Filter This View

  • September 30, 2009 |

    Commentary: Trophy deals help real estate lawyers dream of better days

    If there's one practice in desperate need of a boost, it's real estate. With the sector the first to feel the pain of the credit crunch, deals have been painfully thin on the ground for two years now. And news last month that Eversheds was to make more property job cuts was a reminder that many are not expecting a rapid rebound. But those real estate advisers lucky enough to still have a job may be able to start breathing a little more easily as the signs are finally pointing towards some form of recovery in the commercial property sector. In particular, Blackstone Group's joint venture with British Land in the £2.13bn Broadgate Circle estate in London was probably the most visible indication of the kind of trophy deal that has been missing but there have been some other signs.

    1 minute read

  • September 28, 2009 |

    Simpson Thacher and Cravath head up $6.4bn Xerox acquisition

    A trio of US law firms have won roles on Xerox's $6.4bn (£4bn) purchase of business process outsourcing company Affiliated Computer Services (ACS). The deal, announced today (28 September), will see the US photocopier giant purchase ACS, handing roles to Cravath Swaine & Moore, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Ropes & Gray.

    1 minute read

  • September 23, 2009 |

    CC and Weil Gotshal land roles on $2.6bn Orangina Schweppes bid

    Clifford Chance (CC) and Weil Gotshal & Manges have taken lead roles on Japanese drinks company Suntory's offer to buy Orangina Schweppes Group from two high-profile private equity funds, Lion Capital Holdings and the Blackstone Group. Weil Gotshal is advising Blackstone and Lion Capital, which purchased Orangina from Cadbury in 2006 for $2.1bn (£1.3bn). London office managing partner Mike Francies is leading the firm's team on the deal.

    1 minute read

  • September 18, 2009 |

    SJ Berwin and Simpson Thacher lead on British Land's Broadgate sell-off

    SJ Berwin and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have picked up lead roles as British Land prepares to sell half of London's Broadgate Circle to US private equity house Blackstone Group. City firm SJ Berwin is representing longstanding client British Land on the deal, which will see the two companies form a 50:50 joint venture, through which two Blackstone real estate funds will buy the stake in Broadgate, which is valued at £2.13bn.

    1 minute read

  • September 16, 2009 | International Edition

    Take your chances

    After dominating the 1990s, Clifford Chance has weathered a turbulent decade and a brutal financial year. Georgina Stanley assesses if the firm can regain its former glory

    1 minute read

  • September 16, 2009 |

    Take your chances

    After dominating the 1990s, Clifford Chance has weathered a turbulent decade and a brutal financial year. Georgina Stanley assesses if the firm can regain its former glory

    1 minute read

  • September 7, 2009 |

    CC and Slaughters lead on rejected £10.2bn Cadbury bid

    Clifford Chance (CC) and Slaughter and May are advising as US food giant Kraft Foods attempts to takeover Cadbury. Cadbury announced today (7 September) that it had rejected a £10.2bn offer made by Kraft at the end of August, however the US company is still committed to reaching a deal.

    1 minute read

  • August 20, 2009 |

    US firms unite to oppose shareholder nominations to corporate boards

    Seven elite US law firms have come together to lobby the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on how the agency should implement a proposal to allow shareholders to nominate company directors. Lawyers involved in drafting the letter acknowledge it was rare for one letter to come from all the firms, which included Cravath Swaine & Moore, Sullivan & Cromwell and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz. At least four of the firms also sent separate letters addressing concerns with the policy direction the SEC is taking.

    1 minute read

  • July 23, 2009 |

    Slaughters and Simpson Thacher lead on €250m KKR music deal

    Slaughter and May and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have landed lead roles advising on a joint venture between media giant Bertelsmann and US private equity house Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR). Slaughters was drafted in to advise the German media group on the arrangement, which will see KKR putting in up to €250m (£214m) to acquire catalogues of songs.

    1 minute read

  • July 22, 2009 |

    Simpson, Cravath and Bredin Prat line up on KKR merger deal

    A trio of international firms have advised on private equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co's (KKR's) merger with its European affiliate KKR Private Equity Investors (KPE), reports The Am Law Daily. The transaction has been approved by directors at KKR and KPE and will be completed on 1 October if a majority of KPE unit holders agree to the merger during voting in the third quarter. The deal could bring KKR one step closer to a public listing in New York, which it delayed last year amid turmoil in the credit markets.

    1 minute read