Legal Week

April 05, 2006 | International Edition

Herbert Smith's advocacy unit was greeted with significant scepticism from the Bar when it was launched. A year on, Rachel Bennett reports on the unit's progress and its successes to date

By Legal Week

5 minute read

April 05, 2006 | International Edition

The much-trailed recruitment by Kirkland & Ellis of Linklaters' City private equity team surely signals the high-water mark for the traditional buy-out lawyer, coming weeks after similar appointments at Weil Gotshal & Manges and Allen & Overy. Who would have predicted years back that this breed of corporate lawyer, having emerged little noticed in the 1980s, would end up in such demand?

By Legal Week

4 minute read

March 08, 2006 | International Edition

Linklaters is sitting on a seven-figure windfall from online betting exchange Betfair's sale of a stake to Japan's Softbank, it has emerged, as the City giant looks set to finally reap the rewards of dotcom-era fee deals. The magic circle firm confirmed it had accepted a stake in Betfair via an equity-for-fees arrangement, one of a number of such deals Linklaters agreed between 1998 and 2001 as part of a drive to attract growth companies.

By Legal Week

2 minute read

March 08, 2006 | Legal Week

Linklaters is sitting on a seven-figure windfall from online betting exchange Betfair's sale of a stake to Japan's Softbank, it has emerged, as the City giant looks set to finally reap the rewards of dotcom-era fee deals. The magic circle firm confirmed it had accepted a stake in Betfair via an equity-for-fees arrangement, one of a number of such deals Linklaters agreed between 1998 and 2001 as part of a drive to attract growth companies.

By Legal Week

7 minute read

January 11, 2006 | International Edition

Kennedys has hired a new partner to beef up its construction team. Solicitor-advocate Jonathan Raynes joins the 26-partner firm from Ashurst, where he was a solicitor. The appointment of Raynes, who specialises in infrastructure, health and engineering, follows Kennedys' hire of new construction partner Ian Reid from SJ Berwin late last year.

By Legal Week

1 minute read

November 23, 2005 | International Edition

Kennedys has appointed Ian Lauwerys as its IT director. Lauwerys formally took up the role this month but initially joined the firm on an interim basis in July. He is responsible for the firm's overall IT strategy and leads a 25-person IT team supporting Kennedys' offices worldwide. Key priorities include working with clients to develop bespoke extranets and improving the firm's business continuity. Since 2003 he has worked as an independent legal consultant.

By Legal Week

1 minute read

November 16, 2005 | International Edition

Berrymans Lace Mawer has installed insurance specialist Terry Renouf as its new senior partner, following the decision, earlier this year of veteran chief Paul Taylor to stand down from the firm's helm. Renouf will take up the role at the top 60 UK firm from 1 April, 2006, after winning out over several other candidates in a formal partnership election.

By Legal Week

1 minute read

October 12, 2005 | International Edition

Offshore:The seismic impact of the EU Savings Directive has meant offshore jurisdictions have been forced to implement equivalent measures. While Bermuda was left out of the Directive's scope, the apparent advantage this lent the island has resulted in some unexpected consequences. Christopher Johnson-Gilbert explains

By Legal Week

8 minute read

September 14, 2005 | International Edition

Kennedys is to merge with its Spanish ally, Arauz de Robles Y Velez Abogados (ARV), to give the London insurance specialist a base in Madrid. The merger, which goes live on 3 October, sees the two firms cement their five-year alliance and adds ARV's two Madrid partners to Kennedys' 85-strong partnership.

By Legal Week

1 minute read

August 03, 2005 | International Edition

Following the release of its annual plan, the Office of Fair Trading is all set to adopt a more selective approach when deciding whether to investigate a particular case, and vigorously pursue those cases it does select. Guy Lougher and Alan Davis assess the possible impact on different types of businesses

By Legal Week

9 minute read