Sofia Lind

August 12, 2008 | Law.com

Dutch independent Boekel de Neree is set to open in London next year, marking the first office outside of Amsterdam for the 130-year-old firm. The office will be led by corporate partner and M&A head Ferdinand Mason, who will relocate to the U.K. along with three associates for the launch on July 1, 2009. After one year, the firm intends to add one more partner to the office. Boekel pulled out of an alliance with Eversheds in May 2002, having initially signed up to fully merge with the U.K. firm.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

July 26, 2011 | Law.com

Clifford Chance plans to open an office in Morocco by the end of 2011, with Paris-based partner and Moroccan national Mustapha Mourahib relocating to set up the new base. The office, which follows Magic Circle rival Allen & Overy's Morocco office announcement, will be a hub for clients across the wider North African and sub-Saharan Francophone region.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

November 24, 2009 | Law.com

Linklaters' Asia managing partner Zili Shao is to leave the firm to become chairman and CEO of JP Morgan's China businesses. Shao has held the Asia managing partner role since May this year, when he was voted in as a replacement for Giles White, who left the firm to become general counsel at Hong Kong conglomerate Jardine Matheson. Shao, whose practice focuses on M&A and private equity investments, joined Linklaters in 1998 and founded the firm's Shanghai and Beijing offices.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 07, 2008 | National Law Journal

The raft of firms opening in Dubai in recent months is leading to decreases in charge-out rates in the region. Top 10 U.K. firms, as well as smaller London rivals, are among those reported to be undercutting fees for work, with lawyers operating in the market saying the trend has increased significantly over the last 12 months. Energy, project finance work and construction are practices where undercutting is most likely to happen, as are those trying to build relationships with sovereign wealth funds.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

November 22, 2010 | Corporate Counsel

It's going to be a sticky, oily review overseen by group GC Rupert Bondy. The firms on the British oil giant's roster have already been alerted, although formal requests for proposals have not yet been sent out.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

October 01, 2010 | Law.com

U.K. law firm SJ Berwin's management has publicly backed its proposed merger with New York's Proskauer Rose amid mounting speculation that the long-running talks are faltering. Senior partner Jonathan Blake conceded that the talks had been complicated, but stated that they were progressing.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 25, 2010 | Law.com

Clifford Chance and Latham & Watkins have taken lead roles on the $176.6 million initial public offering of Singapore's Tiger Airways, the first Asian airline to complete an IPO in the past five years. Latham took the lead role for the airline, with a team led by Singapore corporate head Michael Sturrock. Linklaters' Singapore ally Allen & Gledhill advised Tiger on local law matters with a team led by financial services partner Tan Tze Gay.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 11, 2008 | National Law Journal

Mourant du Feu & Jeune has hired the head of trust litigation from offshore rival Maples and Calder in a boost to the firm's Cayman Islands disputes team. Ziva Robertson, who joins Mourant as a partner next month, specializes in contentious trust, probate and fiduciary disputes, representing local and international trustees of large private and charitable trusts. She will be joined at Mourant by senior associate Peter Hayden, who switched from U.K. firm Matthew Arnold & Baldwin last week.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

November 12, 2009 | Law.com

Watson Farley & Williams is set to enter the Spanish market with the hire of a Lovells team in Madrid. The firm has recruited banking and finance partner Joaquin Sales and energy-focused corporate counsel Maria Pilar Garcia to head up the new Madrid office. Both join as partners and bring with them three associates from Lovells. The new Madrid base is the U.K. firm's 12th office.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 19, 2008 | National Law Journal

Skadden is to open a new office in Sao Paulo, the U.S. giant announced Tuesday. The new branch represents Skadden's first foray into South America, although the firm established its Latin America practice group almost 20 years ago. It will be headed by corporate partner Jonathan Bisgaier, who is currently based in Manhattan. He will work closely with fellow corporate partner Paul Schnell, who heads the Latin America group from New York.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read