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International Edition

White & Case and Dentons lead $1bn Ghana bond issue

The London offices of White & Case and Dentons have taken lead roles on a $1bn (£645m) bond issue for the Republic of Ghana. The bond, which was listed on the Irish and Ghana Stock Exchanges, comprised a standard $750m (£484m) issue of new notes at 7.875%, and a $250m (£161m) note exchange for bonds issued in 2007.
2 minute read

International Edition

Herbert Smith Freehills calls off planned Guinea office launch

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has decided not to go ahead with its planned launch in Guinea, a move which had been expected to take place early this year. The firm announced the planned launch in the capital of Conakry in October last year, with the decision attributed to increasing interest in the West African jurisdiction from its energy and infrastructure clients.
2 minute read

International Edition

Shearman re-hires former partner to take up Middle East managing partner remit

Shearman & Sterling has appointed a new Middle East managing partner with the hire of Citadel Capital managing director Marwan Elaraby. Elaraby takes over management of the Middle East region from Nicholas Buckworth, who will continue as managing partner London, Europe and Africa. Buckworth will also continue to be involved in Middle East strategy. "It was key for me that we find someone with real regional credibility to be on the ground," said Buckworth. "Marwan will really take the business forward with the benefit of the work we have been doing his own vision and relationships."
2 minute read

International Edition

SJ Berwin boosts City litigation team with former Dentons Middle East disputes chief

SJ Berwin has hired highly-ranked international arbitration partner Paul Stothard from Dentons' London office. Stothard, who joined SJ Berwin yesterday (2 September), headed Dentons' Middle East dispute resolution practice from 2008 until 2012, when he returned to the City.
2 minute read

International Edition

Charles Russell becomes latest firm to enter Qatar market with Doha launch

Charles Russell is launching a new office in Qatar as the UK top 50 firm moves to ramp up its presence in the Middle East. The firm has received its licence from the Qatar Financial Centre Authority, effective as of 29 July, and will officially open the new Doha base in early September.
2 minute read

International Edition

Making your British Legal Awards entry stand out from the crowd

With the entry deadlines for the British Legal Awards and the African Legal Awards looming, John Malpas offers six top tips for awards success...
6 minute read

International Edition

Dentons sets ambitious post-merger strategy to ramp up partner profits

Dentons has set out ambitious plans to ramp up profits per equity partner (PEP) across the UK, Middle East and Africa (UKMEA) following the three-way merger that created the firm earlier this year. The firm, formed this March by the combination of SNR Denton, Salans and Canada's Fraser Milner Casgrain, has laid out a three-year strategy to increase profitability in the UKMEA region, with lateral hires forming a key part of the growth plans. UKMEA chief executive officer Matthew Jones (pictured) denied that a specific target for PEP had been set; however, several partners told Legal Week that the firm was aiming for UKMEA PEP to reach that of firms such as Norton Rose Fulbright and DLA Piper (£477,000 and £596,000 in 2011-12 respectively), with other sources citing targets as high as £850,000.
3 minute read

International Edition

Addleshaws moves Africa energy market up agenda with double partner hire

Addleshaw Goddard is driving Africa up the agenda with a push into the energy and resources markets following the hire of Shepherd and Wedderburn partner duo Angus Rollo and Guy Winter. The pair, both of whom previously worked at Linklaters and Shearman & Sterling, will boost partner numbers within the firm's Africa group to six.
3 minute read

International Edition

Get in on the ground floor – taking advantage of the foreign investment pouring into London's property market

The recent deal struck by a Chinese property developer to redevelop the Royal Albert Docks is just the latest in a line of headline-grabbing, big-ticket property partnerships involving foreign investors in the London real estate market. It is also a clear signal that investors are starting to look beyond the steady income stream offered by 'safe' investments and take on the added risk of development projects. Several market surveys indicate that upwards of 75% by value of the acquisitions in the central London market during the past few years have come from overseas investors. This influx of foreign investment has helped the London real estate market to grow despite the recent financial downturn. It has also presented a new opportunity to law firm's real estate teams as they compete for a share of this lucrative business.
7 minute read

International Edition

Crackdown on corruption culture must not be neglected in rush for African riches

Bribery is rife in Africa and has been for some time. But with many African countries experiencing strong growth and regional organisations becoming increasingly ambitious, this situation may be changing. Happily, the change is not just being driven by outside pressure. Individual African countries are beginning to develop their own anti-corruption laws and the continent's burgeoning middle class is increasingly questioning, and indeed shunning, the bribery culture that has prevailed for so long. That said, bribery still exists. It is still very much a feature of daily life for consumers and, for now at least, should remain an important consideration for any organisation thinking about doing business on the continent.
5 minute read

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