Pui Guan Man

December 11, 2013 | International Edition

King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin (KWM) has appointed a new corporate leadership team, replacing current postholder Steven Davis with immediate effect. Partners Michael Goldberg (pictured) and Richard Lever will jointly lead the City corporate practice. Davis has led the London corporate group since 2006, when he replaced former senior partner Jonathan Blake in the role. He will continue to work at the firm.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

December 11, 2013 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons' highest earner took home around £800,000 during 2012-13, an 11% decrease on last year's top figure of £900,000. The figure is contained within the firm's latest financial report, recently filed with Companies House, which also shows the firm brought in operating profit of £68.6m, up on £53.4m.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

December 11, 2013 | International Edition

DLA Piper has appointed Ian Brierley as its new UK head of real estate, replacing Simon Cookson in the role. Cookson has held the role for two years after he joined the firm from Ashurst to lead the real estate practice.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

December 11, 2013 | International Edition

Trowers & Hamlins' operating profit fell by £10m during 2012-13 to £18.8m, according to accounts filed with Companies House. The firm's operating profit margins dropped from 36% to 24%, with the firm citing its move to new City headquarters at Bunhill Row as the main reason for the declining figure.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

December 10, 2013 | International Edition

Burges Salmon has been named as the sole adviser on book chain Waterstones' retail property portfolio. The firm, which won the role after a competitive process, will hold the role until 2016.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

December 09, 2013 | International Edition

Osborne Clarke is to launch in the Netherlands with an office in Amsterdam. It is also monitoring Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East and Russia

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

December 06, 2013 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O), Clifford Chance (CC) and Ashurst have landed the leading roles on Merck's proposed £1.6bn takeover of London-listed chemical company AZ Electronic Materials. The German drugs and chemicals company has agreed to acquire AZ in an all-cash deal, in a bid to access more growth areas in the electronics industry.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

December 05, 2013 | International Edition

An increase in hourly rates has helped drive fee income at the UK's top 10 firms up 6.3% this quarter compared to the same period last year. A growth in headline rates was the primary driver behind the rise in turnover at the leading firms in Q2, according to Deloitte's latest quarterly survey. By contrast, firms in the 26-50 bracket by revenue achieved growth of 6.7% primarily through increases in headcount.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

December 05, 2013 | International Edition

American Express (Amex) has appointed managing counsel Tim Heine as interim general counsel (GC) as the company reshuffles the internal reporting system of the in-house legal team. The credit card giant said in an internal announcement that Heine will take up the role in the New Year, standing in for outgoing postholder Louise Parent, who has worked at the company for over 20 years.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

December 04, 2013 | International Edition

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has landed a lead role advising Take-Two Interactive Software, maker of the Grand Theft Auto games, on its buyout of shares owned by US activist investor Carl Icahn. The businessman has sold his $203.5m (£125.1m) stake in the video game publisher, marking the end of his involvement with the company.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read