Suzi Ring

October 12, 2010 | International Edition

The College of Law has thrown its support behind Lord Browne's review of student funding, which could see the removal of the cap on UK university fees. The College has rallied behind Browne's proposals for a free market for higher education fees, which is intended to increase competition and deliver higher standards of education. Browne's review, published today (12 October), suggests that the government should remove the £3,290 fee cap on tuition fees, allowing universities the freedom to decide how much to charge students.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 12, 2010 | International Edition

Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy is set to launch a local law practice in Hong Kong with the hire of Dieter Yih from Australian firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques. Yih will join Milbank in January 2011 to head up the firm's new Hong Kong law practice. He will operate independently from the firm until the middle of next year, while the three resident partners in Milbank's Hong Kong outfit complete their local Bar exams.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 11, 2010 | International Edition

The number of High Court defamation claims jumped 15% last year, marking the highest level for more than a decade, according to new research. The claim is made by City law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC), citing analysis of recent official Judicial Statistics, which the firm says show that 298 High Court defamation writs were issued in London in 2009. The figure is up from 259 in 2008 and represents a near 50% increase over a three-year period.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

October 08, 2010 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard has confirmed that a team of litigators are set to leave the firm's City practice at the end of this month to launch a new boutique. Litigation partners Simon Twigden, Pietro Marino and Michael Green will leave Addleshaws on 31 October to set up Enyo Law, with a further eight fee earners also joining them. Twigden - the national firm's former practice head - and Marino both handed in their notice in April this year, while Green handed in his notice last month.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 08, 2010 | International Edition

White & Case and Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy have lined up on a $15bn (£9.4bn) covered bond programme that marks the first of its kind by a Nordic issuer in the US. White & Case advised the issuer, Stadshypotek, a Swedish mortgage institution, with a team led by London capital markets head Francis Fitzherbert-Brockholes alongside structured finance partner Gavin McLean, arbitration partner Claes Zettermarck and tax partner Raymond Simon.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 08, 2010 | International Edition

QualitySolicitors has unveiled plans to launch 50 new 'branches' next month as the controversial law firm franchise moves to build a national brand for retail legal services. The much-touted network, which sees law firms sign up and pool resources for combined marketing, was launched in May this year in anticipation of dramatic changes to the market for retail legal services.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

October 07, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has elected a new managing partner for its Brussels office, as current incumbent Yves Herinckx prepares to step down after 14 years in the role. Herinckx will be replaced by Brussels head of EU and competition Tony Reeves in November, with Reeves set to remain as head of the practice group alongside his new role. Herinckx will continue as head of finance in Belgium, a post he has held simultaneously with his role as Brussels chief.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 07, 2010 | International Edition

The new Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales (LeO) went live yesterday, marking the latest reform ushered in by the Legal Services Act (LSA). The LeO is an independent body, established by the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC), which will allow consumers to bring legal complaints against a solicitor or barrister.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

October 06, 2010 | International Edition

Global M&A activity for the third quarter has risen against 2009, with the European and US markets seeing marked increases in deal volume over the period. A total of 2,599 deals worth a combined $512.4bn (£322bn) were announced during the last quarter, up from 2,421 deals worth $321.3bn (£202bn) during the same period last year, according to the latest figures from Legal Week's exclusive data provider Mergermarket.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

October 06, 2010 | International Edition

US firm Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle has expanded its Middle East presence with the hire of former Denton Wilde Sapte Muscat infrastructure and projects head Mary Allan. Allan - whose move comes shortly after Dentons' merger deal with Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal went live - joined Curtis this week to head up the US firm's energy and infrastructure practice in Muscat.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read