Simon Petersen

June 06, 2011 | International Edition

Beachcroft has announced its 2011 promotions, with six lawyers made up to the firm's partnership. The promotions, which were delayed due to this April's public holidays, include two in Manchester, with the remaining four spread across the firm's offices in London, Bristol, Newport and Leeds.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read

June 02, 2011 | International Edition

Norton Rose has strengthened its Paris office with the hire of Hogan Lovells corporate partner Jon Harry. Harry, who had worked at Hogan Lovells and legacy Lovells since 1988, is set to join Norton Rose on 6 June.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 02, 2011 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells has appointed a new managing partner in Beijing following the departure of intellectual property (IP) partner Horace Lam to Jones Day. Lam left Hogan Lovells to join Jones Day on 23 May and has been replaced by corporate partner Jun Wei, a corporate and commercial partner focusing on M&A, private equity and project financing. Wei advises multinational companies and financial institutions on structuring their investments in China and dealing with Chinese regulatory agencies.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 02, 2011 | International Edition

Shearman & Sterling's Brussels office has picked up a number of clients from defunct firm Howrey, including Nestle and Hilton. The US law firm, which hired a five-partner competition team led by the co-head of Howrey's global antitrust practice, Trevor Soames, in February, is advising on a number of matters for the team's former Howrey clients.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 01, 2011 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard has taken a role alongside Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer on the €270m (£235m) sale of a 50% stake in German 'super-regional' shopping centre CentrO. The deal, which was completed on 10 May, saw Stadium Group sell a non-controlling interest in the 1.6 million sq ft shopping centre to Canadian investment management organisation CPP Investment Board (CPPIB).

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 01, 2011 | International Edition

Partners remain bullish regarding the ethics and governance standards at major commercial law firms despite several high-profile investigations involving alleged financial wrong-doing. The latest Legal Week Big Question survey found that 56% of respondents think the quality of financial monitoring and governance frameworks at major law firms is 'good' or 'excellent'. A further 25% believe such standards are 'OK', while 18% said they are either 'poor' or 'could be better'.

By Simon Petersen

5 minute read

June 01, 2011 | International Edition

Irwin Mitchell has overhauled its management structure and practice stream makeup in preparation for its planned conversion to an alternative business structure later this year. The firm, which confirmed in April that it intended to take advantage of the Legal Services Act (LSA) and was considering taking external capital, changed its structure last month – splitting the business into a limited liability partnership (LLP) and a separate holding company and appointing a new board to manage both parts of the firm.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 01, 2011 | International Edition

Speechly Bircham is set to launch in Luxembourg and Zurich, handing the London firm its first international presence. The Luxembourg office opened today (1 June) with the double hire of Francoise Pfeiffer, who joins as a partner from her own independent practice, and Chokri Bouzid, who joins as partner from local firm Oostvogels Pfister Feyten, where he was a senior tax consultant. Pfieffer, who was previously legal counsel for Luxembourg Central Bank and worked at Oostvogels before leaving to start her own practice, will head up the financial services and private wealth practice, which will be named Speechly Bircham Pfeiffer & Partners.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read

June 01, 2011 | International Edition

Holman Fenwick Willan has launched an office in Perth, marking the firm's third presence in Australia. The office, which opened today (1 May), will focus on the energy and natural resources sectors. It will be headed by Julian Sher, who joins from Perth's Francis Burt Chambers.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

June 01, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has recruited two partners for its German insurance and private equity practices with lateral hires from Hogan Lovells and Wilkie Farr & Gallagher. Insurance specialist Jan Schroder is set to join A&O's Dusseldorf office from Hogan Lovells, while Wilkie Farr private equity partner Michael Bernhardt is joining A&O in Frankfurt.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read