Jeremy Hodges

January 13, 2010 | International Edition

Linklaters and Norton Rose have advised on a $2.7bn (£1.6bn) financing package for UK-listed mining group Kazakhmys. The company has agreed the unsecured loan package with China Development Bank (CDB) and Kazakh sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna, with the funding set to go towards the development of existing projects in Kazakhstan.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

January 11, 2010 | International Edition

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher have taken lead roles on Heineken's acquisition of Mexican drinks company FEMSA for €5.3bn (£4.8bn). FEMSA, the largest beverage company in Latin America, will receive a 20% stake in Heineken as part of the all-share deal, which sees Heineken take over FEMSA's beer business, which includes brands such as Sol.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

May 14, 2009 | International Edition

Lovells is extending an outsourcing programme for document production work across its London office, with the firm also in the process of piloting the scheme in several international offices. The top 10 City law firm is planning to send document production work from all practice areas to Exigent in Cape Town, following a pilot scheme launched in its London real estate practice last year.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

March 16, 2009 | International Edition

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge has secured the key hire of one of the City's top trademark lawyers in the shape of John Olsen, along with a 15-strong team from Field Fisher Waterhouse. The team - which joins Edwards Angell today (16 March) - includes six associates, three paralegals, two secretaries, three administration support staff and one 'searcher'.The hires mark the first move into the trademark sector for Edwards Angell's City arm, which boasts a strong intellectual property (IP) practice in the US. Olsen will co-head the firm's international and trademark copyright protection practice alongside New York-based partner Maria Scungio.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

April 30, 2008 | National Law Journal

Shearman & Sterling announced Tuesday an increase of 7 percent in London associate salaries, putting the firm's rates well ahead of those at top U.K. firms. In response to Shearman's move, Linklaters announced raises of nearly 4 percent for junior lawyers, in what will be seen as a confident move from the U.K. giant.

By Jeremy Hodges

3 minute read

April 18, 2008 | National Law Journal

Global law firm Baker & McKenzie has taken a lead role on a cross-border merger worth $2.25 billion. The firm advised West Siberian Resources as it merged with Alliance Oil to form a combined oil company operating across Russia and Kazakhstan. The mandate is a coup for the firm's corporate team, working opposite Clifford Chance on the deal, which took three months to complete. Baker & McKenzie fielded a multi-jurisdictional team of lawyers located in London, Moscow and Stockholm.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

April 07, 2008 | National Law Journal

DLA Piper is backing an initiative by Georgetown Law School to set up a new London-based program in cross-border law that will draw students from 10 universities around the world. The international firm is providing 4,000 square feet of rent-free office space in its London office to house administrative staff working on the course and some tutorials.

By Richard Lloyd & Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

October 09, 2008 | Law.com

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld launched an office in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The launch comes after the firm closed down its office in Dubai in January this year. The U.S. firm's Abu Dhabi presence will be headed by corporate partner Natasha Kohne who has relocated from New York. She will be joined by six lawyers including corporate partners Lee Kolodny and Elisabeth Cappuyns, who have moved from New York and Los Angeles respectively.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

February 04, 2009 | National Law Journal

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has landed a trophy role as the official law firm for the 2012 London Olympics. The firm won the role after a bidding process carried out toward the end of last year by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The deal with LOCOG, for which Freshfields has paid a small cash amount, sees the firm added as the official legal services provider for the games.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

February 09, 2009 | Law.com

Lovells has launched a layoff consultation that could see up to 94 London staff lose their jobs. The monthlong consultation, which kicked off Monday, includes 18 fee earners and six professional support lawyers. The remaining cuts come from the firm's support staff, with 43 business support and 27 secretaries facing the ax.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read