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International Edition

Anheuser-Busch and InBev overhaul legal teams

Anheuser-Busch InBev has overhauled its internal legal function in the wake of the merger that has established it as the world's largest brewer. The company has combined the legal teams from Anheuser-Busch and InBev, which completed their $52bn (£36bn) union last month (18 November), creating a single 250-strong legal group.
3 minute read

International Edition

Banks offer waivers for relationship firms to act against them in disputes

Some of the world's largest banks are offering waivers allowing their external legal advisers to act against them in certain disputes between financial institutions, in a bid to quickly resolve issues arising from the current economic turmoil. Institutions including Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, UBS and JPMorgan are understood to have held informal discussions about conflicts issues and the possibility of allowing law firms to act for or against them in different disputes.
2 minute read

International Edition

Bank duo call for staff to re-apply for jobs after merger go-ahead

Legal staff at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch have been asked to re-apply for their jobs, as the duo prepare to complete their tie-up in the new year. The two banks have a combined legal team estimated at around 700 lawyers - including those embedded in front office positions - and it is understood that every member is having to re-apply for their post. The move follows Bank of America's $50bn (£38bn) acquisition of investment bank Merrill in September.
2 minute read

International Edition

City firms still getting support from banks despite credit squeeze

Ailing banks may be squeezing swathes of corporate Britain, but leading commercial law firms seem to be escaping the worst of the credit crunch, according to new research.The latest Legal Week Big Question survey underlines the extent to which banks are continuing to cultivate links with large law firms, despite the ongoing credit squeeze. Sixty-two percent of partners said their firm's commercial banks had been 'supportive', including 16% who said the banks had been 'extremely supportive'.A further 29% of respondents said their bank's stance had been 'OK', though 8% said their lender was 'not very supportive'. Only 1% viewed their banks as 'not at all supportive' in light of the current downturn. Likewise, only 13% of partners said banks had put pressure on their firm to improve performance.
4 minute read

International Edition

Life is sweet

If longevity is anything to go by, working as the top lawyer at confectionery giant Cadbury seems to be one of the, ahem, sweeter in-house roles going.After all, the company - one of the world's largest confectionery businesses - has a knack of being able to retain its staff. Chief legal officer and group secretary Hank Udow has been at the company for more than 20 years and is still fascinated by his work.He says: "It still amazes me how many interesting and complex transactions I have had the opportunity to do at Cadbury. It is never dull. The scope of activities from a legal perspective is enormous."
7 minute read

International Edition

BAE in-houser quits for new role at tech company

BAE in-house lawyer Jo Humphrey is set to leave the defence and aerospace company to take up a new role with Johnson Controls. Humphrey, who is currently head of knowledge management at BAE, will join the technology company in February 2009, taking up the role of European chief counsel for global workplace solutions.
1 minute read

International Edition

£19m Switalski claim set for new Tribunal review

Former F&C Management legal head Gillian Switalski is set to have her £19m sexual discrimination and constructive dismissal claim against her former employer re-examined by the Employment Tribunal. The fresh ruling comes after F&C's claim for the case to be reheard - made during a remedy hearing in June - was denied. However, the new ruling has granted the company's appeal for a the case to be reconsidered.The Tribunal had previously ruled that sexual discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the workplace had meant that Switalksi (pictured) was no longer fit to fulfil her role. F&C failed in their bid to have the hearing overturned in May.
2 minute read

International Edition

White & Case M&A co-head quits for in-house role

White & Case is set to lose its global co-head of M&A, as Tim Goodell quits the firm to become senior vice president and general counsel with oil company Hess Corporation. Goodell, who will take up his new role in January, was previously one of eight partners on the firm's global management committee. Since 2007 he has been one of the six members of the firm's partnership committee. He also heads up the firm's Women's Initiative, a scheme to promote female career progression at the firm.
2 minute read

International Edition

Christie's invites tenders for first-ever roster

Auction house Christie's has invited a number of firms to tender for its first-ever roster of legal advisers. The process, which will be led by general counsel Nick Deeming, begun last month and the company expects to name two or three preferred global advisers by February 2009.The review will be watched closely by a number of City firms which will be hoping to secure Christie's as a client. The auctioneers have already invited practices to tender and will draw up a shortlist in the New Year
2 minute read

International Edition

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.
2 minute read

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