Sofia Lind

February 15, 2012 | International Edition

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has announced that managing director Margaret Cole is set to leave the regulator later this year. Her departure comes ahead of the Government's 'twin peaks' overhaul of the FSA, which from 2 April will see the regulator split into two, with one arm focusing on prudential regulation and the other on conduct.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

February 14, 2012 | International Edition

Norton Rose has re-elected Stephen Parish as chairman, with the banking partner set to take up a second three-year term from 1 May. Parish, formerly the firm's global banking head, has been chairman since 2009, when he succeeded the firm's first-ever chair Paul Giles. Giles was also chairman for six years following the role's creation in 2002.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 13, 2012 | International Edition

Ropes & Gray has launched a City funds practice with the high-profile hire of White & Case head of investment funds Matthew Judd. The US firm announced the hire of Judd - who previously worked with Ropes' London co-heads Maurice Allen and Mike Goetz at White & Case - today (13 February).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 13, 2012 | International Edition

SJ Berwin EU and competition head Stephen Kon has become the first candidate to put himself forward for the firm's senior partner role following Jonathan Blake's announcement that he will not stand for a third term. Blake, whose tenure will come to an end on 30 April, informed SJ Berwin's partners earlier this month (3 February) that he would not seek re-election.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 13, 2012 | International Edition

Norton Rose is to see a fourth partner leave for a US firm in as many months, with London and Moscow-based corporate finance specialist Andrei Yakovlev set to join Winston & Strawn. Yakovlev has been a partner with Norton Rose since 2007, when he joined the top 10 City firm after a two-month stint at Baker Botts. He had previously worked at legacy Dewey Ballantine

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 09, 2012 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) and White & Case have advised on Russian oil explorer RusPetro's $250m (£159m) London listing in one of the first premium-level initial public offerings (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange since last summer.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 09, 2012 | International Edition

LawVest, the holding company part-owned by DLA Piper, is gearing up for a formal launch of its legal services operation later this month. The much-touted company, which was initially set up in May last year to take advantage of opportunities presented by the Legal Services Act, is now in "very advanced pre-launch plans", according to chief executive Karl Chapman (pictured).

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

February 09, 2012 | International Edition

Weil Gotshal & Manges and KPMG have reached a groundbreaking agreement in the MF Global administration that will see money returned to clients without the need for a court order. Weil Gotshal is advising administrator KPMG on the high-profile insolvency proceedings, which kicked off late last year and are the first under the UK's new 'special administration' regime set up last year to protect market stability in the wake of Lehman Brothers' 2008 collapse.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

February 09, 2012 | International Edition

BT has pushed back a long-awaited review of its global legal panel in a move that extends the terms of existing panel firms by 12 months. Advisers had been gearing up for BT's first review under general counsel Dan Fitz, who replaced former group GC Anne Fletcher in April 2010; however, they were recently told the roster had been extended until March 2013.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 09, 2012 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Linklaters have won roles relating to German car part manufacturer Schaeffler's new €8bn (£6.6bn) credit agreement. A&O is advising the company on the loan as well as a €2bn (£1.7bn) high-yield bond programme, which will be used to immediately repay part of the new bank facility. The firm's team was led by lawyers in Frankfurt and Munich including banking and finance partners Thomas Neubaum, Walter Uebelhoer and Oliver Waldburg, equity capital markets partners Oliver Seiler and Gernot Wagner, corporate partner Alexander Veith and tax partner Heike Weber.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read