International - Asia And Australasia Legal News Coverage

International Edition

Lovells advises GICSI on €1bn entry into Italian funds market

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | March 19, 2008

Lovells has advised Singapore sovereign fund GIC Special Investments (GICSI) on its €1bn (£760m) investment in Italy's Sintonia - an investment vehicle owned by the Benetton family. The deal, which was signed on 11 March, is thought to mark the first Italian market entry by a sovereign fund, a number of which have been stepping up their investment in Europe. It saw GICSI take a 3% stake in Sintonia, with the fund subscribing to a capital increase that will see its overall stake rise to 14.3%.

2 minute read

International Edition

Asia picks up pace as international trio announce plans for expansion

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | March 13, 2008

A trio of international firms have set their sights on Asia with Heller Ehrman, Bryan Cave and Taylor Wessing all announcing expansion in the region over the past week.Heller has recruited former DLA Piper Asia head Nick Seddon to manage its operations in the area, Bryan Cave has brought in a new partner for its Hong Kong office, while Taylor Wessing is set to open an office in Beijing.

3 minute read

International Edition

Bryan Cave boosts HK with Hogan co-head

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | March 05, 2008

Bryan Cave has boosted its Hong Kong office with the hire of a senior partner from rival US law firm Hogan & Hartson. Mao Tong, who was co-managing partner of Hogan's Hong Kong branch, joins Bryan Cave as a partner.

2 minute read

International Edition

Gide co-head picks up Shanghai arbitrator role

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 27, 2008

Gide Loyrette Nouel Shanghai co-head David Boitout has been named as an arbitrator for the new Shanghai Court of Financial Arbitration (SCFA). Boitout becomes one of the first foreign arbitrators of the SCFA, part of the Shanghai Arbitration Commission. The Commission handles disputes related to international trade, finance and engineering, as well as internal economic disputes of Chinese and foreign firms.

1 minute read

International Edition

Asia-Pacific: Source of income

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 27, 2008

According to Forrester Research, the total value of outsourcing deals struck in the second half of 2007 increased by £724.2m from the same period in the previous year and forecasts suggest that this level of outsourcing activity will continue in 2008, with Gartner predicting global outsourcing market growth of 8.1%. Experience says that while a major driver in many recent outsourcing transactions has been the quest for improved quality, cost pressures will make a return in 2008 as the most significant outsourcing driver, as the sub-prime credit crunch bites and other factors of globalisation - such as currency movements and relentless increases in energy and other fixed costs - come into play. Credit meltdown and resultant write-off losses will put 'cost' firmly back at the top of the boardroom agenda and decreased cost will become one of the major drivers for outsourcing, displacing to some degree other drivers, such as service improvement and quality. Sectors to watch include financial services, which is likely to be more strongly affected by losses resulting from the credit crunch. In addition, within business transformation outsourcing (BTO), 2008 will experience movement away from the high up-front investments seen in recent deals, with customers looking to smooth significant transformation charges over the life of the deal. On the supplier side, a slowdown could drive increased M&A activity with providers divesting underperforming business units and further consolidation by the more aggressive players who see the opportunity to buy increased market share.

5 minute read

International Edition

Legal network Lex Mundi adds Canadian member

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 27, 2008

Lex Mundi has admitted Canada's Blake Cassels & Graydon as its member firm for Quebec. The firm is already the independent law firm network's member for Alberta and Ontario. The decision was made in a vote by Lex Mundi's board of directors at its 2008 North America Regional Conference at the end of January.The decision was made in a vote by Lex Mundi's board of directors at its 2008 North America Regional Conference at the end of January.

2 minute read

International Edition

Reed Smith recruits two-partner Beijing team

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 27, 2008

Reed Smith has hired a two-partner team from the Beijing office of legacy US firm Dewey Ballantine. Corporate partners Sharon Mann and Hugh Scogin, along with one counsel and five associates and consultants, will join Reed Smith after formerly having worked with Dewey Ballantine in Beijing.

2 minute read

International Edition

Allen & Overy signs Indian referral deal

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 22, 2008

Allen & Overy (A&O) has entered into a referral relationship with Indian practice Trilegal. The non-exclusive agreement was signed one month ago and is the first time the London-based law firm has signed a referral agreement in India's coveted legal market.

1 minute read

International Edition

DLA Piper's Hong Kong arm gets new name

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 20, 2008

DLA Piper's Hong Kong office has been renamed DLA Piper Hong Kong, having previously operated under the name Dibb Lupton Alsop for regulatory reasons. The office took the new name on Monday (18 February) to be consistent with the firm's global brand. In January, the firm appointed litigation specialist Christopher Clarke as the first managing partner for the office.

1 minute read

International Edition

CC taps Mayer Brown for Asia disputes boost

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | February 18, 2008

Clifford Chance (CC) has boosted its Asia litigation team with the hire of a partner from Mayer Brown JSM, the magic circle law firm announced today (18 February). Brian Gilchrist joins CC's Hong Kong arm on 1 May. He specialises in banking and insurance disputes, directors' duties and minority shareholders' rights matters, as well as tax-related areas.

2 minute read

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