Simon Petersen

November 04, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper has relocated one of its Glasgow partners to Hong Kong as the firm moves to beef up its Asian intellectual property (IP) and technology practice. Glasgow-based technology and media partner Scott Thiel, who specialises in advising on outsourcing and technology transactions, joined the firm's Hong Kong office earlier this week (1 November).

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

November 04, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds has strengthened its London M&A practice with a partner hire from Hogan Lovells. Richard Lewis, who has spent 10 years as a partner at the firm after joining legacy Lovells in 2001 from Clifford Chance, where he was a senior assistant, will move to Eversheds this December.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

November 03, 2011 | International Edition

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has recruited a duo of Hong Kong corporate partners from Reed Smith and O'Melveny & Myers as the US firm gears up to offer a local law service in the region. O'Melveny's Hong Kong office head Yi Zhang has already joined Gibson Dunn, while Reed Smith corporate partner Graham Winter is set to move to the firm in the coming months.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

November 03, 2011 | International Edition

DAC Beachcroft has bolstered the partnership ranks at the newly-merged firm with two internal promotions and a lateral hire from Pinsent Masons. The firm - formed by the merger of Beachcroft and Davies Arnold Cooper (DAC) earlier this week (31 October) - has made up two legacy Beachcroft associates, Claire Reynolds and Julitta Yates, in its Leeds and Bristol office respectively.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

November 02, 2011 | International Edition

Baker & McKenzie is set to join the growing ranks of international law firms in Turkey after entering into a co-operation agreement with local practice Esin 
Attorney Partnership. The firm is entering Europe's fastest growing economy through a partnership with the Istanbul-based firm Esin, a 40-lawyer firm covering practice areas including corporate, real estate, dispute resolution and competition law.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read

November 02, 2011 | International Edition

Gide Loyrette Nouel and Norton Rose are among a raft of law firms to have picked up roles on France Telecom-Orange's acquisition of Congo China Telecom (CCT). The deal saw France Telecom acquire Chinese telecoms equipment manufacturer ZTE Corporation's 51% stake in CCT for $10m (£6.3m) and the Democratic Republic of Congo Government's 49% share 
for $7m (£4.4m).

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

November 02, 2011 | International Edition

Trowers & Hamlins and CMS Cameron McKenna have picked up lead roles on the £121m acquisition of the North Wharf Gardens development site near London's Paddington. Bahraini development company Meritas is acquiring the 710,000 sq ft site – the final phase of the Paddington Waterside development to be sold for redevelopment – from Westminster City Council.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

November 02, 2011 | International Edition

Half of the UK's top 30 law firms are either de-equitising partners or considering it, according to new research from professional services firm Smith & Williamson. The research found that of the 20 firms within the UK top 30 to complete the survey, nine were already in the process of de-equitising partners, with a further six expecting to consider it during the current financial year.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

November 02, 2011 | International Edition

The Co-operative's legal services arm has made a trio of hires to launch a family law operation as it gears up to convert to an Alternative Business Structure (ABS). The Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) has recruited the trio from London boutique TV Edwards to head up the launch, which has been made possible by the reforms ushered in by the Legal Services Act (LSA) this month.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

November 02, 2011 | International Edition

London boutique Birnberg Peirce & Partners has taken centre stage as Wikileaks founder Julian Assange today (2 October) failed in a High Court appeal against his extradition to Sweden to face rape allegations. The north London firm instructed Ben Emmerson QC and Mark Summers QC from Matrix Chambers, who were unsuccessful in appealing an earlier ruling that Assange should be extradited.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read