Simon Petersen

October 19, 2011 | International Edition

Irwin Mitchell and Eversheds have picked up lead roles on the transfer of 21 care homes caught up in the collapse of Southern Cross. Prestbury Investment Holdings, the owner of 21 properties operated by Southern Cross, has transferred the leases for 14 of its care homes to charitable care provider Methodist Homes and seven further homes to learning disability charity Royal Mencap.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

October 19, 2011 | International Edition

Taylor Wessing has strengthened its City finance team with the hire of a partner from Dundas & Wilson. London-based corporate banking partner Ross Caldwell is set to join Taylor Wessing early next year, after serving a period of gardening leave at his current firm.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

October 19, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper is to consult with partners on proposals expected to see the firm usher in an all-equity partnership across all of its offices outside the US. Proposals were unveiled to partners this week (17 October), with a consultation due to begin next month. Partners are expected to vote on the plans early in 2012, with the move to a single all-equity partnership across the whole of DLA Piper International, which includes offices in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia, likely to take place from 1 May next year.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read

October 19, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds is planning to join the growing rank of international firms launching in Brazil, with the firm becoming the latest to eye up opportunities in the BRIC economy. The top 10 UK law firm has confirmed that it is looking at opening in the country, joining a lengthening list of those either launching or considering doing so.

By Simon Petersen

4 minute read

October 19, 2011 | International Edition

Norton Rose has advised the National Bank of Greece on two securitisations worth €2.35bn (£2bn), with the deals representing the first securitisation mandates the firm's London office has carried out for the bank. The transactions, completed last month, involved the securitisation of two portfolios of the bank's assets on the Irish Stock Exchange.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

October 18, 2011 | International Edition

The Law Society has called for the Government's controversial legal aid reforms to be put on hold amid media scrutiny of justice minister Jonathan Djanogly's alleged links to the claims management industry. The responsibility for the regulation of claims management companies was passed from Djanogly to Justice Secretary Ken Clarke yesterday (17 October), following a review by Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell after The Guardian claimed that Djanogly could personally profit from his own legislation.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read

October 18, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Elie Kleiman as the new head of its Paris office. Kleiman, who formerly headed up the firm's dispute resolution practice, is set to take up the role of Paris managing partner on 1 November. He will hold the new position in conjunction with his client work.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

October 17, 2011 | International Edition

Salans has recruited a Linklaters partner in Madrid in a boost for the firm's local real estate group. Jesus Varela joined Salans' Madrid office today (17 October) as a partner in the firm's banking and finance and reorganisation, restructuring and insolvency practice groups. He joins the firm alongside two associates.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

October 17, 2011 | International Edition

Irwin Mitchell is set to outsource 81 support staff ahead of its planned conversion to an alternative business structure (ABS). The move is part of the firm's five-year deal to offload its facilities operations to business process outsourcing company OCS.

By Simon Petersen

2 minute read

October 14, 2011 | International Edition

A group of ex-Halliwells partners have been issued with a letter by former fixed-share members threatening legal action on the grounds of misrepresentation. The letter, which was sent by Irwin Mitchell on behalf of 14 former Halliwells fixed-share partners, levels a number of complaints at the equity partners who each received a share of the defunct firm's controversial £24.5m ''reverse premium' property payout.

By Simon Petersen

3 minute read