Jeremy Hodges

May 11, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin is set to pursue its long-mooted US merger with Proskauer Rose in a deal that would create a global top 30 law firm with combined revenues of over £600m. As legalweek.com revealed on 6 May, Proskauer Rose had been identified as the sole potential US suitor after Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, another firm that SJ Berwin had considered a deal with, last week ruled itself out.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

May 11, 2010 | International Edition

McGuireWoods has boosted its City presence with a double partner hire from Squire Sanders including former London managing partner Andrew Visintin. Restructuring partner Visintin and corporate partner Philip Newhouse both joined the US firm this week.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

May 10, 2010 | International Edition

Mishcon de Reya has turned to LG for its latest hire, bringing in senior associate Jonathan Legg as a partner to boost its real estate tax group. Legg, who joins Mishcons today (10 May), has a corporate tax practice focusing on property investment, development, finance and funds work.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

May 10, 2010 | International Edition

Intellectual property (IP) specialist firm Rouse Legal has recruited rated patent litigator Richard Willoughby from Howrey. Willoughby, who joined Rouse Legal at the beginning of the month, had been at Howrey since 2001 when he was brought in from Simmons & Simmons to build up the firm's European practice.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

May 10, 2010 | International Edition

Herbert Smith and Latham & Watkins have taken roles on opposite sides of the £1.5bn sale of Harrods to the Qatari royal family. The deal sees Mohamed Al Fayed's 25-year tenure as owner of the iconic Knightsbridge department store come to an end, although he will remain in a new role as honorary chairman.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

May 07, 2010 | International Edition

Debevoise & Plimpton has made up four lawyers to its partnership, including one in the US firm's City base. Litigator Sophie Lamb will join the firm's partnership in London as of 1 July. Her practice focuses on complex litigation, commercial and investment treaty arbitration and public international law.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

May 07, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has decided to increase the levels of its lockstep pay bands after restarting its associate track earlier this year. As of 1 May, the firm's newly-qualified rate, which was reduced last year, has been increased by £1,000 to £60,000, while one-year qualified lawyers have received a £2,000 raise to £68,000.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

May 06, 2010 | International Edition

White & Case has expanded its Moscow office with the hire of M&A partner Andrei Dontsov from Clifford Chance (CC). Dontsov will join the US firm's corporate practice in the Russian capital, becoming the fifteenth partner in the 62-lawyer office.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

May 06, 2010 | International Edition

Beachcroft has delayed its partner promotions round until November this year. The firm, which made two promotions in November last year, said that the decision was taken following a period of significant investment which has seen the addition of 13 new partners in recent months.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read

May 06, 2010 | International Edition

Watson Farley & Williams has significantly bolstered its London office with a quadruple partner hire, including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's energy and infrastructure head Charles July. July, who has been a partner at Freshfields since 1988, will join UK top 50 firm Watson Farley later this month.

By Jeremy Hodges

2 minute read