Suzi Ring

September 21, 2010 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy (A&O) have won lead roles on the upcoming £1bn initial public offering (IPO) of online gambling company Betfair. Freshfields is advising Betfair with a team including M&A partners Martin Taylor and Tim Jones alongside senior associates Richard Blair and Doug Smith. A&O is advising the underwriters, which include Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Barclays Capital and Numis.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 21, 2010 | International Edition

Singapore firm Rajah & Tann's co-managing partner Sundaresh Menon has been appointed as the new Attorney-General of Singapore. Menon is set to take up the position in October this year, at which point fellow co-managing partner Lee Eng Beng will become the sole head of the firm. Eng Beng and Menon have been joint managing partners since February 2010, prior to which Eng Beng was deputy managing partner.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 21, 2010 | International Edition

Withers has relocated City lawyer Patrick Hamlin to Hong Kong to head up its litigation practice, as the firm gears up to start offering local law in the new year. Hamlin joined the Hong Kong base last month as the office approaches the completion of its third year since its 2008 launch. Under local guidelines, foreign firms have to be in the region for three years before they can start practising local law.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 20, 2010 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) has signed a deal with the College of Law to roll out an accelerated Legal Practice Course (LPC) for its incoming trainees. The course will span seven months rather than the standard 10, and is due to go live in January 2012 for trainees joining the magic circle firm in August 2012. The accelerated course will be provided by the College of Law and comes as trainees at Linklaters - which struck a similar deal with the college this year - prepare to start their accelerated LPC in January 2011.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 20, 2010 | International Edition

Nabarro is set to launch in Singapore later this year, marking the firm's second office outside of the UK. The firm was granted a licence to practise in the region last week and will relocate construction partner Emerson Holmes to head up the office, which is due to open for business in November.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 17, 2010 | International Edition

Watson Farley & Williams has recruited the head of legal at UniCredit Bank Greece as a partner in the firm's Athens office. Nikos Kostikas joins Watson Farley's international projects and structured finance group after nine years at UniCredit. He initially joined legacy HypoVereinsbank before the two banks merged in 2005. Prior to joining UniCredit, Kostikas worked at local law firm Mourgelas Dimitropoulos Konstantelias.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 15, 2010 | International Edition

Appleby has expanded its Jersey arm with the hire of Walkers' local corporate head James Gaudin. Gaudin started at Appleby's Jersey office last month in the corporate and commercial practice. His arrival takes partner headcount in Appleby's corporate group to four and he will be joined by Walkers associate Simon Tait in October.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 15, 2010 | International Edition

Holman Fenwick Willan is set to launch in Geneva next month with the acquisition of UK shipping firm Davies Johnson's local office. The office is led by international trade partner Jeremy Davies, who joins Holman along with two associates, one consultant and one business support officer. The move leaves Davies Johnson with a sole base in Plymouth.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 15, 2010 | International Edition

A trio of international firms have filed their London limited liability partnership (LLP) accounts for 2009, revealing differing fortunes for foreign practices in the City. France's Gide Loyrette Nouel saw revenues fall by 51% from £18.3m to £9m in 2009, with UK income contributing just £2.9m, down from £9.4m in 2008. Inbound work from outside of Europe handled by the City office saw a slight increase to £2.1m, with major roles for the firm's London base including acting for the Government of India on its $2.2bn (£1.4bn) initial public offering of the National Mineral Development Corporation.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

September 15, 2010 | International Edition

Wragge & Co has added to its City office with the hire of Barlow Lyde & Gilbert's London head of international arbitration. Peter Flint is set to join Wragges next month as the firm's new head of international arbitration and the twelfth partner in its commercial litigation team. He joined Barlows as a partner in 2008 from Watson Farley & Williams. Barlows commercial disputes head Julian Randall said: "We understand why Peter has moved on and we wish him well.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read