Legal Week

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

A raft firms have landed roles advising on the £510m buyout of Pearl Group by acquisition vehicle Liberty International. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Lovells, Clifford Chance (CC), Olswang and Greenberg Traurig have all won roles on the deal, which reduces Pearl's debts.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

With the likes of General Electric (GE), Santander and Barclays among the institutions putting legal advisers through their paces over the last few months, some law firms haven't been slow to advertise their success at securing new appointments – confidentiality agreements permitting.

By Legal Week

3 minute read

July 16, 2009 | Legal Week

With the likes of General Electric (GE), Santander and Barclays among the institutions putting legal advisers through their paces over the last few months, some law firms haven't been slow to advertise their success at securing new appointments – confidentiality agreements permitting.

By Legal Week

8 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Eversheds has secured a preferred legal adviser appointment to a new Middle Eastern telecoms developer. The top 10 firm has been named executive legal counsel to Gulf Bridge International (GBI), with the appointment to see Eversheds advising on all legal matters for the company worldwide. The firm will also be responsible for managing dealings with external law firms in those countries where it does not have an office.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Lawyers to London's leading hedge funds and private equity houses are braced for a prolonged period of uncertainty and lobbying as the alternative investment industry wrestles with controversial European Commission (EC) reforms. With the fuss regarding the EC's draft directive on alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs) showing no sign of abating since it was unveiled on 29 April, legal advisers are expecting a high-stakes battle to influence reforms seen as a politically motivated assault.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Linklaters has edged ahead of magic circle rivals Allen & Overy (A&O) and Clifford Chance (CC) to top the global project finance rankings by market share for the first half of 2009. New research from Infrastructure Journal (IJ) shows that the firm leads the global rankings by value for the first six months of this year after scoring roles on 15 deals worth $7.623bn (£4.7bn). The tally gives the firm a market share of just over 5% - marginally ahead of CC.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has launched a new framework for associate development in London, with the firm taking a first step away from post-qualification experience (PQE) as a means of grading lawyers. The new structure effectively divides the associate career through three distinct 'milestones', with fee earners needing to meet specific criteria in order to move past each milestone.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

July 16, 2009 | International Edition

Slaughter and May has emerged as the firm with the most satisfied associates when it comes to salaries and bonuses, according to Legal Week research. Slaughters associates have put the firm at the top of a table grading firms on their combined remuneration packages, marginally ahead of CMS Cameron McKenna.

By Legal Week

3 minute read

July 15, 2009 | International Edition

At the close of the financial year, we reflect on what has been an exasperating period for many businesses. Economic instability has shaken the tables of many boards. Management teams have been faced with difficult decisions around direction and cost cutting, a lot of which has involved cutting the most important asset - people. We cannot say who has made the best move or the right decisions. The truth is, this recession has brought about problems never seen before

By Legal Week

8 minute read

July 15, 2009 | International Edition

Recent changes to France's somewhat complex tax regulations raise interesting questions as to whether UK taxpayers may be tempted across the Channel

By Legal Week

5 minute read