Filter This View

  • February 28, 2013 |

    Beijing-bound firms face culture challenge as global elite flock to Chinese capital

    Home to cash-rich state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and a huge urban population, Beijing – like Singapore, Hong Kong and, more latterly, Korea – has long been a focus for international law firms. This year in particular looks set to see a raft of firms open up in the Chinese capital, with Berwin Leighton Paisner last month announcing plans to launch there in May, while a string of other firms – including Ashurst, Kirkland & Ellis, Eversheds, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and Clyde & Co – also expect to receive their licences to practise in the coming months. Those that already have offices on the ground have also been busy ramping up their offerings. DLA Piper announced in January that it had hired a five-strong King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) team for Beijing, including projects partner Carolyn Dong. Norton Rose has brought in three new Beijing partners since March 2012: banking partner Li Jinnan from KWM, corporate partner Jing Wang from Allen & Overy and corporate partner Barbara Li from Baker & McKenzie.

    1 minute read

  • February 25, 2013 |

    Links leads on largest Japanese outbound deal of the year to date

    Linklaters and Dutch firm De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek have taken roles on Japanese financial services group Orix's €1.935bn (£1.69bn) acquisition of asset manager Robeco Group from Rabobank, the largest Japanese outbound deal of the year so far. Under the terms of the deal, Orix is acquiring 90.01% of the shares of Robeco, with the Dutch bank retaining a 9.99% equity stake as part of a strategic alliance between the two groups. Rabobank will continue to work with Orix in expanding Robeco's business platform.

    1 minute read

  • February 21, 2013 |

    As a wave of US mega-mergers boosts M&A hopes, will they inspire confidence in Europe?

    Three weeks into February, a spate of mega-mergers in the US – capped by Warren Buffett's $28bn (£18bn) acquisition of food giant Heinz – has bolstered hopes of resurgence in the regional M&A markets. Figures from mergermarket for the 2012 calendar year show that with a total value of $825.4bn (£535bn), 2012 was the best-performing year for US M&A activity since 2007. And February has raised aspirations for similar performance in 2013, with the month seeing more than $103bn (£66.7bn) in activity across five deals alone.

    1 minute read

  • February 21, 2013 |

    Hong Kong lawyers in demand as global firms fight for Chinese speakers

    International law firms in Hong Kong are ramping up their recruitment of Mandarin speakers in a bid to boost relationships with mainland China clients, creating fierce job competition for foreign lawyers in the region. A Legal Week survey of international firms operating in Hong Kong found every firm responding to the survey bar one had increased the number of Mandarin-speaking lawyers in their Hong Kong offices since 2011. The increase took the average percentage of Mandarin speakers employed by the 16 responding law firms to 60% of their total Hong Kong lawyer count.

    1 minute read

  • February 14, 2013 |

    Davis Polk, Kirkland lead on Warren Buffett's $28bn Heinz acquisition

    Davis Polk & Wardwell and Kirkland & Ellis are among a line-up of US firms scoring roles on the $28bn (£18bn) acquisition of food giant Heinz by an investment consortium. The deal, which is believed to be the biggest ever acquisition in the food industry and has been approved by Heinz's board of directors, will see the Pittsburgh company acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, which is owned by US billionaire Warren Buffett, and 3G Capital.

    1 minute read

  • February 13, 2013 |

    Weil Gotshal and Davis Polk lead on latest multibillion-dollar media deal

    Davis Polk & Wardwell and Weil Gotshal & Manges are both advising on a $16.7bn (£10.7bn) deal that will see General Electric (GE) sell its 49% stake in US media and entertainment giant NBCUniversal (NBCU) to majority shareholder Comcast Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, US cable operator Comcast will pay NBCU $12bn (£7.7bn) in cash with $4bn (£2.6bn) in Comcast guaranteed debt and $700m (£450m) of preferred stock in acquiring full ownership of the film and television business.

    1 minute read

  • February 12, 2013 |

    Herbert Smith recruits top-rated white-collar partner from Slater & Gordon

    Herbert Smith Freehills has recruited Slater & Gordon business crime and investigation head Rod Fletcher following a string of recent exits from the Anglo-Australian firm's litigation practice. Fletcher will join Herbert Smith in April, and will lead the firm's corporate crime and investigations team alongside partner Graham More.

    1 minute read

  • February 7, 2013 |

    Top Herbert Smith litigator exits for Latham as senior departures continue

    Latham & Watkins has sealed the hire of top-rated Herbert Smith Freehills corporate fraud partner Simon Bushell, in the latest in a series of high-profile departures for the recently merged Anglo-Australian firm. Bushell, a specialist in large-scale international commercial litigation and founder of Herbert Smith's Russian dispute resolution practice, is top ranked for civil fraud work by Chambers and Partners.

    1 minute read

  • February 5, 2013 |

    Hogan Lovells, Weil and Debevoise among legal line-up on $24.4bn Dell LBO

    Debevoise & Plimpton, Hogan Lovells and Weil Gotshal & Manges are among a line-up of top law firms to have advised on the $24.4bn (£15.5bn) buyout of computer manufacturer Dell, in the largest leveraged buyout (LBO) since the financial crisis. Founder Michael Dell is buying back the PC group, together with private equity group Silver Lake, offering stockholders $13.65 (£8.69) in cash per share.

    1 minute read

  • February 5, 2013 |

    CC relocates partners to Hong Kong and Qatar

    Clifford Chance (CC) is relocating two partners to Asia in a bid to strengthen its practices in Hong Kong and Qatar. The magic circle firm is boosting its Doha office with the addition of corporate partner Jason Mendens from Sydney, who will be the firm's first corporate partner on the ground in the resource-rich Gulf country.

    1 minute read