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International Edition

Links targets Africa expansion as firm courts Nigerian outfit

Linklaters has renewed its courtship of Nigerian firm Aluko & Oyebode as it steps up its efforts to build its African footprint. The firm said it is keen on developing its relationship with Aluko, independently of its alliance with South African firm Webber Wentzel, which went live in February this year. Discussions have been held recently over how Linklaters can help the Nigerian firm with its technology and working practices as well as developing its lawyers through increasing the number of mutual secondment placements.
2 minute read

International Edition

Travers appoints partners to lead sector strategy

Travers Smith has appointed partners to head its six key sector groups, two years after realigning the firm along sector lines. The firm's corporate chief Spencer Summerfield will lead the energy and natural resources team, while head of commercial, IP and technology Tom Purton is overseeing the business services sector. M&A partner Edmund Reed will take charge of healthcare and head of private equity Phil Sanderson will head up retail, with private equity partner Paul Dolman leading on leisure and IP partner Richard Brown the new head of media. Travers' senior partner Chris Hale (pictured) leads the firmwide sector-based model, which was first launched in September 2011 and was part of the firm's strategy to both strengthen existing client relationships and attract new work.
2 minute read

International Edition

A continent on the rise – why top law firms are eager to tap into the African market

Andrew Jones of Linklaters is doing it. Kem Ihenacho of Clifford Chance (CC) is doing it. Philip Stopford and Stuart Matty of White & Case, Dentons' Paul Bugingo, Covington & Burling's Witney Schneidman – turns out they're all at it too. Regularly. What is it they're up to? The answer is short: travelling to Africa. They are among an expanding cadre of senior lawyers and advisers from leading global law firms who have been told to seek out opportunities and develop their practices on the vast continent.
17 minute read

International Edition

Nabarro set to open third overseas base with Dubai launch

Nabarro is set to launch in the Middle East with an office opening in Dubai slated next year. The firm has been granted a licence to open in the jurisdiction, paving the way for the launch of its third base outside the UK. Nabarro already has offices in Singapore and Brussels. The firm has been granted a licence to open in the jurisdiction, which will mark the firm's third presence outside the UK alongside Singapore and Brussels.
2 minute read

International Edition

Norton Rose Fulbright axes 30 jobs in Australia

Norton Rose Fulbright has made 30 staff redundant across its Australian offices. Those affected include 12 fee earners and 18 support staff. It is not clear whether any partners are among those being laid off.
1 minute read

International Edition

Wragges-LG merger is on the cards, but such a move carries risks as well as benefits for both

Once a Birmingham-centric firm, news this week that Wragge & Co is in merger discussions with Lawrence Graham (LG) marks a significant step in the firm's long-held ambition to build in the City. International expansion, including most recently in Germany and the Middle East, has helped Wragges move away from its origins as a regionally focused firm. It has also largely got over its struggles in the immediate post-crisis years, caused by a dominating real estate practice. The firm reported a marginal increase in turnover at the end of the 2012-13 financial year to £120.5m, while profits per equity partner (PEP) climbed 2.7% to £339,000. However, Wragges has been seeking a tie-up with a smaller London firm with several niche practice areas since realising it was struggling to make real headway in the competitive City market, since launching there in 2000.
4 minute read

International Edition

US firm Finnegan moves European base from Brussels to London

Washington DC-based intellectual property (IP) firm Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner has become the latest US outfit to launch in London, after deciding to close its Brussels office.
2 minute read

International Edition

Hogan Lovells merges with South Africa's Routledge Modise

Hogan Lovells is to merge with South African law firm Routledge Modise, with the combination set to go live on 1 December. Routledge Modise became a formal ally of Eversheds in April 2008 http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/1159962/eversheds-enters-africa-jo-burg-tie but split with the Johannesburg-based practice in October last year http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/2218732/eversheds-to-split-with-south-africa-arm-over-client-conflicts due to issues over client conflicts.
2 minute read

International Edition

Lawrence Graham and Wragges in merger talks to create £170m firm

Lawrence Graham (LG) and Wragge & Co are in talks to merge in a move that would create a combined firm with turnover in excess of £170m. Partners were told today (18th November) of plans for a union with a vote yet to be scheduled. The tie-up would take the combined number of partners to 189 and combined turnover to £172.3m, putting the firm just outside the UK top 20, according to last year's financial results.
3 minute read

International Edition

Dentons delays merger vote as former chief exec joins MoFo in London

Dentons has delayed voting its proposed merger with US outfit McKenna Long & Aldridge, blaming a lag in the due diligence process. The news comes as Dentons' former chief executive Howard Morris has resurfaced at Morrison & Foerster's London office
3 minute read

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