Filter This View

  • May 5, 2010 |

    Shell overlooks former key adviser Slaughters after panel overhaul

    Royal Dutch Shell has finalised a global panel review which has seen former principal corporate adviser Slaughter and May miss out on a formal appointment. It is understood that magic circle rivals Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy will now share the sought-after global M&A work for the energy company.

    1 minute read

  • May 4, 2010 |

    DLA cleared after sex discrimination allegations from former partner

    DLA Piper has successfully defended itself against allegations of sexual discrimination brought by a former partner. A Liverpool employment tribunal cleared the firm of the charges brought by former real estate partner Sarah Sweeney, dismissing all of her claims at the end of last month.

    1 minute read

  • May 4, 2010 |

    Freshfields checks in for antitrust role on $3bn United-Continental tie-up

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has taken a role alongside a trio of US firms on the $3bn (£2bn) tie-up of United Airlines and Continental Airlines, reports The Am Law Daily. The deal, which has created the world's largest carrier by passenger traffic, will see the newly-merged company retain the name United. Both carriers had previously considered a merger two years ago, but that deal collapsed over concerns about oil prices and $537m (£353m) in first-quarter losses by United that year.

    1 minute read

  • April 28, 2010 |

    Herbert Smith quartet join Jones Day to launch Paris energy practice

    Jones Day has recuited a four-lawyer team from Herbert Smith to set up an energy practice in the US firm's Paris office. Laurent Vandomme will head the practice alongside counsel Denis Bandet and Akshai Fofaria and associate Etienne Dinner.

    1 minute read

  • April 27, 2010 |

    Macfarlanes makes up just one to partner in promotions round

    Macfarlanes has made up just one partner in this year's promotions round, with pensions specialist Camilla Barry set to join the partnership as of 1 May 2010. The number of partners made up at the firm has decreased steadily over the past three years, after five were promoted in 2008 and then just two last year.

    1 minute read

  • April 27, 2010 |

    Election 2010: Blue water, but not so clear

    It seems the legal profession faces what will in policy terms be by far the most significant general election since 1997 like much of the general public: confused about which way to go. For once, that is not because the election will be of little relevance to the hardened City lawyer; it is a long time since an election campaign has been so heavily focused on issues directly affecting the Square Mile.

    1 minute read

  • April 14, 2010 |

    M&A teams cheered as global market sees modest Q1 revival

    The UK M&A market is showing signs of recovery as activity levels begin to improve, according to new research from mergermarket. The figures show that 171 UK M&A deals were announced in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 150 during the same period last year, while the total value of deals during Q1 also increased, rising from $18.6bn (£12.2bn) last year to $20.7bn (£13.6bn).

    1 minute read

  • April 12, 2010 |

    Departure of Stevens leaves big shoes to fill at US Supreme Court

    US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, a one-time centrist maverick who became a powerful leader of the Court's liberal wing, announced his retirement on Friday (9 May), just 11 days short of his 90th birthday. When Stevens departs at the end of the current term in late June or early July, he will have been one of the oldest and longest-serving justices in US history, appointed by President Gerald Ford in 1975, and the last justice with World War II service.

    1 minute read

  • April 6, 2010 |

    A&O and Jones Day lead as Virgin Money seals investment for RBS bid

    Allen & Overy (A&O) and Jones Day have taken lead roles on the tie-up between Richard Branson's Virgin Money and US investor Wilbur Ross, reports The Am Law Daily. Ross has agreed to invest £100m in Virgin Money in exchange for a 21% stake in the company, and the billionaire is set to inject as much as £500m more into Virgin Money to help it in its bid to acquire distressed British banking assets.

    1 minute read

  • March 24, 2010 |

    Training and education: The evolution of legal training

    Since its establishment in January 2007, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has indelibly stamped its mark on the profession. Having introduced a new code of conduct in 2007 and overhauled the Legal Practice Course, the SRA in 2008 began to tackle the training contract, which has been the route for qualification as a solicitor since 1994, by trialing a new system for training lawyers. "We're aiming to make the legal profession one pure meritocracy," declares SRA education and training manager Tim Pearce.

    1 minute read