Legal Week

September 03, 2009 | International Edition

Taylor Wessing and Mayer Brown have scored lead roles on the takeover of Portsmouth Football Club by Al Fahim Asia Associates. The Arab investment company owned by Sulaiman Al Fahim agreed to buy the south coast club after a protracted negotiation period for an undisclosed fee thought to be around the £60m mark.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 03, 2009 | International Edition

"I have seven years' relevant experience in the music industry (including promotion to managerial level, managing a significant budget) and I recently took the LPC, gaining a distinction, with the aim of pursuing a career in media law. How likely is it that my music degree result (2:2) will affect my training contract applications? "I really enjoyed the LPC, and I have received lots of encouragement telling me that my experience is valuable... and yet, I have made 40-50 applications over the last two years and had no luck. I'd really like some insight into this please!"

By Legal Week

1 minute read

September 03, 2009 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) have landed key advisory roles as Japanese banking giant Nomura prepares to move into new premises in the City. The pair have advised on a 20-year lease arrangement, likely to be the largest UK office letting in 2009, which gives Nomura a six-year rent-free period on the newly-constructed Watermark Place building near Cannon Street.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 03, 2009 | International Edition

Three of the five firms in the City Legal Practice Course (LPC) consortium have reduced their 2009-10 maintenance grants in the wake of the launch of BPP Law School's new fast-track course. The streamlined LPC, which was approved by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority in January and launched last month, runs over just seven-and-a-half months rather than the previous length of 10.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 03, 2009 | International Edition

SJ Berwin has not paid out any quarterly profit distributions to partners since last November, Legal Week has learned. The top 20 firm, which saw profits per equity partner fall by nearly 50% during 2008-09 to £410,000, made its last quarterly distribution in November 2008, with the following three quarterly payments owed to partners remaining unpaid.

By Legal Week

3 minute read

September 02, 2009 | International Edition

There has been much talk lately of the legal profession's elitism...

By Legal Week

3 minute read

September 02, 2009 | International Edition

Olswang has expanded its investment funds practice with the hire of Anthony Tulloch from SJ Berwin. Tulloch, who is set to join the firm later this month (14 September), will specialise in fund formation work, specifically private equity, venture capital and hedge funds, as well as advising on structuring buyouts and international taxation.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 02, 2009 | International Edition

Legal Week editor Alex Novarese and judging panel chair Bill Knight discuss exactly what the judges are looking for in a winning British Legal Awards 2009 entry.

By Legal Week

1 minute read

September 02, 2009 | International Edition

Former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer finance head Perry Noble has joined southeast firm DMH Stallard as a consultant. Noble, who retired from Freshfields last Autumn, will work with DMH's corporate and finance groups as the firm rolls out a three-year growth and development plan aiming to position it a viable alternative to City firms.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 02, 2009 | International Edition

Doughty Street Chambers has expanded its national coverage - launching a new base in Bristol in addition to its recent opening in Manchester. The chambers is opening in Bristol after recruiting personal injury specialist Daniel Bennett from Old Square Chambers.

By Legal Week

2 minute read