John Vickery as the firm continues to build the commercial arm of its business. Manchester-based Vickery, who leaves DLA Piper after ten years with the firm, will join Irwin Mitchell's Business Legal Services (BLS) division on ? Vickery specialises in all areas of corporate restructuring and recovery with an emphasis on contentious work. In 2008, Vickery led a DLA team on the administration of music, games and DVD chain Zavvi.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 22, 2013 | International Edition

Osborne Clarke (OC) has today (22 July) opened its long-mooted Paris office after securing the services of partner Béatrice Delmas-Linel from local firm De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés to head up the base. The Paris office becomes the firm's 15th in total and comes after the firm broke off its alliance with French outfit Stehlin & Associes in March 2012. The firm has stated its intention to make further hires to support IT and IP lawyer Delmas-Linel, who previously held several senior roles in the legal team at Microsoft and was managing partner of Paris head-quartered law firm August & Debouzy.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 21, 2013 | International Edition

Eversheds and Hogan Lovells both scooped lead roles on securing the letting for all 17 floors of The Place at London Bridge to media company News UK. News UK, which is part of News Corp and owns some of the UK's most popular media brands such as Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun, will take up the 430,000 sq ft of space on a single lease term of 30 years. Eversheds acted for the landlord – a joint venture between the State of Qatar and Sellar property – through a London team led by real estate Nicholas Bartlett with assistance from associate Helen Robinson.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 19, 2013 | International Edition

Dundas & Wilson has reported significant fall key financial metrics with turnover down 11%, net profit down 21% and profits per equity partner plunging 22%. Turnover at the firm was £48.7m during the 12-month period to 30 April, down on the previous year's figure of £54.5m. Over the same period, pre-tax profit dropped from £16.2m to £12.8m, and PEP was £164,000 from the previous year's £210,000.

By Gerard Starkey

3 minute read

July 18, 2013 | International Edition

The top 10 UK firm has signed a two-year fixed-fee contract with the valve manufacturer following its spin-off last year from Tyco, with which Eversheds also has an exclusive agreement to provide legal advice. Although the value of the Pentair contract is undisclosed, it is believed to be worth more than the estimated £13m two-year contract Eversheds recently signed with Tyco.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 18, 2013 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard and DWF have both taken lead roles on JD Sports Fashion's purchase of the business and assets of financially stricken fashion retailer Ark out of administration. The transaction, the value of which is undisclosed, is expected to save about 10 stores and 160 jobs at Leeds-headquartered Ark, while the company's management board has also been retained.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 18, 2013 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard is driving Africa up the agenda with a push into the energy and resources markets following the hire of Shepherd and Wedderburn partner duo Angus Rollo and Guy Winter. The pair, both of whom previously worked at Linklaters and Shearman & Sterling, will boost partner numbers within the firm's Africa group to six.

By Gerard Starkey

3 minute read

July 17, 2013 | International Edition

Parabis Group has posted a 5% rise in revenue for the 2012-13 financial year while also making a dozen promotions from within its Plexus Law and recently-acquired Greenwoods subsidiaries. Total income for the group amounted to £110.6m, a figure which doesn't included the recent acquisition of insurance dispute resolution firm Greenwoods. The result is set against the previous 12 month's income of £105.8m and comes after a year in which the firm converted to an alternative business structure and sold a majority stake of the business to private equity house Duke Street.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 17, 2013 | International Edition

Logistics company Stobart Group is to launch a law firm to complement its burgeoning barrister service after gaining an alternative business licence (ABS) from the Solicitors Regulation Authority. One Legal, which was set up by Stobart Group's legal director and founder of Stobart Barristers Trevor Howarth, will primarily provide a litigation service to insurance claims while also offering a wider service. Howarth was tight-lipped on detailed plans for the new venture, only to say an announcement would be made in the next few weeks.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read