Legal Week

July 30, 2009 | International Edition

As an international law firm headquartered in France, one might say that Gide's expertise in Islamic finance is driven by pragmatic or opportunistic reasons, such as the fact that France has the largest Muslim population in Europe (about six million, three times that of the UK), or by a more general need for new sources of liquidity to jumpstart the economy.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

July 30, 2009 | International Edition

Earlier this year, I spent time visiting schools in some of the more deprived parts of London. I saw for myself the positive impact that work experience can have for young people - in particular for those who do not have family or friends in a position to help them get that experience. Work experience is an essential first step on the career ladder for many top professions. Without it, young people can find themselves falling at the first hurdle when applying for jobs in their chosen career. But not everyone has the same access to work experience and internships in certain professions. It often depends on who you know, rather than what you know.

By Legal Week

6 minute read

July 30, 2009 | International Edition

Since the 2003 US-led invasion, foreigners have enjoyed immunity from all legal processes in Iraq whether criminal, civil, administrative or bureaucratic. Even driving on the roads, foreigners were granted the right of way - but no more. With the Iraqi government and people resuming authority over their cities, the rule of law is being restored.

By Legal Week

6 minute read

July 30, 2009 | International Edition

The sukuk market was substantially affected by the global economic downturn with sukuk issuances at the end of 2008 being less than half those at the end of 2007, according to a report issued by Standard & Poor's. The drought in sukuk issuances, which took hold in the fourth quarter of 2008 now appears to be ending. The rapid growth of the sukuk market from 2004-07 was brought to an abrupt halt at the end of 2008, and undermined the theory that the Islamic capital markets had decoupled from the conventional capital markets.

By Legal Week

9 minute read

July 30, 2009 | International Edition

"I have not followed every opportunity that came along in my career," says Thomas Werlen, general counsel of Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis. "But in hindsight I was right not to, and I have also been right about the opportunities I have pursued." Werlen is referring, in the first instance, to the offers he passed up in the 1990s as a junior lawyer with New York leader Cravath Swaine & Moore to move into investment banking ("short term, it would have been great money; long term, it would have hindered my development as a lawyer") and, more recently, to his decision to leave Allen & Overy's (A&O's) London office three years ago to take up his current position.

By Legal Week

5 minute read

July 30, 2009 | International Edition

Recently the Economist Intelligence Unit stated that: "The general election that concluded on 13 May resulted in the formation of a new coalition Government that is stronger than was expected, and this outcome will provide a significant boost to India's political and economic prospects". Since the election, we have also had the formation of a new government and the union budget on 6 July. What does this all mean for British and European businesses and their advisers, especially lawyers?

By Legal Week

6 minute read

July 30, 2009 | International Edition

"I am 25 years old and graduated in 2005 from Cambridge University with a 2:2 degree in English literature. My studies were interrupted due to personal reasons, and I realise that that doesn't change the fact that on paper I am a 2:2 candidate, but I am concerned how this may affect my pursuit of a career in law, specifically a career at the Bar...? "I have been offered places on both the GDL and Graduate LLB programmes at City University this year, but am unsure which place to take. I applied for the two-year Graduate LLB programme because I thought that it would give me the opportunity to compensate for my poor first degree result at the same time as allowing me to learn more about the law over a longer period of time.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 30, 2009 | International Edition

The UK's top law firms have suffered a dramatic fall in profitability and a shrinking market in what has been confirmed as the worst trading conditions for the profession since the early 1990s.

By Legal Week

1 minute read

July 30, 2009 | International Edition

Mayer Brown has taken a lead role advising on the creation of Banque Havilland, a newly-formed bank emerging from the collapse of Iceland's Kaupthing Bank in Luxembourg. The international law firm landed the instruction from the Rowland Family, a longstanding client, as it acquires Banque Havilland, which was formed through the court-sanctioned demerger of Kaupthing Bank Luxembourg.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 30, 2009 | International Edition

A raft of firms including Norton Rose, Shearman & Sterling and Ashurst have lined up to advise on AngloGold Ashanti and Randgold Resources' joint $488m (£295m) bid for Moto Goldmines. The counterbid, which sees the two mining companies trying to beat Canada's Red Back Mining $466.8m ($282m) bid for Moto, would give AngloGold a 50% indirect interest in the company if Randgold's bid goes ahead.

By Legal Week

2 minute read