Suzi Ring

June 10, 2011 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom have lined up to advise on Huaneng Renewables' $800m (£500m) Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO). Skadden took the lead role for the Chinese renewable energy company, fielding a team led by Hong Kong corporate partner Dominic Tsun alongside Shanghai corporate and M&A partner Gregory Miao.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 09, 2011 | International Edition

Eversheds is set to launch an office in Hamburg in response to growing client demand in the region. The office will go live in October this year, with Munich corporate partners Carola Rathke and Sebastian Zeeck due to relocate to Hamburg to co-head the new outfit alongside a team of four associates. The move will gift Eversheds its second presence in Germany. The firm has a total of 24 partners across the country.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 08, 2011 | International Edition

Ince & Co has become the latest firm to opt out of increasing its associate pay bands for the year ahead. Associates at Ince will continue to move through the salary bands as normal during the 2011-12 financial year, but will see no increase in pay levels set out by the firm in 2010.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 08, 2011 | International Edition

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert and Clyde & Co partners could approve their potential merger as early as July, with the resulting tie-up likely to go live later this year. The merger talks, exclusively revealed by Legal Week on 3 June, have now reached advanced stages, with both firms this week discussing with clients and partners a high-stakes deal that would be the largest-ever merger between two UK law firms. Talks have been ongoing since March this year, after Barlows insurance dispute resolution partner Tim Taylor and Clydes senior partner Michael Payton held initial discussions.

By Suzi Ring

4 minute read

June 08, 2011 | International Edition

As befits a firm acting for fashion houses such as Gucci or Christian Louboutin, there has always been something just a little bit flash about Mishcon de Reya. But even by those standards, its achievement this year of hiking revenues by 30% is eye-catching. Revenues hit £61.5m for 2010-11, up from £47.5m the previous year, while profits have also jumped to an estimated £575,000 against £450,000 in 2010. Certainly, very few major law firms have ever managed that kind of annual growth without the aid of a sizeable merger.

By Suzi Ring

4 minute read

June 08, 2011 | International Edition

Berrymans Lace Mawer has hired Hill Dickinson partner Claire Batchelor for its Manchester healthcare practice. Batchelor joined the firm on 1 June from the Liverpool arm of Hill Dickinson, where she has been a partner since 2003.

By Suzi Ring

1 minute read

June 08, 2011 | International Edition

Watson Farley & Williams has posted its 2010-11 financial results, with turnover at the firm rising 11%. The firm has seen revenue increase to £88.8m this year, up from £80.2m in 2009-10, while profits per equity partner (PEP) grew 2.2% to reach £458,000. The results are similar to the firm's financial performance in 2009-10, when it saw turnover rise by 9.1% and PEP grow 4.2%.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 06, 2011 | International Edition

Barristers could see their required continuing professional development (CPD) hours doubled following a review by the Bar Standards Board (BSB). The BSB opened a consultation today (6 June) following a 16-month review, with issues up for debate including a recommended rise in the required number of CPD hours for barristers from 12 to 24 per year.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 06, 2011 | International Edition

Kennedys has launched a presence in Brazil through an association with local firm Torres Marcellino & Associados (TM Law). The new association went live on 1 June and gifts the firm its second presence in South America alongside Chile, where it has an association with domestic player Acuna & Cia.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

June 03, 2011 | International Edition

Clyde & Co and Barlow Lyde & Gilbert are in advanced merger talks, Legal Week can reveal, with a potential deal set to create a £300m law firm in one of the largest-ever unions between two UK practices. Senior partners at the two firms have been in discussions for several months, and it is understood that details of the proposed union could go to partners as soon as the end of June, when Clydes will hold its annual partner conference.

By Suzi Ring

5 minute read