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  • February 20, 2014 |

    Turning up the heat – South Africa's role as a hub for the wider continent

    According to many lawyers in South Africa the vibe at the African Mining Indaba – a practically mandatory event in every major local law firm's calendar – was somewhat reserved this year. It is not hard to see why, when taking into account reduced output volumes from the economy's cornerstone mining sector. Onlookers observe that South Africa is facing an onslaught of negative sentiment given the volume of industrial disputes and unrest in the mining sector as well as the imminent presidential election, causing many investors to hold off until a clearer picture emerges. Added to this, the rand has tumbled against the world's major currencies, resulting in a hike in benchmark interest rates. Some lawyers in the jurisdiction have been surprised, then, at the influx of international newcomers in the past year. Linklaters became the first of the magic circle to establish a significant presence on the ground when it sealed an alliance with Webber Wentzel at the end of 2012, while Hogan Lovells forged a tie-up with former Eversheds alliance firm Routledge Modise in December last year, with the latter now trading under the Hogan Lovells brand. Eversheds itself re-entered the South African market at the same time, after signing an agreement with Mahons Attorneys a year after its split with Routledge.

    1 minute read

  • February 19, 2014 |

    Singapore expected to announce successful licence renewals this month

    The first international law firms to receive local licences to practice in Singapore are expecting to hear later this month whether they have will be renewed

    1 minute read

  • February 19, 2014 |

    Norton Rose Fulbright secures Rio launch with former BP lawyer

    Norton Rose Fulbright has launched in Rio de Janeiro with the hire of BP's former assistant general counsel Andrew Haynes to co-head the new venture. Haynes, who joined the firm earlier this month, will lead the new Brazilian office alongside the firm's current Colombia head Glenn Faass.

    1 minute read

  • February 18, 2014 |

    Latham hires third Clifford Chance private equity partner in a year

    Latham & Watkins has hired its third private equity partner from Clifford Chance (CC) in a year, with the appointment of the magic circle's Africa co-head Kem Ihenacho. Ihenacho, who joins Latham's corporate department, advises private equity houses and their portfolio companies on a range of UK and international transactions, with a particular focus on Africa.

    1 minute read

  • February 16, 2014 |

    Wragges, LG confirm management board for merged firm

    Wragge & Co and Lawrence Graham have set up a new management board for the combined firm, which will be structured around five practice groups when the merger goes live on 1 May.

    1 minute read

  • February 13, 2014 |

    Why the future of Russia's most progressive court system is hanging in the balance

    In December 2013 the Russian Constitution celebrated its 20th anniversary. However, for lawyers, this anniversary was overshadowed by another event. On 7 October 2013 the President of the Russian Federation submitted to the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) a bill proposing amendments to the Constitution. Under this bill, it was proposed that Russia's two highest courts, which sit above two separate systems, be merged. A de facto result of this is the dissolution of the most progressive court in Russia: the Supreme Arbitrazh Court (SAC). The bill provides that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation will become the single highest judicial body for considering civil, criminal, administrative and other cases, as well as economic disputes (the latter were previously within the remit of the SAC). The Supreme Court will be relocated from Moscow to St Petersburg, with a new separate department for economic disputes.

    1 minute read

  • February 13, 2014 | International Edition

    Reasons to be cheerful – is the LG merger a good move for Wragge & Co?

    For a law firm leader, Wragge & Co senior partner Quentin Poole is very approachable. Neither colleagues nor rivals seem to have a bad word to say about him and, as the firm's long-awaited London merger draws closer, he has more reason than ever to be cheerful. Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co may not exactly roll off the tongue, but the tie-up goes some way towards giving Wragges the London traction it has been struggling to build organically for many years. Not to mention a shiny, relatively new office in More London – albeit, an office more synonymous with merger partner Lawrence Graham's financial difficulties than anything positive. The union, which goes live in May, takes Wragges from Birmingham firm to UK player and represents a shift in its approach to the UK legal market and beyond. It's a deal that makes sense for both firms even though it does not come near to delivering the finished article.

    1 minute read

  • February 13, 2014 |

    Reasons to be cheerful – is the LG merger a good move for Wragge & Co?

    For a law firm leader, Wragge & Co senior partner Quentin Poole is very approachable. Neither colleagues nor rivals seem to have a bad word to say about him and, as the firm's long-awaited London merger draws closer, he has more reason than ever to be cheerful. Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co may not exactly roll off the tongue, but the tie-up goes some way towards giving Wragges the London traction it has been struggling to build organically for many years. Not to mention a shiny, relatively new office in More London – albeit, an office more synonymous with merger partner Lawrence Graham's financial difficulties than anything positive. The union, which goes live in May, takes Wragges from Birmingham firm to UK player and represents a shift in its approach to the UK legal market and beyond. It's a deal that makes sense for both firms even though it does not come near to delivering the finished article.

    1 minute read

  • February 13, 2014 |

    Wragges, LG on lookout for global merger following domestic tie-up

    Wragge & Co and Lawrence Graham (LG) will seek a global merger once their own tie-up goes live on 1 May. In an exclusive interview with Legal Week, Wragges senior partner Quentin Poole said a merger with an international practice or practices was on the cards. The firms are thought to be interested in the model adopted by Norton Rose Fulbright and Dentons, both of which have expanded rapidly through a series of combinations. "Both firms will be more attractive now we have a bigger proposition in the UK and we are very open minded about a global merger," said Poole.

    1 minute read

  • February 10, 2014 |

    Norton Rose Fulbright LLPs reveal 75% drop in net debt

    Norton Rose Fulbright reduced its net debt by £18.6m during the 2012-13 financial year, according to the firm's latest limited liability partnership (LLP) accounts. The report, filed with Companies House, showed that overall net debt dropped from £26.1m to £7.5m.

    1 minute read