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International Edition

Pan-African harmonisation efforts will boost economic growth across sub-Saharan region

In recent years, the pan-African economic and political landscape has shifted dramatically: the focus of foreign direct investment has moved to a much greater extent to sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the west-to-east 'investment corridor' in Francophone and Anglophone sub-Saharan Africa, which is predicted to become the fastest-growing region on the continent. The Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), a pan-African treaty-based organisation comprised of 17 member states, has facilitated substantial market entries and the influx of capital, largely due to harmonised and modernised business laws and stronger security interest arrangements.
5 minute read

International Edition

BHP Billiton turns to Herbert Smith litigator for new legal chief

BHP Billiton has appointed Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) litigator Geoff Healy as its new head of legal. Healy, who is currently based in the firm's Sydney office will start his new role at the Anglo-Australian mining firm on 3 June, based in BHP's main headquarters in Melbourne. Healy joined HSF in 1990 and was made partner in 1997. He was a client relationship partner for BHP Billiton and in 2006 represented the company in a Royal Commission inquiry into whether the company had breached Australian laws in its dealings with Iraq.
2 minute read

International Edition

Bar Council launches Bar nursery for children as young as eight weeks

The Bar Council has today (16 April) officially launched the Bar Nursery at Smithfield House, in a bid to support working parents and boost diversity in the profession. The nursery is the result of a campaign led by the Bar Nursery Association, which was established in 2007, to promote a more family-friendly environment at the Bar.
2 minute read

International Edition

Eversheds' former in-house advocacy head joins Devereux

Devereux Chambers has taken on the former head of Eversheds' in-house advocacy unit, barrister Tom Keith. Keith joins the commercial litigation practice at Devereux after seven years at Eversheds, which he joined in 2006 as a consultant from Fountain Court to launch the unit. His experience includes insurance, financial services, civil fraud and general international commercial litigation.
2 minute read

International Edition

SFO co-head of bribery and corruption joins US law firm's London base

Steptoe & Johnson has recruited the Serious Fraud Office's (SFO's) joint head of bribery and corruption as a partner for its London office. Patrick Rappo, who joins the US firm's white-collar criminal defence practice today (15 April), practised as a barrister for 12 years prior to joining the SFO in 2007. At Steptoe he will work across regulation, compliance and litigation.
2 minute read

International Edition

With pregnancy discrimination cases rising, flexibility is key to retaining talented women

I was surprised to read earlier this year about the employment tribunal case of trainee Katie Tantum suing her former employer, Travers Smith, for unfair dismissal and pregnancy discrimination. She claims she was not kept on after her training contract because she became pregnant in her final seat. I was surprised not by her allegations, but by the fact that: (1) she actually brought a claim; and (2) it got all the way to a hearing. Cases of pregnancy and maternity discrimination rarely reach the public domain. In fact, according to research carried out by the Equal Opportunities Commission in 2005, only 3% of women suffering this type of discrimination complained to an employment tribunal. Most of these cases will settle pre-hearing.
5 minute read

International Edition

DWF makes double DLA partner hire as firm's rapid rise continues

DWF has made a double partner hire from DLA Piper as the firm moves to strengthen its litigation and corporate teams in the wake of its recent takeover of Cobbetts. Litigation partner Andrew Harris - who is top ranked by Chambers and Partners for disputes in Manchester - is joining DWF from DLA's Manchester base, and will take up a UK-wide role at the fast-growing firm. He is expected to spend the majority of his time in Manchester and Leeds.
3 minute read

International Edition

Freshfields makes key US litigation hire as ex-DoJ criminal head joins

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has made a big-name white collar hire in the US with the addition of Matthew Friedrich, the former acting head of the criminal division of the US Department of Justice (DoJ), from elite US litigation firm Boies Schiller and Flexner. Friedrich will join the magic circle firm's Washington base from New York's Boies Schiller, where he has been a partner since 2009. Prior to that, he spent 13 years at the DoJ, where he served as acting assistant attorney general of the criminal division.
2 minute read

International Edition

Online direct access Bar portal goes live with 80-plus barristers on board

A new online service that enables clients to access barristers in their area without the need for a solicitor is going live today (10 April), with more than 80 barristers from 12 UK sets signed up. myBARRISTER, owned and created by former Shearman & Sterling partner Ronald DeKoven, will allow direct access to the Bar through a centralised portal of barristers.
3 minute read

International Edition

Simmons strengthens City fraud team with Kingsley Napley hire

Simmons & Simmons is boosting its crime, fraud and investigations team with the hire of Kingsley Napley criminal litigation partner Stephen Gentle. Gentle, who is top-ranked in Chambers and Partners for both UK cartel defence and corporate crime, joined Kingsley Napley in 1993, becoming a partner in 2001. He will join Simmons' nine-partner crime, fraud and investigations team, which is headed by Nick Benwell, in June.
2 minute read

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