Sofia Lind

April 08, 2010 | International Edition

The UK M&A market is showing signs of recovery as activity levels begin to improve, according to new research from mergermarket. The figures show that 171 UK M&A deals were announced in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 150 during the same period last year, while the total value of deals during Q1 also increased, rising from $18.6bn (£12.2bn) last year to $20.7bn (£13.6bn).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 07, 2010 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons has advised new client Rafferty on a $3.5bn (£2.3bn) Euronext listing. Simmons advised the US investment firm and its investment vehicle Direxion Shares EFT Trust on its first foray into the European market - the listing of six of its 34 active exchange traded funds (EFT) on Euronext Amsterdam.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 06, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has unfrozen associate pay and increased the levels of its salary bands. The magic circle firm has announced that this year associates will move through the lockstep pay bands as normal, and that the level of the bands will also be raised as of 1 May. In addition, the firm has confirmed that it will pay out bonuses as part of the total remuneration package.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 06, 2010 | International Edition

Latham & Watkins has officially launched in Saudi Arabia via an association with the Law Office of Mohammed Al-Sheikh in Riyadh. As previously reported by Legal Week, Al-Sheikh split from previous alliance firm White & Case earlier this year when Latham recruited a total of 13 partners from the US rival's London and Middle East practices.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

April 01, 2010 | International Edition

The Postal Services Commission (Postcomm) has appointed a Simmons & Simmons partner to take on the role of legal director at the regulatory body. The unusual appointment sees Simmons City competition partner Jenny Block act as Postcomm legal director while also remaining a partner at Simmons, working part-time on her usual client work.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 31, 2010 | International Edition

Rules restricting recruitment of overseas workers are to be eased after City law firms lobbied to simplify the system. From next week (6 April), the Government is set to reverse tougher immigration rules introduced in March 2009, which made a master's degree an effective requirement for bringing highly-skilled workers into the UK from overseas.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

March 31, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has announced its annual partner promotions with the magic circle firm to make up 18 new partners worldwide. The round will see the appointment of just two new partners in the firm's City base effective 1 May, while the vast majority - 89% - of the promotions are outside of the UK.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

March 30, 2010 | International Edition

Stephenson Harwood is set to relocate to new offices next year despite previous indications that it would postpone the move to 2013. The top 40 UK law firm will leave its 70,000 sq ft premises at One St Paul's Churchyard next spring after signing a deal with Hermes Real Estate for a move to One Finsbury Circus.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 30, 2010 | International Edition

CMS Cameron McKenna has taken the unusual step of offering trainees temporary contracts upon qualification. Camerons retained an above-average 79% of its 29 trainees qualifying in March, but it has since emerged that two of the group were offered contracts of just one year and six months respectively.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 30, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has voted in a new board, with three new appointments and three reappointments taking effect from 1 May. The board elections, which closed last week (24 March), see the appointment of Prague-based corporate partner Jane Townsend, who heads the magic circle law firm's Central and Eastern European practice; London banking partner Cathy Bell-Walker and Hamburg-based corporate partner Helge Schaefer as new appointments.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read