CC, Herbert Smith named on O2's first Euro panel
O2 has revamped its legal division, with the telecoms giant appointing its first-ever European legal panel and scrapping its general counsel (GC) role for the region. Clifford Chance (CC), Herbert Smith and its German ally Gleiss Lutz have been appointed to the company's European roster of legal advisers in one of the last major decisions by general counsel Justine Campbell.Campbell, who kicked off the review in January this year, is expected to leave O2 in the New Year as the company opts to abandon its formal European GC role.
December 04, 2008 at 06:03 AM
2 minute read
General counsel Justine Campbell to depart telecoms giant as Telefonica shakes up legal team at O2 division
O2 has revamped its legal division, with the telecoms giant appointing its first-ever European legal panel and scrapping its general counsel (GC) role for the region.
Clifford Chance (CC), Herbert Smith and its German ally Gleiss Lutz have been appointed to the company's European roster of legal advisers in one of the last major decisions by general counsel Justine Campbell.
Campbell (pictured), who kicked off the review in January this year, is expected to leave O2 in the New Year as the company opts to abandon its formal European GC role.
Instead UK legal head, Kate Jarvis, will report directly into the Telefonica group GC in Madrid. Telefonica bought O2 for £18bn in 2006 in a deal that saw Simmons & Simmons advising Telefonica and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acting for O2.
The in-house legal team at O2 will work closely with CC on regulatory matters, while Herbert Smith and Gleiss, will be instructed on commercial issues.
All three firms have been appointed for an initial two-year period and will act for O2 across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Each jurisdiction will still use local firms for other issues with further reviews expected over the coming months. CC and Herbert Smith will be used where possible.
Campbell commented: "Part of the review was to create synergies on a larger scale, rather than just using local firms in each country. As part of the process we saw a number of big firms, and narrowed it down to CC and Herbert Smith."
She added: "It has become increasingly important for us to have a mutually beneficial and balanced relationship with our advisers and that formed part of the review.
Campbell has led the legal function since the 2006 departure of Philip Bramwell, now the group general counsel at defence and aerospace company BAE Systems.
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