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  • October 6, 2009 |

    International relations

    That law firms are devoting increasing amounts of time and effort to pro bono projects is nothing new. But, with international firms keen to involve as many of their lawyers as possible, the types of opportunities available are changing. In particular, the number of projects either benefiting those in developing counties or involving an overseas trip is on the increase. International efforts look likely to grow further still next year as two leading organisations in the sector - the International Lawyers Project (ILP) and Advocates for International Development (A4ID) - both look to expand initiatives outside the UK. Significantly, both are keen to pick up more senior lawyers.

    1 minute read

  • September 30, 2009 |

    Deutsche relations in spotlight after White & Case departures

    White & Case is working to renew its relationship in London with key client Deutsche Bank, after six partners with links to the client left the firm's banking and capital markets practice in 18 months. Since key relationship partner Mike Goetz quit for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in March 2008, a further five partners linked with Deutsche have left in London - putting the connection under strain. At its height the relationship was thought to be worth around $25m (£16m) a year to the firm's London office.

    1 minute read

  • September 24, 2009 |

    DLA and Harbottle score lead roles on £80m Liverpool FC shirt sponsorship deal

    DLA Piper and Harbottle & Lewis have landed lead roles advising on a new £80m sponsorship agreement between Standard Chartered Bank and Liverpool Football Club. The new deal will see Standard Chartered become Liverpool's official sponsor for four years, starting in July 2010. DLA Piper was drafted in to advise longstanding client Liverpool, with local technology, media and commercial partner Sarah Bell taking the lead role.

    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 |

    Freshfields appoints new Asia financial services chief with Citi hire

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has brought in a new leader for its Asia financial services practice with a senior hire from Citi. Royce Miller, managing director and general counsel of Citi's Asia Pacific Institutional Clients Group, is set to join the magic circle firm in Hong Kong early next year.

    1 minute read

  • September 16, 2009 |

    Lost weekend: Lehman's collapse

    One year ago, banking behemoth Lehman Brothers crumbled, its Chapter 11 filing sending shockwaves across the world economy. A select few lawyers were at Ground Zero of the implosion. Among them was Lori Fife, a business finance and restructuring partner at Weil Gotshal & Manges, Lehman's bankruptcy counsel. Along with Weil bankruptcy legend Harvey Miller, Fife has been on the case for the past year.

    1 minute read

  • September 11, 2009 |

    CC advises Vivendi on $2.9bn Brazil bid

    Clifford Chance (CC) is advising French media conglomerate Vivendi on its surprise offer to buy Brazilian telecom company GVT Holding for $2.9bn (£1.76bn), writes The AmLaw Daily. Vivendi, which owns Universal Music Group and the video game company Activision Blizzard, plans to finance the deal with existing credit facilities it set aside for acquisitions, according to Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal. Marcus Billam is leading the CC team from the firm's Paris office.

    1 minute read

  • September 8, 2009 |

    Freshfields recruits Weil Gotshal antitrust partner in Paris

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has secured a boost for its Paris office with the hire of antitrust partner Maria Trabucchi from Weil Gotshal & Manges. Trabucchi has acted for global and European clients on a range of matters including merger control, cartel and state aid issues.

    1 minute read

  • September 8, 2009 |

    Dealmaker of the Week: Morton Pierce of Dewey & LeBoeuf

    Three months ago, Dewey & LeBoeuf's M&A chair, Morton Pierce, was called in to Disney's Burbank offices...

    1 minute read

  • September 1, 2009 |

    DLA Piper signs up Linklaters partner for EMEA corporate team

    DLA Piper has bolstered its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) corporate practice with the addition of Linklaters partner Jon Hayes. Hayes, who trained at the magic circle firm and became a partner in 2001, joins DLA today (1 September) with the aim of boosting client ties with London corporates and international clients. He will work alongside DLA's EMEA corporate head Juan Picon. Hayes said: "The practice has a strong, upper mid-market reputation in London and fantastic international capabilities that will provide me with a great platform from which to develop relationships with clients whose legal needs extend beyond single transactions or are truly global."

    1 minute read