Pui Guan Man

October 31, 2013 | International Edition

Dentons has appointed head of CEE Tomasz Dabrowski as its new Europe chief executive, succeeding Dariusz Oleszczuk. Oleszczuk served three consecutive terms as global managing partner at legacy firm Salans. The firm combined with SNR Denton and Canada's Fraser Milner Casgrain (FMC) earlier this year to form Dentons.

By Pui-Guan Man

3 minute read

October 30, 2013 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy (A&O) have landed roles on Heathrow Airport Holdings' (HAH) £750m bond issue. Funds raised will be used to refinance the group's existing debt and strengthen its financing platform for its ongoing transformation programme, which includes next year's planned opening of the new terminal two, to be named 'The Queen's Terminal' (pictured).

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

October 30, 2013 | International Edition

Proskauer Rose and legacy Dewey & LeBoeuf have seen off a challenge to the level of fees they have charged for their work on the MF Global administration. Last week, lawyers acting for the defunct broker filed an objection to fees totalling $8.8m (£5.6m) being charged by the two firms on the high-profile administration, labelling them "excessive".

By Pui-Guan Man

3 minute read

October 29, 2013 | International Edition

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has made up six partners across its global network, one of whom is based at the firm's London and Milan offices. The promotions mark a marginal decrease on last year when the firm made up eight new partners, two of which were based in London.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

October 29, 2013 | International Edition

Field Fisher Waterhouse has won a proze mandate advising the European arm of Nintendo on the launch of an online retail store for UK consumers. The firm worked with the Japanese entertainment company's commercial and legal teams on the venture, which stocks products including games consoles such as the Wii U, Wii Mini and Nintendo 3DS.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

October 28, 2013 | International Edition

US firms Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman have begun merger talks. A combination would create a firm with joint revenues of around $1.4bn staffed by over 1,500 lawyers, with a particularly strong presence on the US west coast.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

October 28, 2013 | International Edition

SJ Berwin is set to open an office in Riyadh next year, after its merger with King & Wood Mallesons goes live later this week. The firm will launch in Saudi Arabia via an association with an undisclosed local firm, with a base expected to open in the first quarter of next year.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

October 25, 2013 | International Edition

Osborne Clarke (OC) has opened a second representative office in US with the launch of a new base in Manhattan. The firm has set up shop in New York in a push to reinforce its relationships with companies based in North America looking to expand or invest in Northern Europe.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

October 24, 2013 | International Edition

Osborne Clarke (OC) has embarked on a drastic restructuring of its private client practice after its existing team jumped ship for Bond Dickinson this week. In response to the departures of private client and charity law partner Mark Woodward and property partner Robert Drewett, OC has outlined plans to create a small private wealth practice focused on high-net-worth (HNW) entrepreneurs and executives. Pensions partner and board member Paul Matthews will oversee the process. It is expected the firm will hire at least one new partner to head the team.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

October 24, 2013 | International Edition

The latest Big Question survey shows that 91% of respondents feel that a law firm's office space significantly influences how clients perceive it, with fewer than one in 10 disagreeing. The vast majority of respondents also regard office space as important in attracting and retaining talent, with 96% describing it as either very (39%) or quite (57%) important. "The location and feel of the office is much more important than you might otherwise think," said Norton Rose Fulbright global head of corporate Martin Scott (pictured, right). "It is essential to have a space that people want to be in. It's been five years since we moved but the building still feels cutting edge.

By Pui-Guan Man

4 minute read