Suzi Ring

September 28, 2010 | International Edition

German independent Noerr is set to grow its Frankfurt arm with the hire of Hogan Lovells German head of banking Olaf Grabowski. Grabowski will join Noerr's corporate finance practice next month after seven years as a partner at legacy Lovells, now Hogan Lovells, Frankfurt. He has been head of the banking group since 2007.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 27, 2010 | International Edition

Beachcroft managing partner Paul Murray and senior partner Simon Hodson have both been re-elected for a second term at the helm. Murray was re-elected this month in an uncontested process, following Hodson's re-appointment in August. Hodson, who also stood unopposed, and Murray will both take up a second five-year term.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 23, 2010 | International Edition

Kennedys is set to launch in Miami next month in a bid to move closer to its Latin American and Caribbean clients. The office, which will open on 1 October, will be headed by insurance and reinsurance partner Alex Guillamont, who is transferring from the firm's Madrid office. Guillamont will be joined by associate Paula Jimenez and paralegal Karla Salguero. The office will focus on insurance claims and non-contentious issues.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 22, 2010 | International Edition

The UK's top 100 law firms have seen a year-on-year increase in both fee income and chargeable hours for Q1 2010-11 as the market continues to show signs of recovery. New figures compiled by Deloitte show that fee income rose by 5% for the first quarter of the financial year, while chargeable hours per fee earner grew by 4.4%. Firms ranked in the 11-25 bracket saw the highest growth rates, with average fee income rising by 5.4% and chargeable hours growing 6.5%.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 22, 2010 | International Edition

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has added three new partners to its London and Paris offices with a trio of hires from Clifford Chance (CC), Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson and Fox Williams. CC banking and finance partner Richard Parolai has joined the US firm's Paris arm, Orrick Rambaud Martel, after 23 years at the magic circle firm, 15 of which he spent as a partner. Meanwhile, Fox Williams partner Kolvin Stone joined Orrick's City office last week in the intellectual property and technology transactions practice. He was made up to the partnership at Fox Williams last year and spent a total of eleven years at the firm.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 22, 2010 | International Edition

The number of US lawyers applying to practice local law in Hong Kong has quadrupled over the past two years as the region becomes a hot spot for companies listing on its stock exchange. Figures from the Hong Kong Law Society show that 64 US lawyers took the Hong Kong overseas lawyers qualification examination (QLQE) exam last year compared to 14 in 2008, and the trend looks set to continue with an estimated 65 having taken the exam so far in 2010.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

September 22, 2010 | International Edition

DLA Piper and Linklaters have lined up on Banco Santander's €2.9bn (£2.4bn) acquisition of a majority stake in Bank Zachodni WBK (BZWBK) from Allied Irish Banks (AIB). The acquisition sees DLA Piper advise Banco Santander as it acquires 70.36% of the Polish bank. The team includes City corporate partners Jon Hayes and Polly Owen, Warsaw corporate partner Patryk Laskorzynski and Madrid finance partner Javier Santos. Hayes said: "This is a high-profile transaction for both parties. In the last few years we have done an increasing number of M&A deals globally and see this line of work continuing to grow in emerging markets."

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 22, 2010 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells has recruited its first litigation partner in Rome with the hire of litigation head Massimiliano Marinozzi from local firm Mazzetti Rossi. Marinozzi joined the Anglo-US firm's litigation, arbitration and employment group this week after 16 years at his previous firm, 12 of which he spent as practice head. He will be the sole litigation partner in the office, heading up a team of five lawyers. He will work alongside group heads Francesca Rolla and Cristina Pagni, who are based in Milan.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 22, 2010 | International Edition

Austria's Schoenherr has launched in Turkey through an alliance with local firm Tuerkoglu & Celepci. The alliance agreement will see Schoenherr corporate partner Markus Piuk relocate to the region. He will be based at Tuerkoglu's Istanbul office, while Schoenherr partners Alexander Popp and Karaman Nidal and associate Kazim Yilmaz will handle Turkey work from the firm's Vienna office.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 22, 2010 | International Edition

Reed Smith has grown its corporate arm in Paris with the hire of corporate head Emmanuel Vergnaud from Denton Wilde Sapte. Vergnaud is set to join the firm's Europe and Middle East corporate group from Dentons this month alongside corporate associate Mickaeal Levi.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read