Suzi Ring

August 03, 2011 | International Edition

Herbert Smith and Latham & Watkins have taken lead roles on the £150m refinancing of London's landmark O2 arena. Herbert Smith advised Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), which controls the venue, with the law firm fielding a team led by London finance partner Gary Hommel and real estate partner Richard Forsdyke. Latham advised Credit Suisse, which syndicated the refinancing facility in London and Los Angeles, with City finance partner Andy Kolacki heading up the US firm's team.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

August 03, 2011 | International Edition

Travers Smith is refocusing its business around a number of key sectors in a bid to deepen relationships with existing clients and attract new work. The firm has initially outlined five key sectors: financial services, leisure, healthcare, retail and infrastructure, which will operate alongside the firm's practice group structure.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

August 03, 2011 | International Edition

London's position as a global centre for arbitration has been reaffirmed following a Supreme Court ruling that nationality and religion can be used as criteria in the selection and appointment of arbitrators. In a landmark judgment handed down last week, the Supreme Court confirmed that arbitrators are not employees and therefore fall outside of UK equality laws.

By Suzi Ring

6 minute read

August 03, 2011 | International Edition

Berrymans Lace Mawer has won a first-time role on the NHS Commercial Alliance panel line-up, following the healthcare body's review of eight of its panels. Berrymans has been appointed to the health panel alongside Mills & Reeve, Beachcroft, Bevan Brittan, Browne Jacobson, Hempsons and Capsticks Solicitors.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

August 01, 2011 | International Edition

A Kennedys partner has been dismissed from the firm following allegations relating to stolen client money. City commercial partner Peter Lloyd-Cooper was suspended from the firm in May 2010 after financial irregularities were discovered surrounding client monies. He was expelled from the partnership later that month.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

August 01, 2011 | International Edition

Matrix Chambers' Rabinder Singh QC has been appointed as a High Court judge alongside three further appointments to the Queen's Bench Division (QBD). Singh, who will take up his new position from October this year, will be the first Sikh judge to sit on the High Court Bench. He was one of the founding members of Matrix in 2000 and was called to the Bar in 1989 before taking silk in 2000.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

July 29, 2011 | International Edition

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert and Clyde & Co have confirmed their merger deal following votes in favour of the move from both firms' partnerships, marking the largest-ever tie-up between two UK law firms. The votes, which took place yesterday (28 July) at Clydes and today (29 July) at Barlows, saw the firms achieve the 80% and 75% of 'yes' votes respectively required for a deal to go through.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

July 29, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's head of diversity and inclusion Deborah Dalgleish is set to join Ashurst in the same role next month. Dalgleish, who has spent the last 12 years at Freshfields, was head of UK trainee recruitment at the firm from 1999 to 2009, and head of diversity for the last three years.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

July 27, 2011 | International Edition

Olswang has applied for a licence to open in Singapore as the firm heralds international integration as one of its key themes for 2011-12. The firm applied for a Singapore licence last month with a view to launching later this year, with the new base set to focus on commercial, corporate and international arbitration work.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

July 27, 2011 | International Edition

Withers has made up two new partners, with the announcement making it one of the last firms in the UK top 50 to decide its 2010-11 partner promotions. The firm has made up Amber Melville-Brown in its reputation management practice, while Harvey Knight joins the partnership in the financial services group. Melville-Brown, who advises on privacy protection issues as well as reputation management, works with clients including Anton du Beke and Renault F1. Knight is currently the head of Withers' UK financial services practice.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read