Suzi Ring

February 01, 2012 | International Edition

Hogan Lovells equity capital markets (ECM) head Richard Brown has resigned from the firm to join Latham & Watkins. Brown's hire was confirmed through a partner vote at Latham last night (31 January) with his start date yet to be announced.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

February 01, 2012 | International Edition

Minter Ellison has launched an office in Mongolia in response to demand from clients for it to have a presence in the region. The move comes as part of the Australian firm's wider strategy to expand in Asia, with a particular focus on capturing energy and resources work.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

February 01, 2012 | International Edition

Herbert Smith could go ahead with its proposed tie-up with Australia's Freehills as early as 1 July this year. Confirmation of the timescale of the possible union, which is dependent on a vote by partners at both firms, comes after Legal Week reported last month that the pair were holding discussions about a tie-up.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

January 31, 2012 | International Edition

Slaughter and May has been called in to advise on a multimillion-dollar dispute relating to the high-profile liquidation of US broker MF Global. An application by MF Global's trustee, James Giddens, to retain Slaughters as UK counsel was made in the New York courts at the close of last year, with approval subsequently granted.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

January 27, 2012 | International Edition

Former Mishcon de Reya property partner Kevin Steele has been sentenced to five and a half years in jail after being found guilty of forgery and fraud offences in a €22m (£18.5m) loan scam. Steele was sentenced by Mr Justice Wood at Southwark Crown Court earlier today (27 January) alongside his former client, property developer Michael Shephard, who has been sentenced to six years and three months in jail.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 27, 2012 | International Edition

Olswang's highest paid member took home £681,000 last year according to limited liability partnership (LLP) accounts recently filed with Companies House. The accounts show that the firm's operating profit fell from £31.6m in 2009-10 to £29.3m last year, while staff costs increased to £32.7m in 2010-11, up from £31.5m the previous year.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 26, 2012 | International Edition

Integreon has launched the first-ever onshore legal process outsourcing (LPO) centre in the UK, as the outsourcer ramps up its temp paralegal service for clients. The new LPO centre opened in Bristol this month after a request from a global client, which external sources have told Legal Week they believe to be Microsoft. The tech giant signed a deal with Integreon in April 2010 confirming the outsourcer as its exclusive provider of offshore managed document review.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 26, 2012 | International Edition

Clyde & Co and CMS Cameron McKenna have won appointments on Aviva's new reinsurance panel, put together after the insurance giant's former exclusive adviser Barlow Lyde & Gilbert merged with Clydes in November last year. Clydes and Camerons were both appointed as Aviva's UK reinsurance advisers for a two-year term taking effect from 1 January, with both also set to handle most of the reinsurance work driven from the UK for the wider Aviva Group globally.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 26, 2012 | International Edition

Olswang, Latham & Watkins, Ashurst and Withers have all taken a role on the sale of a majority stake in private members' club chain 
Soho House Group. Olswang advised Soho House owners Richard Caring and Nick Jones with a team led by City corporate partner Paul Blackmore, alongside corporate partner Andrew Stott, finance head Moni Mannings and tax partner Stephen Hignett. Withers' US arm, Withers Bergman, advised Caring and Jones on US law aspects of the deal, with M&A partner Philip DiGennaro leading.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

January 26, 2012 | International Edition

Holman Fenwick Willan has made its first aerospace partner hire in Europe since launching the practice with an eight-partner team hire from legacy Barlow Lyde & Gilbert last year. Field Fisher Waterhouse Brussels partner Pierre Fruehling is set to join the firm in March and will split his time between Holman Fenwick's Paris and Brussels offices.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read