Sofia Lind

February 24, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin owes its partners around £18m in unpaid profit distributions, with the firm intending to pay back the entire sum once the markets pick up. The UK top 20 law firm's management recently confirmed to partners the total figure it has held back from them in unpaid quarterly distributions since November 2008 and assured them that it will pay back the full amount.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 24, 2010 | International Edition

Eversheds has been named as the law firm with the strongest brand in this year's Superbrands survey. The UK top 10 firm is the highest ranked firm in the legal category, improving its position on 2009 when it was placed third behind the top-ranked Linklaters and Clifford Chance (CC) in second place.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 24, 2010 | International Edition

Eversheds chairman Alan Jenkins has lost a contested election for his position and is set to be replaced by international disputes head John Heaps. Heaps will take up a four-year term as chairman from 1 May, having seen off competition from Jenkins, transport chief and former London head Cornelius Medvei and Cardiff head Alan Meredith.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 23, 2010 | International Edition

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges is set to launch its second office in Europe with the hire of a German partner from Allen & Overy (A&O). The US litigation firm has chosen to set up its first continental European office in Mannheim, Germany, with the hire of local A&O patent litigation partner Marcus Grosch, who will join Quinn Emanuel along with a team of associates

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 23, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has advised the Vietnamese Government on a $1bn (£648m) sovereign bond offering. The deal also handed a role to Wall Street's David Polk & Wardwell as lead international adviser to the underwriting banks.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 19, 2010 | International Edition

SJ Berwin and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have acted on the $755m (£490m) sale of UK private equity group Pantheon, a deal which has also handed roles to a trio of US firms. Freshfields advised acquisitive US money-holding company Affiliated Managers Group (AMG) on its proposed purchase of Pantheon - a private equity fund-of-funds manager - from Russell Investments.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 18, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) New York capital markets partner Josh Cohn has joined Mayer Brown to help launch a global derivatives and structured products practice for the firm. Top-rated derivatives partner Cohn joined Mayer Brown yesterday (17 February) as co-head of the new global practice alongside London-based partner Ed Parker. Cohn will also head the US side of the derivatives practice, replacing Joel Telpner, who left to join US rival Jones Day at the end of last year. The firm has a further six associates specialising in the field in New York.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 17, 2010 | International Edition

A trio of City firms have taken lead roles on the refinancing of European payment network, Payzone. The deal saw private equity investor Duke Street inject €45m (£39m) into Ireland-based Payzone, giving the buyout house a controlling stake in the business. The deal also involved a syndicate of lending banks taking a 16% stake in Payzone, with the overall restructuring seeing the total amount of debt owed to the syndicate reducing from €320m (£278m) to €82m (£71m).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 17, 2010 | International Edition

Italian firm Chiomenti has formed an exclusive association with Hong Kong firm CdB and JC & Co, with the firm also moving to bulk up its own office in the region. The association, which has already come into effect, is expected to eventually lead to a merger - though there is no timescale for this.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 17, 2010 | International Edition

Taylor Wessing has hired a senior associate from CMS Cameron McKenna to head its planning and environment practice in London, as Camerons reshuffles its team in preparation for the retirement of practice head Tony Kitson. Alistair Watson will lead Taylor Wessing's City planning team, which has not had a dedicated partner since December, when former practice head Brian Greenwood left for Osborne Clarke.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read