Suzi Ring

September 25, 2012 | International Edition

Macfarlanes has been drafted in to advise mining giant Bumi on an investigation into alleged financial irregularities in its Indonesian operations. The City firm is understood to have been instructed by the company yesterday (24 September), when Bumi announced the internal investigation into its Indonesian subsidiary PT Bumi Resources, in which it has a 29% stake.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

September 24, 2012 | International Edition

Herbert Smith Freehills will elect a sole chief executive 18 months after the merger between the UK and Australian law firm goes live next month. CCurrent Herbert Smith managing partner Willis and Freehills chief executive Bell (both pictured) will jointly lead the combined firm until May 2014 following the 1 October merger between the two firms. Bell, who has been chief executive at Freehills since 2005, has been seen as the more likely candidate to lead the combined firm after this date however it is possible that another candidate could come forward.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 20, 2012 | International Edition

Outgoing Supreme Court president Lord Phillips has called for leading law firms to encourage more partners to sit as part-time judges, in a bid to increase the number of solicitors in the judiciary.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

September 20, 2012 | International Edition

Yahoo!, Vodafone, Lloyds Banking Group and the Financial Times are among a number of big-name businesses signing up to social mobility scheme PRIME, as in-house legal teams get on board the much-touted diversity initiative.

By Suzi Ring

4 minute read

September 20, 2012 | International Edition

Suzanna Ring asks whether the firm won more than branded taxis and lollipops from its £10m sponsorship

By Suzi Ring

6 minute read

September 20, 2012 | International Edition

Allen & Overy (A&O) has secured the eye-catching hire of two New York energy and infrastructure partners from magic circle rival Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, in a rare move between top UK firms in the US. US energy and infrastructure head Kent Rowey and fellow partner Dolly Mirchandani are both set to leave the firm to join A&O's local office. Mirchandani is also Freshfields' global co-head of pro bono.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 17, 2012 | International Edition

Field Fisher Waterhouse and Osborne Clarke (OC) are in early-stage talks about a potential combination that could create a merged firm with revenues of nearly £200m, Legal Week can reveal. News of the discussions comes weeks after Field Fisher's merger talks with LG were called off in June.

By Suzi Ring

4 minute read

September 13, 2012 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has taken steps to protect its Asian partnership from US firms' advances by breaking away from its lockstep and allowing new partners to be promoted more quickly in the region, it has emerged.

By Suzi Ring

4 minute read

September 13, 2012 | International Edition

Partners from Stibbe and Field Fisher Waterhouse are among a 15-strong team of lawyers set to launch a new boutique in Brussels, in the second recent spin-off from the Benelux firm.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

September 13, 2012 | International Edition

Herbert Smith could add up to $15m (£9.3m) in annual fee income as a result of the hire of the six-partner Chadbourne & Parke team for its New York launch, with the group also handing the firm a new client relationship with tobacco giant RJ Reynolds.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read