Legal Week

September 01, 2009 | International Edition

DLA Piper has bolstered its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) corporate practice with the addition of Linklaters partner Jon Hayes. Hayes, who trained at the magic circle firm and became a partner in 2001, joins DLA today (1 September) with the aim of boosting client ties with London corporates and international clients. He will work alongside DLA's EMEA corporate head Juan Picon. Hayes said: "The practice has a strong, upper mid-market reputation in London and fantastic international capabilities that will provide me with a great platform from which to develop relationships with clients whose legal needs extend beyond single transactions or are truly global."

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 01, 2009 | International Edition

Kirkland & Ellis is set to launch in Shanghai after receiving approval from the Chinese Ministry of Justice. The Chicago leader will open the new office towards the end of this year - marking its second office in the region following its 2006 Hong Kong launch. Kirkland plans to integrate the two offices and will relocate Hong Kong private equity partner Xiaoyang Li to lead the Shanghai practice. Corporate partner Chuan Li will also transfer to the new base from Hong Kong.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 01, 2009 | International Edition

The City can seriously damage your family life, says ex-magic circle trainee Dominic Webb...I took a lot from my training with a magic circle firm. I made a lot of close friends, left on good terms with my colleagues, and for those who are wondering, was made an offer to qualify there. In short, I have no axe to grind.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

September 01, 2009 | International Edition

The Commerce & Industry (C&I) Group is pressing ahead with plans to launch a support group for in-house banking lawyers in the City. The industry body for in-house lawyers is currently in the early stages of developing the support group, which it hopes to officially launch at the end of the year. The group will provide lobbying, support and training for in-house banking lawyers currently under pressure to hit budgets and maintain headcount in the wake of the global economic meltdown.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 01, 2009 | International Edition

"I was recently promoted from associate to senior associate at a large West End firm, and as part of my new role I'm expected to take on some management of a small team of juniors. "However, I don't feel what little management training I've had has really prepared me for this, and I'm finding it quite a challenge to make sure my team are all using their time productively and pulling in the right direction. I'm also not 100% sure what is expected of me.

By Legal Week

1 minute read

September 01, 2009 | International Edition

Citigroup has promoted from within to fill the role of deputy general counsel at the company, reports Corporate Counsel. Kevin Thurm, a former associate at New York firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel, has spent most of his career in administrative and government posts, most recently serving as Citi's chief administrative officer of consumer banking for North America.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 01, 2009 | International Edition

Pillsbury has boosted its London office with a magic circle hire, bringing in Allen & Overy (A&O) outsourcing and technology partner Ian Ferguson. Ferguson, who has been a partner at A&O since 1992 and served as global head of the firm's communications, media and technology group, will join Pillsbury on 7 September. His hire marks the first partner-level appointment Pillsbury has made in London in 2009, on the back of three lateral hires in 2008.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 01, 2009 | International Edition

Macfarlanes has made a double partner hire to strengthen its restructuring and litigation teams with Francis Bridgeman and Barry Donnelly joining from Allen & Overy (A&O) and Jones Day respectively. Jones Day partner Donnelly and former A&O consultant Bridgeman will both join Macfarlanes' partnership later this month (10 September), with the firm predicting an increase in litigation and restructuring mandates in the wake of the credit crunch.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

September 01, 2009 | International Edition

Dewey & LeBoeuf and Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker have taken lead roles on Walt Disney's $4bn (£2.4bn) cash and stock acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, a deal that gives Disney the rights to more than 5,000 Marvel characters, including Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk. Dewey's representation of Disney, a longstanding client of M&A chair Morton Pierce, reaffirms the firm's role as the Mouse's go-to outside counsel, write The Am Law Daily.

By Legal Week

3 minute read

September 01, 2009 | International Edition

Slaughters, Linklaters and BLP are praised for quality leadership as partners become late converts to the value of management in the legal profession. Claire Ruckin reports

By Legal Week

4 minute read