Sofia Lind

March 03, 2010 | International Edition

Stephenson Harwood has strengthened its City corporate practice with the hire of Ashurst corporate and commercial partner Andrew Edge. Edge has been with Ashurst for 17 years and has been a partner since 2002. He recently took an English law role on Rusal's $3bn (£2bn) Hong Kong listing, which went live earlier this year.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 03, 2010 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) is set to see City employment partner Paul Mander leave for Dawsons Solicitors next month (1 April). Mander is the first employment partner hire for Dawsons after it lost both previous partners in its practice over recent months. Employment head Jo Keddie, who represented ex-Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Peter Bloxham in his age discrimination claim against the firm, left in January for Winckworth Sherwood, while Jill Andrew went to Marriott Harrison.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 03, 2010 | International Edition

A trio of magic circle law firms have won advisory roles relating to Babcock International's £1.1bn unsolicited bid for government support services company VT Group. Clifford Chance (CC), Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have all picked up roles in relation to the approach, which has been rejected by VT. The bid could scupper VT's own £330m attempt to take over infrastructure support services provider Mouchel Group.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 02, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Weil Gotshal & Manges have taken lead roles on the $615m (£412m) sale of Kettle Foods. US snacks group Diamond Foods is set to buy the crisp manufacturer from current owner Lion Capital in a cash deal, which was definitively agreed last month (25 February).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 01, 2010 | International Edition

Denton Wilde Sapte has hired two partners specialising in nuclear work from Hammonds. Rupert Cowen and Jonathan Leech are expected to join Dentons' City headquarters in the energy, transport and infrastructure group later this month. Leech is currently based in Birmingham and will relocate to London, while Cowen practices with Hammonds in London.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

March 01, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin will restart its profits payouts this month, as the firm's partners begin to receive some of the millions of pounds owed to them. The firm has said that monthly instalments will be made "as cash permits" and that it will remain prudent with regard to cash management.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 24, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin has named City litigation partner Nicola Bridge as its new co-head of graduate recruitment. The appointment comes as SJ Berwin kicks off a joint Masters programme with BPP Law School, with the first full week of training taking place this week.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 24, 2010 | International Edition

CMS Cameron McKenna's real estate head Edward Benzecry is set to relocate to Bristol as he steps down from leading the practice group. Benzecry, who was not eligible to stand for a third four-year term leading the real estate practice, is due to relocate on 1 May.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 24, 2010 | International Edition

Pinsent Masons and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have taken lead roles on the £418m listing of restaurant entrepreneur Hugh Osmond's corporate acquisition company Horizon on the London Stock Exchange. The initial public offering (IPO), which also handed an advisory role to Morrison & Foerster (MoFo), saw Horizon start trading stock on 9 February.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 24, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance's (CC's) partnership has voted through changes to its corporate governance structure, cementing the firm's ability to take a tougher approach to partner performance. Voting closed last week (19 February), with partners approving a range of changes to the partnership deed - including the removal of their right to protest a termination notice through a vote of the partnership.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read