Simon Petersen

December 08, 2011 | International Edition

Gide Loyrette Nouel has appointed four new faces to its five-partner executive committee, including a new senior management team. Managing partner Christophe Eck and senior partner Pierre Raoul-Duval are set to be replaced by Stephane Puel and Baudouin de Moucheron respectively for two-year terms effective from 1 January 2012.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

December 07, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds has abandoned plans to set up a legal process outsourcing (LPO) venture with consulting firm Accenture and is instead drafting up options for an in-house alternative. The top 10 law firm is in the early stages of designing a new in-house model intended to offer better value delivery of routine and high-end legal work, with the creation of an in-house facility at one of the firm's regional offices staffed with paralegals one option under discussion.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

December 07, 2011 | International Edition

Linklaters and Allen & Overy (A&O) have advised on the $1.25bn (£795m) debt financing of Oman's 
Sur Independent Power Project (Sur IPP) alongside Norton Rose. Norton Rose is advising the project's sponsors, Phoenix Power Company – a special purpose vehicle backed by Japanese investors – on the deal, which will lead to the construction of Oman's largest independent power plant. The firm's team is being led by London banking and finance partner Charles Whitney and projects partner Peter Hall.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

December 07, 2011 | International Edition

The UK's top 100 law firms saw a year-on-year increase in fee income of nearly 10% during the second quarter of the 2011-12 financial year, with new research showing a continued improvement in trading despite the economic uncertainty in the eurozone. Figures compiled by professional services firm Deloitte show fee income across the 100 largest UK law firms by revenue increased by 9.8% during the three months ending 31 October compared with the same period last year. The increase is more than double that seen in Q1 2011-12, when revenues grew by 4% compared with the same 
period last year.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

December 07, 2011 | International Edition

As managing partners forecast a tough start to 2012, firms focus on growth outside Europe. Simon Petersen reports

By Simon Petersen

5 minute read

December 07, 2011 | International Edition

BDO has applied to be appointed as liquidator of defunct law firm Halliwells, with the organisation, currently Halliwells' administrator, taking the first steps towards liquidating the failed firm's limited liability partnership (LLP). BDO expects a decision on its application in the New Year but CMS Cameron McKenna issued a letter on behalf of the company last month stating BDO's intention to terminate its appointment as administrator and to instead become the failed firm's liquidator.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read

December 06, 2011 | International Edition

Reed Smith has strengthened its Middle Eastern corporate practice with a two-lawyer hire from Holland & Knight. Holland & Knight corporate partner and Abu Dhabi head Donald Moore is set to join the US firm's local office as a partner, bringing the total number of partners in the office to five. Meanwhile, corporate associate Nijoe Joseph is set to join the Dubai office.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

December 05, 2011 | International Edition

DAC Beachcroft has reported a 10% increase in turnover for the first half of the financial year, following the recent merger deal which created the new firm. The newly-formed firm has announced combined fee income of £88.2m for the six-month period ending 31 October, the day on which the merger between Davies Arnold Cooper and Beachcroft went live.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

December 01, 2011 | International Edition

Midlands firm Martineau and London's Sprecher Grier Halberstan (SGH) have unveiled the leadership of the combined firm as it today (1 December) merges to create a £30m practice.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

November 30, 2011 | International Edition

Stephenson Harwood is entering the Indonesian market with the launch of a formal association with local firm Christian Teo Purwono & Partners (CTPP). The agreement, which was signed last Thursday (24 November), gives the UK top 30 firm an associated office in Jakarta, adding to its existing offices in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai 
and Singapore.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read