Sofia Lind

January 12, 2012 | International Edition

Stephenson Harwood is set to become one of the last of the UK's top 50 law firms to convert to a limited liability partnership (LLP). The City law firm's management will put the conversion to a partnership vote before the end of the current financial year, with chief executive Sharon White saying that while the firm has not been "in a rush" to covert, it was the most sensible structure in 
the long term.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 12, 2012 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has advised CVC Capital Partners on a joint venture with Resource America that creates a global credit management business with more than $7.5bn (£4.9bn) in assets under management across 21 vehicles in the US and Europe. CC advised CVC on the mandate which saw the buyout house acquire Resource America's credit unit Apidos Capital management for $25m (£16m) in cash as well as handing Resource America a 33% stake in the new venture CVC Credit Partners, which combines Apidos with CVC's existing debt management business Cordatus.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 12, 2012 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has re-elected its top management duo, with senior partner David Morley and managing partner Wim Dejonghe automatically appointed after no one came forward to stand against them. The firm's partners had been invited to nominate themselves to Electoral Reform Services, an external company independently managing the election process, with candidates due to be announced next week. However, since nobody is standing against the incumbents their reappointment is automatic.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

January 12, 2012 | International Edition

BNP Paribas has confirmed the line-up of law firms on its new global legal panel, with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Herbert Smith winning places. Details of the panel have been confirmed as leading firms predict an extensive overhaul of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) legal panel, with the bank's deputy general counsel John Collins and GC for corporate and M&A Rushad Abadan set to kick off a review in the coming months.

By Sofia Lind

4 minute read

January 12, 2012 | International Edition

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is considering the abolition of the annual minimum wage requirement for trainee solicitors. The SRA board launched a consultation at its meeting yesterday (11 January), with the consultation paper finding there is no clear evidence that setting a minimum salary for trainees fulfils any of the regulatory objectives within the Legal Services Act.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 09, 2012 | International Edition

Taylor Wessing has added to its finance practice in London with the hire of Elisabeth Gaunt from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. Gaunt, a partner in Orrick's City banking and finance department, acts on transactions in industries including telecoms, energy and transport. She was previously also a partner at legacy Denton Wilde Sapte and an associate at Clifford Chance, where she spent four years in the firm's Hong Kong office.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 09, 2012 | International Edition

SNR Denton has recruited a Linklaters banking partner, with Edward Hickman joining the transatlantic firm's London office today (9 January). Hickman, who has been a partner in Linklaters' structured finance team for the last six years, will join SNR Denton's banking and finance department, which is headed up by City partner Paul Holland since he replaced Serge Sergiou in the role last November.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 06, 2012 | International Edition

The Law Society has become the first regulatory body to issue guidance to lawyers using social media services such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The guidance stresses the importance of adherence to professional ethics and standards when using social media, stating that: "the same ethical obligations that you adhere to professionally also apply to your conduct in an online environment".

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 06, 2012 | International Edition

Norton Rose and Stephenson Harwood have both recruited partners from Nabarro in a duo of City real estate exits for the firm Norton Rose has hired Neil Biswas in London, adding to its ten-partner London real estate team.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 05, 2012 | International Edition

Norton Rose is set to lose one of its most high-profile litigation partners, with Antony Dutton set to join the City office of Dechert after resigning from the top 10 UK firm today (5 January). Dutton, who has been at Norton Rose for 22 years, recently stepped down as head of the firm's global disputes resolution department to take on a role on the firm's partnership council, which he was voted onto in April last year. He also sat on the firm's executive committee during his time as head of the department between 2007 and 2010.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read