Jeremy Hodges

February 24, 2010 | International Edition

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has made a rare lateral hire in the City, bringing in a Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner. The US law firm has hired Freshfields corporate partner Jeff Roberts - marking the firm's first lateral partner appointment since May 2008.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

February 22, 2010 | International Edition

Charles Russell, Bird & Bird and Pinsent Masons have all scored roles on the Football Association (FA) Group's new-look legal panel following a tender process which saw a total of eight firms appointed. The two-stage panel process, which came to an end in December last year, saw eight successful firms chosen to work with the FA Group until March 2012.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

February 19, 2010 | International Edition

Shearman & Sterling and Linklaters have taken lead roles on Barrick Gold's spin-off of its African mining assets and subsequent listing on the London Stock Exchange. Canada's Barrick, the largest gold miner in the world, will list its Tanzanian mining assets as African Black Gold (ABG) with a pricing set to take place in the next fortnight.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

February 18, 2010 | International Edition

Kirkland & Ellis and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) have taken key roles on the administration of Reader's Digest and the Chapter 11 of its US parent company. Readers Digest Association filed for Chapter 11 in August last year after struggling with payments on its $2.2bn (£1.4bn) debt, and the UK arm of the subscription-only magazine filed for administration yesterday (17 February) after plans to reduce its £125m pension deficit failed, putting 117 jobs at risk.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

February 17, 2010 | International Edition

Proskauer Rose's London head Matthew Hudson has left the US firm, it has emerged. Hudson left Proskauer towards the end of January, having run the London office since its launch in 2007. It is unclear what Hudson's next move will be, although he is believed to be discussing a new project with clients.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

February 17, 2010 | International Edition

Ashurst has asked a number of partners to leave by the end of the current financial year, despite already seeing nearly 30 partner exits since May 2009. The top 10 City firm asked fewer than 10 partners to leave shortly before Christmas, with most set to depart by the end of April. Ashurst management confirmed to Legal Week that "fewer than 10 partners" had been asked to go, denying the figure was as high as 15.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

February 17, 2010 | International Edition

Leading City partners believe that many clients do not have a realistic view of the time and cost of providing value-added services such as secondments, despite holding the services in high regard. The latest Legal Week Big Question survey found that while more than 90% of respondents believe clients hold additional services in high regard, more than two-thirds (67%) of partners believe clients have an unrealistic view of the time and cost that law firms spend on value-added offerings.

By Jeremy Hodges

4 minute read

February 17, 2010 | International Edition

Herbert Smith has asked a second round of incoming trainees to defer the start of their training contracts. Herbert Smith has contacted trainees due to join in September 2010 and March 2011 asking for volunteers to defer for six months, offering £10,000 as an incentive

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

February 16, 2010 | International Edition

Irwin Mitchell has launched a new base in Bristol focusing on personal injury (PI) and clinical negligence work. The office, which will service the southwest region, will be headed up by new regional managing partner John Peacock.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

February 16, 2010 | International Edition

White & Case and Linklaters have lined up on the first Eurobond offering in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) this year. White & Case was instructed by long-term oil client TNK-BP on its $1bn (£6.4m) issuance, providing English, US and Russian law advice. The offering was spilt into two $500m (£320m) issues, with the first a tranche of 6.25% notes due in 2015 and the second a tranche of 7.25% notes due in 2020. The proceeds of the offering will go towards funding investment programmes aimed at building up oil and gas production and reserves.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read