Filter This View

  • July 11, 2013 |

    Making Haigh – GFH Capital's general counsel David Haigh on buying Leeds Utd

    When David Haigh recounts his first meeting with Ken Bates the anecdote reveals as much about himself as it does about the famously combative ex-chairman of Leeds United Football Club. "He had his leaving event recently and I was reminding him about the first time we met in Monaco," recalls Haigh, whose Dubai-based GFH Capital bought the club from Bates at the end of last year. "His first question to me, in a rather gruff voice, was 'how old are you?' – to which the answer was about a third of his age." The comments are typical of the chipper self-confidence exuded by 35-year-old Haigh, the Islamic private equity group's general counsel and deputy chief executive – and now managing director of Leeds United, with responsibility for the daily running of the club.

    1 minute read

  • July 10, 2013 |

    A&O, Nabarro, Addleshaws advise on UK Coal rescue deal

    Nabarro, Addleshaw Goddard and Allen & Overy (A&O) have won roles on a rescue deal the saw the UK's largest coal miner file for administration. Birmingham High Court appointed PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) partners David Kelly, Robert Hebenton and Ian Green as joint administrators of UK Coal yesterday (9 July) following an application made by UK Coal directors.

    1 minute read

  • July 4, 2013 |

    Branching out - how top law firms are going beyond the City to cut costs

    Deutsche Bank's global head of compliance, Simon Dodds, is one of many senior in-house lawyers to have called on City-based law firms to farm out straightforward legal work to low-cost centres. "Magic circle law firms in particular have a problem with their model. [They have] commoditised to some extent but lawyers are sitting in London – the most expensive place in the world," he told a Legal Week conference.

    1 minute read

  • July 4, 2013 |

    Near-shoring and LPO takes hold as more top 30 firms eye moves

    Fifteen of the UK's top 30 law firms by revenue have either set up their own low-cost legal centre or are sending routine legal work to legal process outsourcing (LPO) providers, according to research conducted by Legal Week. Several other leading firms are reviewing their options, including Stephenson Harwood, which is considering opening a low-cost legal centre, and SJ Berwin, which is in early stage talks to outsource its document production team.

    1 minute read

  • July 4, 2013 |

    Former Eversheds Edinburgh head joins Shepherd & Wedderburn

    Shepherd and Wedderburn has strengthened its finance and restructuring team with the hire of Eversheds' former Edinburgh chief Colin McKay. Banking and finance partner McKay, who is joining Shepherds on 15 July, will split his time between the Scots firm's Edinburgh and London offices.

    1 minute read

  • June 27, 2013 |

    White & Case gets licence to launch in Dubai

    White & Case is set to become the latest firm to open in Dubai after obtaining a licence to practise in the emirate. It is understood that the US firm will relocate a team of lawyers to run the new outpost, which will function as an offshoot of its operation in Abu Dhabi. The firm is still determining how the operation will be staffed, with an announcement due after the Eid holidays in early August. According to regulatory requirements, at least five lawyers are required to staff the base.

    1 minute read

  • June 25, 2013 |

    Pinsents signs up top-ranked banking partner in Birmingham

    Pinsent Masons has strengthened its financial services team with the hire of top-rated SGH Martineau partner David Doogan as head of the firm's Birmingham banking team. Doogan, who is top ranked by Chambers and Partners for banking and finance work in Birmingham, headed up the banking team at SGH Martineau, which was formed by the merger of Birmingham firm and London's Sprecher Grier Halberstam in 2011.

    1 minute read

  • June 20, 2013 |

    Diageo advisers on alert as new general counsel takes reins

    Diageo has appointed Siobhan Moriarty as its new general counsel, replacing current global legal chief Tim Proctor, who is retiring after 13 years in the role. Moriarty (pictured), who was previously European GC at the drinks giant, will formally step into the top legal role on 1 July, following a transition period that began in January. One of the largest corporates in the FTSE 100, Diageo counts Smirnoff, Jose Cuervo and Guinness among its brands.

    1 minute read

  • June 19, 2013 |

    Freshfields leads on £1bn Chinese buyout of UK yacht maker and hotel

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, White & Case and Addleshaw Goddard have advised on Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group's acquisitions of UK luxury yacht company Sunseeker International and a hotel development site in London for a combined value of £1bn. The deals are among the largest UK acquisitions by Chinese private enterprises, and Dalian Wanda's first major investments in the country.

    1 minute read

  • June 17, 2013 |

    Budget gym chain acquisition hands roles to law firm trio

    Hogan Lovells and Eversheds are among the firms that have landed key roles on an acquisition that has seen buyout house Phoenix Equity partners buy a majority stake in a low-cost gym operator. Phoenix, which also owns stakes in restaurant chain Busaba Eatthai and fashion retailer Radley, bought the stake in The Gym group from Bridges Ventures, for a reported value of £90m. Bridges has retained a 25% stake in the company.

    1 minute read