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International Edition

Commentary: Will Mayer Brown's tie-up in Hong Kong deliver the goods?

When it comes to international expansion, Mayer Brown doesn't go for half measures. The firm's 2002 merger with London's Rowe & Maw remains one of the largest transatlantic mergers to date. Five years on, Mayer Brown made a similarly big move in Asia, combining with Hong Kong's largest law firm, the 260-lawyer Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM).
3 minute read

International Edition

Herbert Smith and Lovells head up US Embassy sell-off

Herbert Smith, Lovells and Maples Teesdale have all taken lead roles on the sale of the Grade II listed US Embassy building on Grosvenor Square. The Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company - which is owned by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund - has purchased the building in London's Mayfair, with the deal expected to be completed in 2013.
2 minute read

International Edition

US trio on track for Warren Buffett's $34bn railway buyout

A trio of US firms have taken lead roles on Berkshire Hathaway's $34bn (£20.6bn) acquisition of a 77% stake in railroad operator Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), writes the Am Law Daily. Berkshire, the holding company for the assets of Warren Buffett, the world's second-richest man, already owns the other 23%.
2 minute read

International Edition

UK firms land roles on billion-dollar Abu Dhabi-Saudi motorway project

A raft of UK law firms have won roles as Abu Dhabi prepares for the largest-ever public private partnership project (PPP) in the UAE. Allen & Overy (A&O) is advising the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, which is planning to build a motorway connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia. Five bidders have been shortlisted to build the road from Mafraq to Ghweifat, with proposals for the estimated $2.65bn (£1.62bn) project to be submitted by 6 December.
2 minute read

International Edition

Commentary: J'accuse! The battle over Google books hits Europe

The legal wrangling over Google Books - the internet giant's wildly ambitious project to become one of the largest libraries and booksellers in the world - has taken on an international flavour. In late September a French publisher accused the ubiquitous search engine of breaking French copyright law in its effort to scan millions of books. Debate is now taking off across Europe.
3 minute read

International Edition

Dealmaker: Richard Macklin

Dentons co-head of corporate Richard Macklin on bizarre jargon, burning offices and stacking shelves
4 minute read

International Edition

Lovells and Shearman advise on landmark Syrian project finance deal

Lovells and Shearman & Sterling have taken the lead on a $682m (£415m) projects deal in Syria, believed to be the first project financing to close in the country. Construction company Lafarge, which is one of the world's largest cement suppliers, is to build a cement plant in northern Syria using project finance loans totalling $341m (£208m).
2 minute read

International Edition

Lovells takes lead on administration of Threshers parent company

Lovells has taken the lead role on the administration of off-licence retail chain First Quench Retailing, the parent company of Threshers and Wine Rack. The company went into administration today (30 September) after weeks of speculation, putting more than 6,000 jobs at risk across the company's network of stores.
2 minute read

International Edition

Freshfields and Slaughters take lead on plan to split up Northern Rock

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May are advising as Northern Rock moves towards a restructuring that will see the bank split into two parts, with half likely to be sold. Freshfields is advising Northern Rock in relation to the restructuring plans, with London structured finance chief Alan Newton and corporate finance chief Barry O'Brien taking the lead roles for the firm.
2 minute read

International Edition

Slaughters and A&O lead on €1.75bn Abbey bond issuance

Slaughter and May and Allen & Overy (A&O) are advising on the issuance of ‚Ǩ1.75bn (£1.58bn) worth of covered bonds for Abbey National. The deal is part of a €25bn (£22.6bn) covered bond programme for Abbey National Treasury Services. Slaughters is advising longstanding client Abbey on the deal, with a team led by London banking partner Guy O'Keefe.
2 minute read

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