Suzi Ring

April 24, 2012 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has hired high-profile M&A rainmaker Alan Paul from Allen & Overy (A&O), following the announcement of his retirement from the magic circle firm at the close of last year. Paul will join BLP next month as a senior consultant after 27 years as a partner at A&O. He has advised on more than 120 UK public takeovers throughout his career and is also well-known for private equity work.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

April 24, 2012 | International Edition

Slaughter and May, McGrigors and Shepherd and Wedderburn have all advised on BAA's £807m sale of Edinburgh Airport to investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). Slaughters has taken the lead role for GIP, with the magic circle firm's team headed up by corporate partner Mark Horton.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

April 23, 2012 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has made two appointments to senior roles including new global leaders for its IP/IT practice and infrastructure & transport sector group. The magic circle firm has appointed Cologne partner Matthias Koch as its new IP/IT practice group head, succeeding fellow Cologne partner Klaus Beucher, who has held the role since 2006.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

April 19, 2012 | International Edition

"In the last six months there has been a notable recognition that the European and US economies are not going to recover anytime soon, so firms are looking to maximise their coverage in Asia – any law firm with a global strategy has to..."

By Suzi Ring

6 minute read

April 19, 2012 | International Edition

Slaughter and May is abandoning its longstanding biannual pay review system, with the firm's associates now set to receive one pay rise a year instead of two. The move, which comes as Allen & Overy (A&O) this week kicked off the 2012 associate salary round with marginal increases for junior lawyers, brings Slaughters in line with its magic circle peers.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

April 19, 2012 | International Edition

US insurance company WR Berkley has appointed its first-ever UK claims panel, with six firms handed places on the roster. Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC), Kennedys, DAC Beachcroft, CMS Cameron McKenna and City disputes boutique Reynolds Colman Bradley have all been appointed to the new panel, with Clyde & Co also set to take a spot after terms have been finalised.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

April 19, 2012 | International Edition

The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) has hired the NSPCC's former general counsel Catherine Dixon as its new chief executive as the body gears up to review its legal panels. Dixon joined the NHSLA earlier this month after two years as GC at the children's charity...

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

April 19, 2012 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is set to take pole position for private equity house CVC Capital Partners on the proposed $2bn (£1.3bn) Singapore listing of Formula 1. The initial public offering (IPO), which is planned for July this year, is expected to see Freshfields advise CVC – which owns 63.4% of F1 – as well as F1 itself, with corporate partner Chris Bown heading up the magic circle firm's team.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

April 19, 2012 | International Edition

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has elected real estate head Robert MacGregor as the firm's new chairman, alongside the reappointment of senior partner Harold Paisner. MacGregor will succeed current chair Peter Robinson, who has spent 18 years in the role. The three-year appointment was voted through by the partnership earlier this week.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

April 19, 2012 | International Edition

A working party led by Irwin Mitchell chairman Michael Napier QC has been launched by the Civil Justice Council (CJC) to explore issues surrounding changes to contingency fees set to come into play next year. The 11-member panel, which met for the first time yesterday (17 April), has been asked to consider the conflicting interests regarding damage-based agreements (DBAs) and make any recommendations over regulations that should be introduced.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read