• July 18, 2013 |

    Dealmaker: Dennis Barsky

    The Jones Day partner on launching a hedge fund, making Singapore his home and a $5 T-shirt

    1 minute read

  • July 17, 2013 |

    Vinson Shanghai energy partner joins Sidley after office closure announcement

    Sidley Austin has ramped up its Singapore energy practice with the hire of M&A partner Tju Liang from Vinson & Elkins in Shanghai. The hire comes just days after Vinson announced plans to close the Shanghai base later this year.

    1 minute read

  • July 11, 2013 |

    Pinsents sets sights on key countries for Africa growth in strategy review

    Pinsent Masons has identified six key African countries that present the greatest potential for growth for the firm, following an 18-month strategy review of opportunities in the continent. The review, which has been led by construction advisory and disputes head Richard Foley, has seen the firm earmark South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya and Sudan as key priorities. The move to draw up a new Africa strategy was prompted by an increase in Africa-related instructions with the firm carrying out around 70 mandates during the last financial year amounting to £7m-£10m in revenues – a 60% year-on-year increase.

    1 minute read

  • July 10, 2013 |

    Line-up of top law firms win spots on new RBS EMEA panel

    Clifford Chance (CC), Allen & Overy (A&O), White & Case and Eversheds are among a host of firms to have won places on Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) EMEA legal panel. At least 21 international firms have taken coveted spots on the panel - which covers the bank's legal work across 24 European, Middle East and African countries - following a competitive tender process.

    1 minute read

  • July 9, 2013 |

    Gibson Dunn recruits Hogan Lovells energy partner in first hire since QFLP award

    Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has hired Hogan Lovells' energy head for South East Asia Brad Roach in its first move to bolster the number of partners in the region since receiving a Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) licence in February. The Los Angeles head-quartered firm, which previously said it would look to supplement its existing M&A, energy and infrastructure practices in Singapore, as well as adding arbitration to its offering, now counts four partners in the island city-state in addition to 12 legal staff.

    1 minute read

  • July 2, 2013 |

    Herbert Smith Freehills and Cleary make key partner hires in Frankfurt

    Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has sealed the hire of SJ Berwin Germany real estate chief Hans Thomas Kessler in a boost for its recently launched German operation. Kessler, who joined SJ Berwin from Beiten Burkhardt in 2008, will work alongside HSF's Frankfurt head Ralf Thaeter - who launched the German offering after joining from former Herbert Smith ally Gleiss Lutz earlier this year - and former Norton Rose corporate partner Nico Abel.

    1 minute read

  • July 2, 2013 |

    Jones Day grows Hong Kong team with hire of Orrick finance partner

    Jones Day has grown its Hong Kong office with the appointment of banking and finance partner Michelle Taylor from US rival Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. Taylor, who was previously the Asia managing partner for Orrick in Hong Kong before IP partner Xiang Wang took over the role in April, joins Jones Day with one associate, and boosts the total number of partners at the firm's Hong Kong office to 18.

    1 minute read

  • July 1, 2013 |

    Lawyer to the Lions: Bird & Bird partner Max Duthie's Lions tour diary - part 4

    The run-up to the first test in Brisbane was fascinating. There was the usual speculation as to who was going to make selection. And then when the match squad was announced (we were told 24 hours in advance of the public announcement), and those who were participating were congratulated by all, there was then further speculation as to how the others would react. And, crucially, would they drown their sorrows by going out on a bender, in time-honoured rugby tour fashion? It is testament to the squad spirit that they did not (or at least they did not do so obviously - it might have been that one or two of them shinned down the hotel drainpipe).

    1 minute read

  • July 1, 2013 |

    Sidley and Jones Day post healthy autumn NQ retention rates in London

    The London office of Sidley Austin has achieved a 100% trainee retention rate for its September intake, with all nine of the firm's autumn qualifiers accepting offers in their first-choice practice areas. Several of the US firm's newly qualified (NQ) lawyers were offered places in more than one practice group in the office, and it is understood that at least one practice group was left disappointed when it did not receive any trainees. However, the firm does not have any current plans to expand its trainee intake numbers.

    1 minute read

  • June 27, 2013 |

    City limits – are law firms are doing enough to combat work-based stress?

    As new research reveals lawyers are finding their jobs more stressful than ever, Georgina Stanley asks whether law firms are doing enough to combat work-based anxiety and other mental health issues Statistics on mental illness speak for themselves. Every year, about one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem, with about 10% of the population suffering from depression and anxiety issues. Figures from Mind, a UK mental health charity, suggest that 8% of those suffering from mental health issues in any year will require specialist psychiatric help, while 2% will have problems so severe they require in-patient treatment.

    1 minute read