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  • April 16, 2008 |

    US Focus: Legal aid

    When a London-based partner at a magic circle firm took an American colleague and his wife out to the opera recently, the conversation turned to politics.The English lawyer expressed surprise that the US partner appeared to be so familiar with the political views and activities of his fellow partners. Indeed, the US lawyer observed: "Partners are likely to have lunchtime conversation about politics or pull someone across the room and say 'did you read that article today about that speech by Obama?'"While in the UK there are numerous high-level politicians who initially trained as lawyers, on the other side of the Atlantic practising lawyers tend to be more engaged in politics, at both a local and national level. "In the US a large proportion of prominent lawyers are very politically active," says the US partner. "Many may run for office some day or, even if not, they are very politically connected. A significant reason for why lawyers become lawyers in the US is that they have political ambitions or interests - they would like to have some influence."

    1 minute read

  • April 11, 2008 |

    US Briefing: AmLaw's Dealmakers of the Year

    Not since 2002 has the business environment been so grim. And as hard as it is to close a headline-grabbing deal while the economy is flush, the challenge is even greater in tough times. Rescuing deals in distress takes creative solutions. The American Lawyer's annual Dealmakers of the Year report shines a spotlight on lawyers who played pivotal roles in some of 2007's biggest, most creative and most noteworthy transactions. Read on for more about the deals that put them at the top of the list.

    1 minute read

  • April 4, 2008 |

    Sidley snaps up senior funds man from SJs

    Sidley Austin has bagged a new City partner for its financial services team with the addition of Bruce Gardner from SJ Berwin. Gardner, who specialises in hedge funds and financial markets, left SJ Berwin today (4 April) and will join the top 10 US firm's London office next week. He takes with him one associate.

    1 minute read

  • April 3, 2008 |

    Boardman hits AmLaw's deal partner list as sole UK lawyer

    Slaughter and May corporate heavyweight Nigel Boardman has become the only UK partner to feature in a ranking of leading deal lawyers compiled by Legal Week's US sister title The American Lawyer. The magazine's annual Dealmakers of the Year list shows Boardman, who has been a partner with Slaughters since 1982 after joining the firm in 1973, to be the sole UK face among a group of high-profile US partners.

    1 minute read

  • April 3, 2008 | International Edition

    City partnership rounds hold up despite financial market fears

    Herbert Smith and Olswang have both announced bumper crops of new partners, as the UK's top law firms cast aside fears about the credit crunch to announce their latest round of partnership promotions. The pair join firms including Macfarlanes, CMS Cameron McKenna and Wragge & Co to increase their tallies on last year, with Trowers & Hamlins the only firm to date to see a significant drop in its number of new partners.

    1 minute read

  • April 3, 2008 |

    City partnership rounds hold up despite financial market fears

    Herbert Smith and Olswang have both announced bumper crops of new partners, as the UK's top law firms cast aside fears about the credit crunch to announce their latest round of partnership promotions. The pair join firms including Macfarlanes, CMS Cameron McKenna and Wragge & Co to increase their tallies on last year, with Trowers & Hamlins the only firm to date to see a significant drop in its number of new partners.

    1 minute read

  • March 25, 2008 | International Edition

    Olswang makes up record 10 to partnership

    Olswang is set to break through the 100-partner barrier for the first time after unveiling its largest round of partner promotions to date. The top 20 City firm is promoting 10 of its associates to the partnership with effect from 1 May, in what represents its largest batch of promotions since the firm's foundation in 1981.

    1 minute read

  • March 25, 2008 |

    Olswang makes up record 10 to partnership

    Olswang is set to break through the 100-partner barrier for the first time after unveiling its largest round of partner promotions to date. The top 20 City firm is promoting 10 of its associates to the partnership with effect from 1 May, in what represents its largest batch of promotions since the firm's foundation in 1981.

    1 minute read

  • March 20, 2008 |

    Advisers scramble as credit turmoil claims Carlyle fund and Bear Stearns

    Finance lawyers are scrambling to position themselves globally after renewed turmoil in credit markets led to the collapse of two hedge funds in Europe and the fire-sale of Wall Street giant Bear Stearns.First to secure lead roles were Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Linklaters as Carlyle Capital Corporation announced its liquidation after defaulting on debts of $16bn (£7.8bn).

    1 minute read

  • March 18, 2008 |

    JP Morgan sets aside $6bn to combat Bear Stearns claims as Wachtell secures trophy mandate

    JP Morgan Chase is setting aside $6bn (£2.9bn) to cover potential litigation as it agrees to buy stricken Wall Street giant Bear Stearns for just $240m (£119m). Following the announcement on 16 March that it is buying the bank for a fraction of its previous value, JP Morgan said it is estimating the cost of the transaction at around $6bn - taking into account the potential of litigation stemming from the drop in Bear Stearn's stock value and severance costs.

    1 minute read