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  • July 25, 2013 |

    Lloyds legal heads agree flexi-work setup in rare senior job share

    Lloyds Banking Group's two most senior lawyers have moved into a job-sharing arrangement, in a high-profile example of changing attitudes towards flexible working in the legal profession. Group general counsel Andrew Whittaker (pictured) and his deputy Kate Cheetham have agreed a flexible working plan following Whittaker's move to the bank in May from the Financial Services Authority, where he was also GC. Though Cheetham works full time, she effectively shares the leadership of the legal team with Whittaker, who is contracted to a 0.6 full-time equivalent post. The duo said Whittaker's regulatory experience complements former Linklaters lawyer Cheetham's background in corporate law.

    1 minute read

  • July 25, 2013 |

    Addleshaws and Hogan Lovells win roles on multibillion rail upgrade programme

    Addleshaw Goddard and Hogan Lovells have won work on a major rail deal that has seen the Department for Transport (DfT) place a £1.2bn order for 270 new high-speed trains for the East Coast Main Line. The DfT last week awarded the contract to Agility Trains, a joint venture between Hitachi Rail Europe and John Laing Investments, as part of its Intercity Express Programme (IEP) to upgrade the UK's rail system. The carriages will be manufactured at Hitachi's new factory in County Durham, with the deal coming after the DfT last year agreed an initial £4.5bn order with Agility.

    1 minute read

  • July 23, 2013 |

    The Performance Challenge: evaluating current performance

    Our starting point in The Performance Challenge is to suggest you consider how you are approaching the following four dimensions of performance in your own organisation and how you would honestly rank yourself today.

    1 minute read

  • July 23, 2013 |

    The Performance Challenge: practical tips

    Through their discussions with the ValueDynamics panel of contributors, Addleshaw Goddard have identified a number of practical ideas to improve the effectiveness of the legal function.

    1 minute read

  • July 19, 2013 |

    ValueDynamics - the Performance Challenge

    In this, the fourth article in the ValueDynamics series, Addleshaw Goddard considers in depth the third of four sections of our study: the Performance Challenge. The Performance Challenge follows the Value and Structural Challenges and also provides a platform for the Talent Challenge by enabling GCs to work out how to get the best out of their in-house legal team.

    1 minute read

  • July 19, 2013 |

    The Performance Challenge: a 12 month programme for General Counsel

    Having determined and designed the right structure, GCs need to understand how to get that structure performing in the right way. How can they harness the activities of the team and its structure to drive value for the business? How can they ensure that performance is greater than the sum of the team's parts?

    1 minute read

  • July 18, 2013 |

    Addleshaws and DWF lead as JD Sports buys Ark out of administration

    Addleshaw Goddard and DWF have both taken lead roles on JD Sports Fashion's purchase of the business and assets of financially stricken fashion retailer Ark out of administration. The transaction, the value of which is undisclosed, is expected to save about 10 stores and 160 jobs at Leeds-headquartered Ark, while the company's management board has also been retained.

    1 minute read

  • July 18, 2013 |

    Construction group Costain to review five-firm legal panel

    Construction and engineering company Costain Group is to review its external panel of legal advisers later this year. The listed company is set to launch a review of its current five-firm line-up, in a move that will mark the first formal review of the roster since it was first introduced in 2008. The current line-up sees Slaughter and May act as a primary adviser on major corporate work, alongside Pinsent Masons, Bevan Brittan, Addleshaw Goddard and Clyde & Co. The review will be led by legal director and company secretary Tracey Wood, who first developed the panel system five years ago after joining from legacy Hammonds. She commented: "Working with fewer suppliers has increased benefits and understanding on both sides."

    1 minute read

  • July 18, 2013 |

    Addleshaws moves Africa energy market up agenda with double partner hire

    Addleshaw Goddard is driving Africa up the agenda with a push into the energy and resources markets following the hire of Shepherd and Wedderburn partner duo Angus Rollo and Guy Winter. The pair, both of whom previously worked at Linklaters and Shearman & Sterling, will boost partner numbers within the firm's Africa group to six.

    1 minute read

  • July 11, 2013 |

    Addleshaws, Linklaters and Olswang advise on Sainsbury's-Vodafone mobile network deal

    Addleshaw Goddard, Linklaters and Olswang have advised on a joint venture (JV) between Sainsbury's and Vodafone to create a new mobile phone network, 'Mobile by Sainsbury's'. Addleshaws advised Sainsbury's, with a team led by technology, media and intellectual property partner James Whittaker and corporate finance partner Andrew Rosling. Linklaters and Olswang acted for Vodafone, with Linklaters' global competition head Gerwin Van Gerven advising on competition clearance alongside Raj Roy from Vodafone's in-house legal team. Olswang partner Louis Glass handled corporate advice.

    1 minute read