Simon Petersen

September 29, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper's former global co-head of litigation and regulatory Neil Gerrard has drafted in Herbert Smith to advise as his dispute with his former firm over his move to Dechert prepares to enter arbitration. The City firm is advising Gerrard alongside Mark Howard QC of Brick Court Chambers.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 28, 2011 | International Edition

Information management company Iron Mountain has set up its first European legal panel, with Shoosmiths, DLA Piper and Eversheds among the firms making the grade. Weil Gotshal & Manges and Squire Sanders Hammonds were also appointed to the roster last month, with the line-up also including Belgium's Lorenz Law, Germany's Schmalz Rechtsanwalte, Berthet Husson Associes of France, Netherlands firm Boekel De Neree and Benelux leader De Brauw 
Blackstone Westbroek.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 28, 2011 | International Edition

Irwin Mitchell has been appointed to carry out debt recovery work for brewing giant Heineken's UK pub management arm. The firm's Manchester office has won a three-year appointment to advise Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company on debt recovery work. The appointment marks a first instruction from the pub company for Irwin Mitchell, which has acted for Heineken in the UK since the mid 1990s.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 28, 2011 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard and Linklaters have picked up lead roles on the financing of a liquefied natural gas terminal acquisition in Mexico. The deal saw a joint venture (JV) between Spanish gas storage company Enagas and tank storage company Royal Vopak acquire the Altamira LNG terminal in Mexico for $408m (£264m). The JV acquired 100% of the shares in the terminal from Shell (which owned 50%), Total (25%) and Mitsui & Co (25%) through the deal, which was financed with $300m (£194m) of funding from a syndicate of banks led by Mizuho Corporate Bank and ING Bank.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 27, 2011 | International Edition

Reed Smith has strengthened its Paris office with the hire of a three-lawyer corporate team from Simmons & Simmons. Marc Fredj joined the firm last week as a partner in its Europe and Middle East corporate group, along with two associates, bringing the total number of partners in the US firm's Paris base to 16.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read

September 27, 2011 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard's plans to launch in Singapore have suffered a setback, with the partner intended to launch the firm's first international outpost quitting to join Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP). London-based litigation partner Kent Phillips was due to launch Addleshaws' Singapore office later this year, however he will join BLP's local office instead, where he will head the firm's Asian arbitration practice.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 27, 2011 | International Edition

DWF has launched a paralegal academy to offer school-leavers an alternative route into the legal profession. The scheme, which has been set up in partnership with the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX), will provide an opportunity for 'legal apprentices' to gain qualifications while working.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 27, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds and Pinsent Masons have both appointed new energy-related practice group heads, with the latter recruiting a partner from EDF Energy. Pinsents has hired EDF's nuclear legal head Chris White as co-head of the firm's international nuclear practice. He will lead the team alongside current head Paul Rice.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 26, 2011 | International Edition

Jones Day has strengthened its French antitrust and competition law practice with a partner hire from Latham & Watkins. Eric Barbier de La Serre is set to join Jones Day's Paris office next month (19 October) as the second partner in its local antitrust and European law practice.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 22, 2011 | International Edition

Blake Dawson is set to launch an Asian employment practice with a partner hire from Australian rival Freehills. Employment partner George Cooper will join Blake Dawson's Singapore office from mid-October, and will head up the new employment practice across Asia.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read