Sofia Lind

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

Stephenson Harwood has become the latest law firm to take advantage of the Legal Services Act (LSA) after appointing a barrister to its partnership. Financial regulatory disputes specialist Sara George joined the firm last week from Allen & Overy, where she has been senior associate for four years. Prior to that, she was a prosecutor both with the Financial Services Authority and the Serious Fraud Office.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 13, 2010 | International Edition

BG Group has assembled its first formal legal panel, with four firms appointed to the energy company's roster. The exploration and development company has named Allen & Overy (A&O), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith and CMS Cameron McKenna as its four panel advisers.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 11, 2010 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has sealed the hire of Jones Day's City head of employment litigation. The UK top 20 firm has recruited Lisa Mayhew as a partner in its employment team. She started work at the firm today (11 October). Her practice has a particular focus on the financial services sector and her previous experience has included advisin on High Court cases involving team moves and restrictive covenants, bonuses, executive severance, equal pay and whistleblowing.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 11, 2010 | International Edition

Trowers & Hamlins has launched a dedicated team to advise central and local government bodies in northern England how to cope with budget cuts as the public sector braces itself for aggressive moves to slash public spending. Trowers said that the launch of the team, which is based in its Manchester office, comes in response to growing demand from local government bodies for advice on how to manage their business amid sustained spending cuts.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 08, 2010 | International Edition

Herbert Smith has appointed real estate partner Matthew White as the firm's new graduate recruitment partner He will replace corporate partner Chris Parsons, who has chosen to step down after six years in the role.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 08, 2010 | International Edition

Beachcroft has announced the appointment of seven new partners from 1 November, taking partner headcount at the firm to 151. The national firm has made up three to the partnership in its Bristol office, two in Birmingham and two in Leeds, with the firm's City base not receiving any new partners.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 07, 2010 | International Edition

The Scottish Parliament has voted through a compromise deal on Alternative Business Structures (ABS) which will allow external investors to take up to 49% ownership in the country's law firms. The Legal Services Bill (Scotland) was passed by the Scottish Parliament yesterday (6 October), with a cap set on external funding requiring a majority share of 51% in Scottish firms to be owned by solicitors and other regulated professionals.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 06, 2010 | International Edition

Covington & Burling has boosted its City employment practice with a team hire from fellow US firm Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker. The firm has rehired Christopher Walter as a partner in its European employment practice after he left 2005 to join Paul Hastings as London employment chair. He will be joined at Covington by special counsel Chris Bracebridge and associate Helena Laughrin.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 06, 2010 | International Edition

A duo of US law firms has taken lead roles on a €1.7bn (£1.5bn) deal that will form a new worldwide food packaging group. The deal, which was financed in the high-yield bond market, handed roles to both Shearman & Sterling and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom. It saw Dublin-headquartered Ardagh Glass buy Dutch metal packaging company Impress Cooperative from private equity house Doughty Hanson. Under the terms of the deal, Ardagh will offer the €1.7bn (£1.5bn) in secured and unsecured notes in both euros and US dollars in order to fund the acquisition.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

October 06, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has appointed international capital markets head David Krischer for a second term. The new four-year term will start on 1 November, with Krischer having headed the global group since 2006. Krischer is a US national and dual-qualified capital markets partner. He has been a partner with A&O since 1992, when he obtained a UK solicitors' licence to be able to join the partnership at the magic circle firm.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read