Suzi Ring

August 03, 2012 | International Edition

Herbert Smith and Linklaters have advised on a $2bn (£1.3bn) oil exploration financing agreement between Russian oil giant Rosneft and Italian energy company Eni. Herbert Smith led for Eni with a team including Moscow corporate partner Danila Logofet and finance partner Ed Baring, while Linklaters acted for Rosneft with Moscow corporate partner Grigory Gadzhiev and Moscow managing partner Matthew Keats in the lead.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

July 30, 2012 | International Edition

Lloyds Banking Group general counsel and company secretary Harry Baines is set to retire from the bank, almost four years after taking the top legal role in the wake of the Lloyds TSB-HBOS merger, it has emerged. Baines, the former legal head of HBOS, took up his current role in October 2008 following Lloyds TSB's £12.2bn takeover of HBOS, which formally took effect in January 2009.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

July 30, 2012 | International Edition

Administrators of Dewey & LeBoeuf's UK limited liability partnership (LLP) have proposed moving the business, which comprises the defunct US law firm's London and Paris arms, from administration into liquidation as many unsecured creditors, owed a total of £5.2m, look set to lose out.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

July 29, 2012 | International Edition

Some of the UK's leading law firms have pledged to encourage their lawyers to apply for judicial appointments, as part of a campaign by the Law Society to increase the number of solicitors appointed as judges. Twenty firms have committed to the campaign, including 11 of the UK's 20 largest firms by revenue, including Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters and Addleshaw Goddard.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

July 26, 2012 | International Edition

Insurance and shipping-focused law firms have seen partner profits dip this year, following a sustained period of investment which has driven revenues across the group to new heights.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

July 26, 2012 | International Edition

Clyde & Co's merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has propelled the firm to the largest hike in revenue among the UK top 50 this year, with turnover jumping 35.4%. After joining forces with Barlows in November 2011, the firm saw fee income hit £287m for 2011-12, up from £212m last year. Turnover on a like-for-like basis at Clydes without any contribution from Barlows grew 17% to £248m.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

July 26, 2012 | International Edition

Mishcon de Reya makes its debut into the top 50 this year after an impressive period of growth that has put it on track to beat its three-year revenue target by some margin. The firm's 19% turnover hike to £73.1m during 2011-12 puts it nearly £2m ahead of its original target of £71.5m for this point in time – two years into a three-year strategy setting out an £80m turnover target by 2013.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

July 26, 2012 | International Edition

Thirty Nine Essex Street silk Rohan Pershad QC has been charged over VAT fraud totalling £600,000. Pershad is accused of charging and receiving VAT payments on services he provided while practising as a barrister, which he then failed to declare or pay to HM Revenue.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

July 25, 2012 | International Edition

Ince & Co has launched an office in Beijing after applying for a licence to open in the city last year. The firm announced the opening of its new base today (25 July), with Shanghai contentious shipping partner Wai Yue Loh relocated to the city to head up the new outfit.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

July 25, 2012 | International Edition

Charles Russell has been instructed by online betting site Paddy Power to take legal action against the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) for allegedly taking down its advertising. The bookmaker is seeking a court order against the London Olympic 2012 organisers, after LOCOG allegedly instructed advertising company JCDecaux to remove Paddy Power's latest advertising campaign from high-profile poster sites around the capital.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read