Legal Week

June 25, 2009 | Legal Week

Germany's capital may not double as its business centre, but it is certainly one of country's major cultural hubs. Whether you want to spend your time wandering around one of the city's impressive art collections or the castles in the region, or sample some of the famous nightlife and excellent local beers, Berlin has something to offer everyone. In spite of its scarred past – or perhaps because of it – Berlin holds claim as one of the most diverse European cities.

By Legal Week

16 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Linklaters has added two leading names to its law and business school advisory board, including Linde's chief legal officer. The magic circle firm has added Linde's Christian Rau and professor Jan Dalhuisen from King's College School of Law, expanding its board from five members to eight.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Two out of three partners believe the recession will present attractive opportunities to secure opportunistic mergers, suggesting that the UK market could be set for a run of consolidation. The latest Big Question survey found that 68% of partners believe the downturn will present attractive opportunities to secure domestic mergers. A further 28% thought there may be such deals, leaving only 4% claiming such unions were unlikely.

By Legal Week

4 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have won lead roles as mining giants Anglo American and Xstrata discuss a potential merger worth £41bn. Anglo-Swiss group Xstrata confirmed this week (21 June) that it had approached the board of Anglo American about a possible union.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer dispute resolution partner Sarah Parkes and corporate partner Adrian Maguire have taken over as co-chairs of the firm's associate engagement group (AEG). The duo replace restructuring head Ken Baird and competition partner Nicholas French, who have completed their one-year terms as co-heads of the group.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

The Bar has highlighted funding obligations to set up the Legal Services Board (LSB) and the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) as key concerns for the profession. The Bar Council and Bar Standards Board's joint annual report, published earlier this month (13 June), highlights the major challenges facing the Bar, with the organisations particularly concerned about meeting the costs of the profession's new regulator and complaints body.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

A senior German partner has left Ashurst as former Munich head Karl Wach sets up his own litigation boutique alongside senior associate Frank Meckes. The top 10 City law firm said the move came as part of a bid to refocus its Munich office around corporate and finance law. Wach was the only litigation partner in the office, although there are still three associates.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has seen five partners leave its New York corporate practice this year, it has emerged. Corporate partners Helayne Baron, Karl Roessner, Sara Hanks, Earl Zimmerman and Richard Pritz have all departed from the law firm's 20-partner New York corporate practice since the beginning of the year. Zimmerman, Roessner and Pritz sat within the firm's US M&A practice, Baron was a capital markets partner and Hanks worked across corporate finance. Zimmerman has joined US firm Sutherland as a corporate partner, while Roessner has joined online trading company E-Trade as general counsel and executive vice-president.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons has reshuffled its management board, with Italy head Marco Franzini winning a place on the law firm's main strategy board. Franzini replaces Portuguese managing partner Pedro Rebelo de Sousa on the 11-member board, which is chaired by senior partner David Dickinson.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

June 25, 2009 | International Edition

Norton Rose has put more than half of its Middle East staff and lawyers onto four-day weeks in a bid to stave off job cuts in the region, which is feeling the pain of the recession. The top 10 City firm confirmed that 50%-60% of staff across Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Dubai are now working a four-day week in response to the downturn. Almost all staff in the region opted into the flexible working scheme in April, and the firm implemented the scheme a few weeks ago. The firm is also considering whether to put some staff on sabbatical.

By Legal Week

3 minute read