• August 19, 2013 |

    BLP global private equity head McKeeve leaves for Jones Day

    Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) global head of private equity Raymond McKeeve has left to join Jones Day in a coup for the US firm's London office. McKeeve has spent four years at BLP after joining as private equity head in 2009, just a year after leaving Kirkland & Ellis in 2008, during which time he worked as an investment professional for property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz.

    1 minute read

  • August 2, 2013 |

    Sidley continues to ramp up Singapore with fourth partner hire since local licence win

    Sidley Austin has hired its fourth partner in Singapore since receiving a local licence in the city-state in February, giving it a total partner headcount of eight. The US firm this week recruited project finance partner Nicholas Grambas from Gilbert + Tobin (G+T)in Melbourne, in a bid to ramp up its infrastructure-focused team.

    1 minute read

  • July 29, 2013 |

    Latham and Wachtell among firms on $35bn advertising mega-merger

    A host of firms including Latham & Watkins and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz have taken roles on the merger of advertising heavyweights Omnicom and Publicis Groupe, a deal which has created a $35bn (£23bn) company. The deal, announced yesterday (28 July) is the largest public company merger of 2013 so far, and creates the world's leading company in communications, advertising, marketing and digital services.

    1 minute read

  • July 25, 2013 |

    Jones Day set for fee boon with Detroit bankruptcy mandate

    Jones Day is poised for a fee windfall after landing the lead advisory role on the bankruptcy of Detroit, just four months after being hired by the US city to advise on financial matters. The role on what is set to become the largest municipal bankruptcy in US history is likely to prove lucrative for the firm, given the vast amount of creditors preparing to file claims for money owed by the city. Detroit, which filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy last Thursday (18 July), has debts totalling as much as $18bn (£12bn).

    1 minute read

  • 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