Pui Guan Man

November 19, 2013 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has posted a 7.4% revenue hike for the first half of 2013-14, as it re-iterates plans to expand its US footprint in the next 12 months. The firm's revenue grew to £608m in the six months to the end of October, up on the £566m brought in during the same period last year.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

November 19, 2013 | International Edition

Hill Dickinson has reported a 6% rise in revenues for the first half of the 2013-14 financial year. The firm's revenues grew from £51.9m to £54.9m in the six months leading to the end of October.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

November 18, 2013 | International Edition

DWF has grown its revenues to £93.6m for the first half of the 2013-14 financial year, on the back its rapid expansion. The firm's revenues rose 57.5% at the half-year mark, up on last year's half-year figure of £59.4m.

By Pui-Guan Man

3 minute read

November 13, 2013 | International Edition

DWF and French outfit Gide Loyrette Nouel are among a number of firms to land roles as Marks & Spencer (M&S) looks to expand its food business in the UK and France. The retailer plans to open 150 Simply Food stores across the UK over the next three years, to add to the 427 outlets currently in operation. It said the expansion will create more than 5,000 retail jobs. About half of the new stores will be owned by M&S and located on high streets and at retail parks. The remainder will be opened by existing franchise partners, which include BP, travel retail company SSP and service station operator Moto. The M&S-owned Simply Food store acquisitions will be led by M&S's in-house property legal team, supported by law firm trio King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin (KWM), DWF Biggart Baillie and Osborne Clarke (OC).

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

November 13, 2013 | International Edition

Taylor Wessing and Weil Gotshal & Manges have won the mandates on eBay's takeover of delivery start-up Shutl. The London-based online courier company will form part of eBay's bid to extend its 'eBay now' one-hour local delivery service, which launched in San Francisco and New York last year. The internet giant is planning to roll the service out to 25 US cities by the end of this year, with London following in 2014. Weil advised eBay with teams based in its London and Silicon Valley offices. The City team included corporate partner Jonathan Wood and intellectual property (IP) partner Barry Fishley, while the California office fielded M&A partner Jane Ross and technology and IP partner John Brockland.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

November 07, 2013 | International Edition

Slaughter and May is consulting over proposals to set up flexible working arrangements for partners and associates. The elite firm is discussing options with partners and reviewing the ways in which remuneration might be adjusted to factor in reduced working hours.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

November 07, 2013 | International Edition

With the Islamic finance industry estimated to be worth £1.3trn next year, it is no surprise that David Cameron wants the UK to cash in on the boom. Aiming to make London the capital of Islamic finance in the Western world, the Prime Minister last week unveiled plans for the UK to become the first non-Muslim country to issue an Islamic bond. With a history of providing financial services to the Middle Eastern markets that goes back at least 30 years, proof of the UK's growing Islamic finance sector can be found in the developments of the Qatari-backed Shard Tower and Chelsea Barracks, as well as Malaysian-backed Battersea Power Station – all of which have been funded using Shariah-compliant structures.

By Pui-Guan Man

5 minute read

November 07, 2013 | International Edition

CMS has become the latest firm to move into the fast-growing Turkish market after launching an office in Istanbul. CMS Cameron McKenna corporate partner and international head John Fitzpatrick will lead the office, alongisde CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz commercial local partner Doene Yalcin.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

November 06, 2013 | International Edition

DLA Piper and Stephenson Harwood are among a clutch of firms to have won mandates on the Wellcome Trust's 50% acquisition of Raag Hotels. Raag, which operates Tune Hotels' (pictured) City business, is forming a joint venture with the charity, with the ambition to more than double its presence in central London. Shareholders have committed extra equity to increase the portfolio from the current 616 rooms to a target of 1,500 rooms.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read

November 06, 2013 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons has sealed the hire of Dentons Middle East disputes and construction chief David Risbridger. Risbridger, who was based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, joined legacy Denton Wilde Sapte in 1997 and was made up as partner in 2000.

By Pui-Guan Man

2 minute read