Sofia Lind

February 17, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) is gearing up to elect a new head of London finance, with current post-holder Mark Stewart set to retire next month. Stewart, who lost in a bid for CC's London managing partner role at the close of last year, has announced that he will retire from the magic circle firm at the end of next month (31 March).

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 17, 2010 | International Edition

German independent firm P+P Poellath + Partners has recruited former Hengeler Mueller partner Wolfgang Grobecker for its Munich office. Grobecker made headlines in January as a rare departure from German bluechip firm Hengeler, when he announced that he was joining US firm Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy to pursue a more international career.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 15, 2010 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) is set to launch an office in Qatar with the relocation of City real estate partner Robert Porter. The magic circle firm received approval from the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority earlier today (15 February), allowing it to practise both international and local law from the office.

By Sofia Lind

3 minute read

February 11, 2010 | International Edition

Denton Wilde Sapte has lost its co-head of banking, Nick Grandage, to City rival Norton Rose. Grandage, who resigned yesterday (9 February) has co-headed Dentons' banking practice with Serge Sergiou since 2007. The two firms are currently in the process of negotiating his start date at Norton Rose.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 10, 2010 | International Edition

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Legal has opened its first office in the Middle East with the hire of a partner from DLA Piper's London office. The accounting giant's legal arm opened in Dubai last month, with partner Waseem Khokhar leading the office. PwC has also hired partner Michel Chalhoub from Dubai-based Naji Beidoun and Associates.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 10, 2010 | International Edition

CMS Cameron McKenna is to consider the first internal promotions to its equity partnership for almost three years. The firm has kept a tight grip on the equity since introducing the 'gateway' partner level in 2007, adding only a select number of lateral hires to the full equity since then.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 10, 2010 | International Edition

Simmons & Simmons is floating the idea of open-plan working for London lawyers. The City firm is considering a trial of open-plan working within its corporate and capital markets teams, having launched a formal consultation near the end of the last year.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 10, 2010 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has taken an advisory role on Portsmouth Football Club's ongoing fight for survival. The UK top 20 firm is advising Balram Chainrai, who last week took over a 90% shareholding in the Premier League club after former owner Ali Al-Faraj defaulted on a loan - reportedly worth £17m - to Chainrai's investment vehicle.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 10, 2010 | International Edition

The 15 partners on Clifford Chance's (CC's) management committee shared £11.8m between them in 2008-09, a third less than they earned the previous year. The figure is contained within the firm's limited liability partnership (LLP) accounts, which were recently filed with Companies House. According to the accounts, the total remuneration of the 15 partners on the committee fell by 33% to £11.8m, compared with £17.9m the previous year.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read

February 10, 2010 | International Edition

Stephenson Harwood has won a role advising on a multibillion-dollar dispute over the estate of one of Asia's richest women. Nina Wang, who died in April 2007, made out a will stating that the estate of her property empire, Chinachem Group, worth an estimated $12bn (£8bn), should go to the Wang family-run charity, the Chinachem Foundation.

By Sofia Lind

2 minute read