Sofia Lind

January 10, 2011 | International Edition

CMS Cameron McKenna has launched an international capital markets (ICM) group with the hire of Simmons & Simmons US securities partner Daniel Winterfeldt. As previously reported by Legal Week, Winterfeldt left Simmons in early December 2010. He will join Camerons next month (1 February) to head up the new team, which will span 13 offices in the UK and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and include around 40 partners.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 07, 2011 | International Edition

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge has added to its City transactional practice with the hire of a former corporate partner from CMS Cameron McKenna. Niall McAlister, who left Camerons last summer, joined the London office of the US firm earlier this week (4 January). His practice focuses on M&A, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital transactions, in particular cross-border transactions in the life sciences sector.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 07, 2011 | International Edition

The coalition Government looks set to overhaul the UK's libel laws after Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg today (7 January) set out plans to bring in new defamation laws and end 'libel tourism'. In a speech on freedom of information and civil liberties given at the Institute for Government earlier today, Clegg said the Government intends to publish a draft defamation bill in the spring to enhance freedom of speech and end the practice of so-called libel tourism. Libel tourism involves foreign claimants exploiting the UK's rigorous laws by bringing cases against overseas publications to the UK courts.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 07, 2011 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons' London corporate practice is to see two partners depart, with Gavin Weir set to leave next month to join White & Case, while US securities partner Daniel Winterfeldt quit the firm in December. Weir will formally leave Simmons at the end of February to become the ninth M&A partner in White & Case's London office. He has been a partner at Simmons since 2006, when he joined from Allen & Overy.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 06, 2011 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons City corporate partner Richard May has left the firm for a move to Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson. May joined the corporate department in the US firm's London office on Tuesday (4 January). The long-serving Simmons partner focuses

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 05, 2011 | International Edition

CMS Cameron McKenna took out a £4.5m bank loan last year to finance a one-off profit payment to the 16 partners that it moved from the equity into the fixed-share ranks in May 2010. The information, contained within Camerons' 2009-10 limited liability partnership (LLP) accounts, further highlights the hit on profitability the firm suffered during the financial crisis.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

January 05, 2011 | International Edition

Norton Rose reduced its salary costs by £5m during the last financial year through its high-profile Flex programme and the outsourcing of around 60 City support staff. The firm's 2009-10 accounts, recently filed at Companies House, show that total staff salaries and wages decreased from £131m to £126m over the year.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 04, 2011 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has re-elected its global heads of finance and capital markets, with Mark Campbell and David Dunnigan both set to serve a second term in their respective roles. The London-based pair have been re-elected by the firm's partnership in uncontested elections, with both appointed for a further four-year period effective from 1 January this year.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

January 04, 2011 | International Edition

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has launched its fourth office in Germany, with the opening of a base in Munich. The US firm has taken on an eight-lawyer team from Denver-based technology and media firm Holme Roberts & Owen to launch the office, including two partners. M&A partners Jens Roehrborn and Joerg Ritter lead the team, which also includes two of counsel, four associates and two paralegals. Orrick said Munich was strategically important for private equity and venture capital financing work.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

December 20, 2010 | International Edition

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have won lead roles for Apax Partners as the buyout house closes in on a multibillion-pound deal that could become one of the largest European leveraged buyouts since the start of the credit crisis. Apax is in exclusive talks to buy Denmark-based facilities giant ISS after putting in an $8.5bn (£5.5bn) bid for the company.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read