Simon Petersen

March 25, 2011 | International Edition

K&L Gates has launched a real estate practice in Paris with the hire of a three-lawyer team from Simmons & Simmons. The team, which joined K&L Gates last week (14 March), is headed by partner Edouard Vitry and also includes counsel Joanna Klat and associate Benjamin Chouai. Vitry, who has a broad real estate practice including investment, finance, construction and development work, joined Simmons in 2006 and became a partner in 2008. He previously worked at legacy Richard Butler.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

March 24, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper is set to enter the Mongolian legal market after securing an alliance with local firm C&G Partners. The two-partner Mongolian firm will become a DLA Piper 'focus firm', with DLA targeting local work in sectors including mining, capital markets, banking, project finance, hospitality and leisure and infrastructure. DLA Piper Asia-Pacific managing director Alastair Da Costa commented: "The relationship with C&G will enable the firm to have a presence in an emerging economy where our clients are doing increasing volumes of business.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

March 24, 2011 | International Edition

Slaughter and May has become the second magic circle firm to announce its 2011 partner promotions, making up five lawyers in its London office. The five promotions, which take effect on 1 May, marks Slaughters' largest promotions round in recent years. The firm added two to its partnership in 2010 and 2009, with four in 2008, five in 2007 and eight in 2006.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

March 24, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has appointed a new Moscow managing partner to replace current postholder Tony Humphrey, who is due to retire at the end of next month. The magic circle firm has named Moscow corporate head Edwin Tham to lead the office, with effect from 1 May.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

March 23, 2011 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) looks set to become the first leading City firm to open an office in South Korea, with the firm planning to launch after the country's legal market is opened up to foreign law firms this summer. The firm is one of a number of the UK top 10 looking at the region in the wake of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Europe and South Korea that was approved by the European Parliament last month (17 February).

By Simon Petersen

4 minute read

March 23, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has strengthened its Paris public law practice with the hire of a trio of lawyers from Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker led by partner Pascal Cuche. The team, which is due to join Freshfields on 4 April, also includes Marc Lordonnois, who was a partner at Paul Hastings but is joining Freshfields as counsel, and senior associate Karine Debaecker. The trio joined Paul Hastings in early 2008 from Ashurst, where they were associates.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

March 22, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has boosted its Paris M&A practice with the hire of a trio of lawyers from US firm Debevoise & Plimpton. The team, which is led by partner Marc Castagnede and includes senior associates Dan Taieb and Olivier Thebault, joined A&O yesterday (21 March), bringing the total number of partners at the magic circle firm's Paris office to 30 and the number of M&A partners to seven.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

March 22, 2011 | International Edition

Wragge & Co has strengthened its healthcare practice with the hire of a new partner in London. Robert Breedon is set to join Wragges on 4 April from his own consultancy Nomos Legal, where he provides consultancy services to various in-house legal teams. These include the Department of Health, where he has spent much of his time as in-house counsel for the department's commercial directorate.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

March 21, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier have picked up lead roles as US food group General Mills agrees to buy a 50% stake in French yoghurt company Yoplait, in a deal that values the company at €1.6bn (£1.4bn). General Mills entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire buyout house PAI Partners' 50% stake in the company last week (18 March), following a competitive bidding process.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

March 18, 2011 | International Edition

Wragge & Co has picked up a role advising alongside Weil Gotshal & Manges and Dickson Minto on the private equity sale of Phones 4u. National firm Wragges is advising Phones 4u's management on the deal, which sees the company switch hands from Providence Equity Partners to BC Partners. Birmingham corporate partner Baljit Chohan took the lead role for the firm.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read