Sofia Lind

September 07, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed new co-heads for its global competition, antitrust and trade practice. The firm has chosen Brussels and City-based partner John Davies and Duesseldorf managing partner Martin Klusman as the new co-leaders of the 250-lawyer group, with the duo succeeding incumbents David Aitman and Helmut Bergmann as of next week (15 September).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 03, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has won its first major corporate instruction for MasterCard as the US financial services group moves to expand its e-commerce business in a £333m takeover. The deal saw MasterCard acquire DataCash, a UK-based provider of electronic card and payment processing and chip and pin fraud management. The target instructed Denton Wilde Sapte. CC fielded a team led by London-based corporate partner Lee Coney for MasterCard. Other senior lawyers acting included financial institutions partner Tim Page and antitrust partner Greg Olsen.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 03, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) is set to kick off the first round of its senior partner elections in the coming weeks after three partners announced their intention to stand for the role. German M&A and corporate finance partner Daniela Weber-Rey has most recently entered the race, after City finance partner Malcolm Sweeting announced in an email to the firm's partnership last month (9 August) that he would stand for the position. The first candidate to emerge was London tax partner Jonathan Elman, who announced his intention to run earlier in the summer.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 01, 2010 | International Edition

Stephenson Harwood has nearly doubled its Paris office with the hire of a five-member team from Norton Rose. Norton Rose Paris shipping finance head Alain Gautron and tax partner Stephane Salou joined yesterday (1 September) with two associates and one paralegal. Salou, previously managing partner of the Paris offices of both Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe and Watson Farley & Williams, becomes the first tax partner in the Paris office.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 01, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has elected a new global real estate head, with the firm's Spanish practice chief taking on the firmwide remit. Alfonso Benavides took on the role from 1 September, succeeding Cliff McAuley, who is retiring from the firm. McAuley has led the real estate practice group for more than seven years after first being appointed in January 2003.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 01, 2010 | International Edition

The City has hit out at Government proposals to impose a cap on UK immigration, saying that the move could damage competitiveness of international law firms. The plans, which would come into effect in April 2011, have been criticised by law firms and the Law Society for reducing the freedom to move lawyers into the UK from international offices.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 01, 2010 | International Edition

Denton Wilde Sapte is set to boost its Moscow corporate practice with the hire of a partner from Dewey & LeBoeuf's London office. Dentons has hired corporate partner Igor Krivoshekov, who specialises in M&A and private equity. He has joined Dentons in London in a bid to integrate with the corporate team but will relocate to the firm's Moscow arm in January.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 01, 2010 | International Edition

While hardly representing a fatal blow to Canary Wharf's status as a world-class banking hub, the news that one of only three major law firms to have headed east in the 20-odd years since the development's launch is to now leave must be a tad disappointing for Docklands' backers. Allen & Overy's (A&O) decision to transfer 200 staff in its banking practice to its Spitalfields HQ leaves Clifford Chance (CC) and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom as the only major legal players on site. Given the lack of success the development has had in enticing law firms eastwards even during the boom years, the chances of a legal community by the Thames now look remote. Law firms are a funny breed - as much as they like to put their rivals down, they want to be in the community of their peers.

By Sofia Lind

4 minute read

September 01, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Linklaters have won lead roles on the hostile bid for Dana Petroleum by Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC). The South Korean state-owned oil and gas company made a £1.87bn bid for the Aberdeen-based energy company last month (20 August), but Dana is fighting the takeover and has until 8 September to set out its defence.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

September 01, 2010 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons is set to boost its intellectual property (IP) practice with the hire of Howrey City partner Marjan Noor. Noor will join Simmons next week (6 September) in the firm's London office. She was previously a partner with Taylor Wessing and joined Howrey two years ago.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read