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  • March 5, 2008 |

    Commercial and Chancery Bar: Centre point

    In an article entitled 'Starting from Scratch' on 29 March, 2007, Legal Week reported on the ambitious plans for the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and its Court. In the subsequent year the world's leading financial institutions have continued to pour into the centre and the list of law firms with a presence in the DIFC now include Akin Gump, Allen & Overy, Al Tamimi & Co, Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Conyers Dill & Pearman, Denton Wilde Sapte, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, Lovells, Maples and Calder, Norton Rose, Reed Smith Richards Butler, Simmons & Simmons and Walkers. In addition, the UK law firms Kennedys and Clyde & Co, which are based in greater Dubai, have also been active in the DIFC Court. It is notable that in January the International Bar Association (IBA) established its Middle East office in the DIFC. The opening of the office was timed to correspond with the IBA's Arab regional forum's conference on Islamic finance in the Middle East. The DIFC has set its sights on becoming the world centre for Islamic finance and is itself an active investor. In June 2007, DIFC Investments listed a $1.25bn (£630m) sukuk on the Dubai International Financial Exchange, taking the total value of sukuk listed on the exchange to $10.43bn (£5.26bn) - the highest of any exchange worldwide. The DIFC has also been an active investor in international markets and acquired a 2.2% stake in Deutsche Bank, which, according to publicly-available market data, makes it the largest external strategic shareholder in the international investment bank.

    1 minute read

  • February 15, 2008 |

    Cohen Milstein lands $200m BA-Virgin settlement

    Class action giant Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll has won a landmark victory in the US courts after securing a $200m (£102m) settlement from British Airways and Virgin in relation to price-fixing, it was announced today (15 February). The settlement will see £73.5m put aside for just over five million UK residents who will have until 2012 to claim up to £20 for a return flight after both airlines admitted to price-fixing fuel surcharges on flights between August 2004 to March 2006.

    1 minute read

  • January 30, 2008 |

    Holman Fenwick makes Brussels bow with former Addleshaws Belgium head

    London's Holman Fenwick & Willan has launched in Brussels with the hire of Addleshaw Goddard's former Belgian office head Dan Horovitz, as it moves to bulk up its corporate practice.He will open the firm's first capability in Brussels when he joins as an international trade and competition partner in February.

    1 minute read

  • January 30, 2008 |

    School of hard knocks

    Famously, there is little love lost between the College of Law and arch rival BPP.The schools this month took time out from slating each other in the legal press to do actual, physical battle on the rugby field in the Clyde & Co Cup, which is, presumably, sponsored by City law firm Clyde & Co. Bit of a coincidence otherwise.Anyway, strapping lads from the College took on BPP Holborn in the inaugural final of the tournament, beginning what could become one of the great educational sporting rivalries, alongside the Boat Race, Notre Dame versus Michigan at American football and Eton versus Harrow in the 'most partners at Freshfields' stakes.

    1 minute read

  • January 17, 2008 |

    JJB price-fixing case prompts calls for group action revamp

    Senior litigation lawyers have called for major revisions to the UK's group action regime following a low-key outcome to the pioneering JJB Sports price-fixing case. The case, which settled last week (9 January), saw the sports retailer set aside more than £100,000 in compensation for consumers who had suffered as a consequence of illegally fixing the prices of replica football shirts. The groundbreaking claim, which was pursued by consumer group Which? and legal adviser Clyde & Co, marks the first successful action brought under new powers that allow 'representative claims' on behalf of consumers.

    1 minute read

  • January 9, 2008 |

    Clydes wins for Which? in replica kit claim

    Clyde & Co has won a landmark victory for consumer group Which? in its group action against JJB Sports for illegally fixing the prices of replica football shirts. The settlement, which was agreed today (9 January), saw the sports retailer set aside over £100,000 in compensation for consumers after what marks the first successful case brought by the consumer group since it gained the power to represent consumers in 2005.

    1 minute read

  • December 17, 2007 | International Edition

    MoD hands Wragges £1.2bn Navy ports project

    Wragge & Co has scored its latest major mandate from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), a longstanding client of the Birmingham-based law firm, advising on a £1.2bn Royal Navy ports project. Wragges projects partner Michael Whitehouse is advising the MoD on a 15-year contract with Serco Denholm Marine Services to provide services to the Royal Navy's three UK ports.

    1 minute read

  • December 17, 2007 |

    MoD hands Wragges £1.2bn Navy ports project

    Wragge & Co has scored its latest major mandate from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), a longstanding client of the Birmingham-based law firm, advising on a £1.2bn Royal Navy ports project. Wragges projects partner Michael Whitehouse is advising the MoD on a 15-year contract with Serco Denholm Marine Services to provide services to the Royal Navy's three UK ports.

    1 minute read

  • December 12, 2007 |

    Commentary: Shipping lawyers on course for treasure island

    Clifford Chance's (CC's) decision to transfer its shipping team to Holman Fenwick & Willan was a headline writer's dream. Had the team 'set sail', 'jumped ship' or 'walked the plank'? The possibilities were endless.

    1 minute read

  • December 6, 2007 |

    International Firm of the Year

    The British Legal Awards 2007: International Firm of the Year. Winner: Allen & Overy. Finalists: Clyde & Co, DLA Piper UK, Eversheds, Salans, White & Case

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