Simon Petersen

June 29, 2011 | International Edition

Former Baker & McKenzie chair Christine Lagarde has been named as the first female head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Lagarde, who will begin a five-year term as IMF managing director on 5 July, spent over 20 years at Bakers, and held the role of chair between 1999 and 2004, after which she was succeeded by John Conroy.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 24, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds has boosted its Hong Kong office with the hire of Morrison & Foerster's China technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) head Nigel Stamp. Stamp joined Eversheds this week as a partner, and has been handed a brief to expand the firm's TMT practice in the region.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 24, 2011 | International Edition

Beachcroft has seen a £3m negligence claim brought against the firm by Britannia Hotels Group founder Alex Langsam dismissed by the High Court. Langsam had alleged that the firm failed to properly advise him on a professional negligence claim he lodged in 2002 against accountants and tax advisers Hacker Young, which led to a £1m settlement in January 2006.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 23, 2011 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons' Germany banking head is leaving to join Kaye Scholer in a double partner hire for the US firm. Ingrid Kalisch and fellow partner Sandra Pfister will exit Simmons next week to join Kaye Scholer's German banking and finance practice in Frankfurt on 1 July.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 22, 2011 | International Edition

Wragge & Co has confirmed that it is seeking a London merger, with the firm open to the possibility of a tie-up with a fellow UK top 50 firm. The UK top 30 firm is looking for a tie-up to bolster its City offering and is targeting either a smaller firm with a number of niche practice areas or a London boutique.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 22, 2011 | International Edition

Pinsent Masons has advised investment vehicle Horizon Acquisition on its $855m (£527m) purchase of US-based temporary power provider APR Energy. Pinsents took the lead role for Horizon in the sale after being instructed in April, with a team led by corporate partners Rob Hutchings and Paul Amiss.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 22, 2011 | International Edition

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has appointed Bevan Brittan to help develop its plans to regulate legal business structures ushered in by the Legal Services Act. The appointment comes after the BSB took a decision in April to extend its remit to regulate advocacy-focused alternative business structures (ABSs), legal disciplinary practices and barrister-only entities.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 22, 2011 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard has appointed four partners to its newly-created unitary board following a contested election. The quartet voted onto the board are financial regulation partner Adam Bennett, business support and restructuring head John Joyce, international arbitration head Simon Kamstra and employment partner Michael Leftley.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 21, 2011 | International Edition

Jones Day has added to its German technology and media practice with the hire of a long-serving partner from Hogan Lovells. Wolfgang Buchner, who is a partner in Hogan Lovells' Munich intellectual property, media and technology (IPMT) practice group, is set to join Jones Day along with counsel Undine von Diemar. Their start date at Jones Day is yet to be decided.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 21, 2011 | International Edition

Farrer & Co has opened for business in Zurich with the launch of a temporary presence in the Swiss city. The firm began operating out of serviced offices in the centre of Zurich in early June, with the initiative led by private client partner Nick Dunnell and tax head Robert Field, who will be based at the office once a fortnight for a couple of days. The base will focus on providing wealth management advice, including related work in property, funds and trust litigation.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read