Legal Week

July 23, 2009 | International Edition

Davenport Lyons has expanded its corporate team with the hire of John Hiscock from Addleshaw Goddard. Hiscock, who joined the West End law firm as a partner at the beginning of this month, will work with corporate head Michael Hatchwell. His practice covers private equity and venture capital, investment funds, structured finance, M&A and structured real estate work, with his past clients including Matrix Group and Royal Bank of Scotland.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 23, 2009 | International Edition

Morgan Lewis & Bockius has made its first lateral partner hire in London since last October, bringing in a finance partner from Morrison & Foerster (MoFo). Chris Harrison joined the London office of Morgan Lewis on 20 July, becoming the first UK-qualified finance partner in the office.

By Legal Week

1 minute read

July 23, 2009 | International Edition

Partnership is losing its lustre for the swelling ranks of female lawyers entering the profession, according to Legal Week research, which shows that barely a third of women aspire to be partners at their own firm. The 2009 Employee Satisfaction Report (ESR) found only 45% of assistants listed partnership with their own firm as their primary career aim, down from 50% the previous year.

By Legal Week

3 minute read

July 23, 2009 | International Edition

Halliwells is to lose four senior London lawyers to rival firms, including a veteran corporate trio to Davies Arnold Cooper (DAC). Former senior partner Clive Garston - currently a consultant at the top 40 firm - is set to join DAC in September alongside London corporate partners Ian Brent and Steven Raize. They will be joined by Halliwells corporate solicitor Melissa Needham. Brent will become head of corporate at DAC, with Raize joining as a partner and Garston as a consultant.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 23, 2009 | International Edition

In-house lawyers working in banks have joined their private practice counterparts in voicing concerns about the growing numbers of secondees in financial institutions. Lawyers at a number of banks told Legal Week that the large number of secondees from panel law firms was structurally weakening in-house legal teams. There are particular concerns about procurement departments' understanding of in-house legal roles, with some suggesting that there is an assumption that all lawyers are the same whether they are in-house or private practice.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 23, 2009 | International Edition

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is bulking up its UK legal arm with a triple partner hire, with professional services rival Deloitte also extending its legal capacity. PwC Legal has hired Beachcroft partner Stephen Gummer to head its employment team as well as hiring McDermott Will & Emery employment partner Vanessa Morgan. Both have resigned from their current firms and will join PwC Legal later this year. The hires will take the employment group to five partners, including Ed Stacey, who is joining from PwC's in-house legal team.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 23, 2009 | International Edition

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has completed an overhaul of its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) legal function in the wake of the banks' 2008 merger, coming up with a 13-strong leadership team. The overhaul names 13 leaders for teams including fixed income, corporate & investment banking and debt capital markets. In addition, four lawyers have been chosen to lead legal support in EMEA for their respective areas.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 23, 2009 | International Edition

SJ Berwin is expanding its London finance team with the hire of Allen & Overy (A&O) leveraged finance partner Ian Borman, who is set to join the top 20 City firm in September. His appointment takes the leveraged finance team to four partners and the wider finance group to 11 partners. Borman, a partner in A&O's leveraged team for five years, has worked on deals including last year's bank financing of Gas Natural's E19bn (£16.4bn) takeover bid for Union Fenosa.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 22, 2009 | International Edition

Reactions to the government's 'Panel on Fair Access to the Professions' report, Oxford University Press (OUP) and BPP National Mooting Competition result and more good news for Bristol legal sector. Sheffield Hallam University has struck a blow for non-red brick universities by winning this year's Oxford University Press (OUP) and BPP National Mooting Competition. The two victorious mooters, Charlotte Dowson and Christopher Wilkinson, received a certificate, trophy, £750 and a chance to gain experience with BPP's pro bono centre.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 22, 2009 | International Edition

Norton Rose has taken a lead role on investment trust Ecofin Water & Power's £140m capital raising. The firm advised longstanding client Ecofin on the placing, which saw an offering of £80m in convertible unsecured loan stock (CULS) and the placing of £60m in zero dividend preference shares.

By Legal Week

2 minute read