Simon Petersen

September 21, 2011 | International Edition

McDermott Will & Emery has strengthened its fledgling Paris office with a hire from local firm Jeantet Associes, with the hire marking the latest in a string of partner moves in the city in recent weeks. Jonathan Wohl joined McDermott as a partner in its Paris corporate practice last month from Jeantet, where he was a senior counsel specialising in cross-border M&A. Wohl joined Jeantet as a partner in 2006 after 27 years with now-defunct firm Coudert Brothers. When he moved to Jeantet in January that year he became the final partner from Coudert's flagship Paris office to find a new home in the wake of the firm announcing plans to wind up in the summer of 2005.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read

September 21, 2011 | International Edition

Beachcroft and SNR Denton have helped fill the new Westfield Stratford City shopping mall, with the pair advising Westfield on lease agreements for 300 stores inside the centre. Beachcroft's real estate team, led by relationship partner David Esam, completed 50% of the mall's lettings, with SNR Denton advising on the remaining 150 agreements, led by retail occupiers sector group head Chris Denny. The roles take the number of top 50 UK law firms to have picked up advisory mandates for Westfield in relation to the new Stratford centre, which opened last week, to five.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 21, 2011 | International Edition

A group of Russia's top law firms have banded together to lobby the country's Government on legal reform, as calls grow for the local market to make its legal system more accessible to 
international business. The Partnership for the Advancement of Corporate Law was formally established last week (12 September) by a group of 10 of Russia's leading corporate firms. The partnership's principal aim is to make Russian civil law more attractive for foreign investment by lobbying the Government to bring local law in line with international standards, protect investors' rights and usher in 
greater flexibility.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read

September 21, 2011 | International Edition

Clayton Utz partner Simon Truskett has been elected chair of independent law firm network Lex Mundi. Truskett, a senior partner in the Australian firm's corporate and M&A group, was elected to the role by the international network's board of directors at its annual meeting in Vienna this month (10 September).

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 20, 2011 | International Edition

Dundas & Wilson and London's Bircham Dyson Bell have confirmed that they have held discussions about a formal tie-up. A statement from senior management at both firms confirms that the pair are considering whether to "combine forces more formally", given their "positive mutual experience of collaboration to date".

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 20, 2011 | International Edition

US firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is set to make its European debut in Brussels after recruiting a team of lawyers from Hunton & Williams and Shearman & Sterling. The firm, which currently has eight bases in the US and two in China, is set to launch an antitrust and competition practice in Brussels when it opens for business in the Belgian capital next month.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 20, 2011 | International Edition

RBS Insurance (RBSI) has turned to RSA Insurance for its new general counsel and company secretary. RSA's group legal director, Humphrey Tomlinson, is set to join RBSI, where he will be tasked with building the Bromley-based insurer's standalone legal and secretariat functions ahead of its divestment from RBS Group.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 19, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds has become the first law firm to sign up to a new voluntary gender reporting initiative launched by the Government. The top 10 UK law firm has joined Tesco and BT as the first members of the 'Think, Act, Report' initiative, which is aimed at improving transparency on gender equality issues in business.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 15, 2011 | International Edition

Two senior Bird & Bird partners have left the firm's Paris office to join Salans in the French capital. Intellectual property (IP) partner Isabelle Leroux and tax partner Anne Quenedey joined Salans on 1 September, bringing with them three associates each as well as one counsel.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

September 14, 2011 | International Edition

An ex-Walker Morris litigation executive has received a nine-month suspended jail sentence after being found guilty of stealing more than £11,000 from the firm. Lynne Morley, who worked in the Leeds firm's litigation department until her dismissal in 2009, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court yesterday (13 September) after pleading guilty to five counts of fraud.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read