Gerard Starkey

July 16, 2013 | International Edition

Bond Dickinson and Norton Rose Fulbright have been appointed to the Crown Estate's slimmed down energy and infrastructure panel. The appointments to the new panel, which run until April 2016, follow a competitive tender process. The former line-up included legacy Bond Pearce and legacy Norton Rose, both of which have since gone through mergers to form Bond Dickinson and Norton Rose Fulbright respectively.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 16, 2013 | International Edition

Wragge & Co has moved to strengthen its Paris real estate offering with the hire of a four-lawyer team from Bird & Bird led by partner Constance de La Hosseraye. La Hosseraye joins the firm to head up the Paris real estate practice and brings with her associates Fleur Gaffinel, Jeremy Roigt and Katy Bonixe, with the team plugging the gap left following the departure of partner Henry Ranchon to French law firm Franklin at the start of the month. After being called to the bar in 1992, La Hosseraye joined local firm De Pardieu Brocas Maffei in 1993 before joining Bird & Bird's Paris office in 2007 as partner. Her arrival at Wragges brings its Paris partner count to ten.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 16, 2013 | International Edition

Osborne Clarke (OC) has appointed Ian Wilkinson and Colin Kearney as new joint-heads of its real estate practice to replace the Kathryn Reid. Bristol-based Wilkinson's and City-based Kearney's new role is effective from yesterday (15 July) with the position becoming available following Reid's decision to stand aside after three-years in the post. London-based Reid will remain a partner in the real estate practice.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 15, 2013 | International Edition

DAC Beachcroft has posted a 3% increase in like-for-like turnover and a 12% dip in profits per equity partner (PEP) for the 2012-13 financial year. Income for the 12-month period amounted to £188.2m, up on the combined turnover of £182.2m the previous year in what was firm's first full year trading since the merger between legacy firms Davies Arnold Cooper and Beachcroft in October 2011. Despite the top line increase, PEP is down from £321,000 to £284,000 although the firm states net profit rose to £31.8m from its 2012-11 audited figure of £22.4m.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 15, 2013 | International Edition

Squire Sanders, Dechert and Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) have advised on the takeover of Fulham Football Club by Pakistan-born US businessman Shahid Khan for a reported fee of around £200m. The deal, which has been approved by the Premier League, sees Khan take 100% ownership of the Craven Cottage club from former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed on a debt-free basis.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 11, 2013 | International Edition

Eversheds is in the advanced stages of discussions over a tie-up with one of its Russian alliance firms in a deal that could see it further expand its international network of offices. The firm has been in talks with alliance partner Capital Legal Services (CLS) since the start of the year over an agreement that could see it join the Eversheds International network. CLS, a six-partner firm that has bases in Moscow and St Petersburg, formed an alliance with Eversheds in February last year. Eversheds also has an alliance with Russian firm Monastyrsky Zyuba Stepanov & Partners.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 11, 2013 | International Edition

DLA Piper has scored a lead role advising Liverpool Football Club on plans for a £260m regeneration of the area surrounding the Premier League club's famous Anfield stadium. The proposals, which are subject to an ongoing public consultation, could see the iconic stadium expanded, as well as the potential development of more than 550 new homes. The club has formed a partnership with Liverpool City Council and social housing provider Your Housing Group to draw up the development plans, which also include a 10,000 sq ft food hub, new offices, a public square and a hotel.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 11, 2013 | International Edition

Pinsent Masons has identified six key African countries that present the greatest potential for growth for the firm, following an 18-month strategy review of opportunities in the continent. The review, which has been led by construction advisory and disputes head Richard Foley, has seen the firm earmark South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya and Sudan as key priorities. The move to draw up a new Africa strategy was prompted by an increase in Africa-related instructions with the firm carrying out around 70 mandates during the last financial year amounting to £7m-£10m in revenues – a 60% year-on-year increase.

By Gerard Starkey

3 minute read

July 10, 2013 | International Edition

Pinsent Masons former head of litigation Nigel Kissack has left the firm to join global legal process outsourcer (LPO) Exigent as a global strategy consultant. Kissack, who joined Pinsents as a partner from DLA Piper in 1997, is familiar to Exigent after leading on Pinsents' ground-breaking decision in 2009 to outsource process driven litigation work to the LPO's Cape Town base in South Africa. His new role sees him advise clients on LPO strategy and the outsourcing of legal activities across all major practice groups, as well as helping clients make savings through process re-engineering and implementing leaner delivery models.

By Gerard Starkey

2 minute read

July 10, 2013 | International Edition

Gateley has reported a significant hike in profits with profit per equity partner (PEP) soaring by 22% while revenue also climbed 7% during the 2012-13 financial year. After a disappointing 2011-12 when Gateley suffered a decline in its top and bottom line, this year the firm posted income of £66m compared to £61.5m last year. More impressive was its rise in PEP which recovered from last year's wobble to climb to £262,000, from £214,000. The firm's PEP figure for 2010-11 was £240,000.

By Gerard Starkey

3 minute read