Sofia Lind

July 05, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has boosted turnover by 7% while also increasing total profits, in what will be seen as a solid financial performance for the firm during a tough trading year. The magic circle firm saw turnover grow to £1.12bn in 2010-11, up from £1.05bn in 2009-10, with total profits rising 6% to £455.8m.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

July 04, 2011 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) and Allen & Overy (A&O) have taken lead roles as the Greater London Authority (GLA) becomes the first local authority to tap the bond markets since the mid-1990s, with a £600m issue to help fund London's Crossrail project. The bonds will be issued through a special purpose vehicle set up by Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets, which is specially targeted at local authorities.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 29, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) is to open its second office in the US, with the firm launching in Washington DC next month through a team hire from O'Melveny & Myers. The launch comes as magic circle rival Linklaters plans its own entrance to the US capital within the next year, at which point all of the magic circle bar Slaughter and May would have a presence in Washington.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 29, 2011 | International Edition

Home improvement giant Kingfisher is planning to slash the number of large law firms it uses, as part of a panel review intended to help the company maximise its legal spend. Kingfisher, which owns brands including B&Q and Screwfix, is mid-way through the review, which is expected to see the company scale-back the number of leading international law firms on 
its roster from 10 firms to around four.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 29, 2011 | International Edition

Norton Rose is in talks to form a new alliance in Saudi Arabia, with the news coming after it emerged that the firm ended its previous local tie-up and closed its Riyadh branch more than six months ago. The firm ended its alliance with 13-lawyer local firm Abdulaziz Al-Assaf on 31 December last year, with Norton Rose's only partner based in Riyadh – corporate finance specialist Darran McGlinchey – subsequently relocating to Dubai.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 29, 2011 | International Edition

SNR Denton has been hit by the resignation of two more key partners as it emerges that the firm may hold senior equity partners to a 12-month notice period. The latest partners to hand in their notice are regulatory head Chris Borg and senior banking partner Michael Black, who are set to join Reed Smith and Norton Rose respectively.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

June 29, 2011 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has clinched the corporate mandate on a deal which is set to see £350m worth of UK petrol stations change hands. The law firm is advising Rontec Investment on the purchase of 810 petrol stations from Total – 254 of which are set to be sold on directly on to Shell.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 29, 2011 | International Edition

SNR Denton London banking partner Michael Black is set to leave the firm to join Norton Rose. Black, who is co-head of SNR Denton's financial institutions and funds sector group, joined legacy Denton Wilde Sapte in 2003 from Theodore Goddard (now Addleshaw Goddard), where he had been the firm's head of banking. He originally qualified as a barrister and lawyer in New Zealand in 1992 and has been working in London since 1995.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

June 29, 2011 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) is to open its second office in the US, with the firm set to launch in Washington DC next month through a team hire from O'Melveny & Myers. The magic circle firm will open in Washington on 18 July with the hire of O'Melveny financial regulatory partners Barbara Stettner and Chris Salter and counsel Charles Borden, who will join A&O as a partner.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

June 29, 2011 | International Edition

DLA Piper has picked up a lead role on the administration and subsequent sale of failed fashion chain Jane Norman. The transatlantic firm advised administrators Zolfo Cooper as well as the syndicate of lending banks on the restructuring that saw the company fall into administration on Monday (27 June), with Edinburgh Woollen Mill then purchasing 33 of Jane Norman's 94 stores under a pre-pack administration sale concluded yesterday (28 June).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read