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  • May 18, 2009 |

    O'Melveny seals London boost with finance hire

    O'Melveny & Myers has boosted its acquisition finance capability in the City with the hire of Sherri Snelson from US rival Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson. The UK and US-qualified partner will join O'Melveny on 1 June, having been at Fried Frank since 2002, making partner in 2004. Her practice focuses on representing lenders and borrowers in leveraged finance acquisitions, as well as broader finance elements.

    1 minute read

  • May 14, 2009 |

    US trio lead on landmark Intel investigation

    A trio of US firms have taken lead roles for Intel in the investigation which yesterday (13 May) resulted in one of the largest-ever fines handed out by the European Commission. The EC handed Intel a penalty of €1.06bn (£951m) for anti-competitive behaviour and abusing its dominant position as a market leader for producing microprocessors. Intel has said that it will appeal the ruling.Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and Howrey all advised Intel on the investigation, which has been ongoing since the beginning of the decade.Skadden took the lead role as European adviser, with the firm's team led by Brussels-based antitrust and competition partner Jim Venit. Howrey also advised on EU matters but the team was led by Washington DC-based antitrust partner Darren Bernhard. In addition, the company instructed Brick Court Chambers.

    1 minute read

  • May 13, 2009 |

    O'Melveny litigation trio quit to join Skadden

    O'Melveny & Myers has lost the chair of its class actions practice and two other litigation partners to Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, reports the Am Law Litigation Daily. John Beisner, who has been one of the most visible of O'Melveny's partners in recent years, has joined Skadden in Washington along with with Stephen Harburg and Jessica Davidson Miller. High-profile mandates for Beisner include last year's negotiation of a multibillion-dollar settlement for Bank of America with 11 state attorney generals over troubled mortgages issued by its Countrywide unit, while in 2007, he played a leading role representing Merck in its $4.85bn (£3.2bn) Vioxx settlement.

    1 minute read

  • May 7, 2009 |

    CC partner quartet quit to form New York boutique

    A four-partner litigation team from Clifford Chance's (CC) New York office has left the firm to set up an arbitration boutique. Disputes partners Peter Chaffetz, David Lindsey, Charlie Scibetta and James Hosking have left the magic circle firm to launch Chaffetz Lindsey - which officially opened earlier this week (5 May).The new firm, which also includes former CC counsel Cecilia Moss, will focus on arbitration, reinsurance and litigation work.

    1 minute read

  • May 7, 2009 |

    Links, Herbert Smith vie for RenCap panel spots

    Russian investment bank Renaissance Capital (RenCap) is in the process of drawing up its first formal panel of legal advisers, with Linklaters and Herbert Smith the main UK contenders for the roster.RenCap's London-based global general counsel, Steven Wootton, is responsible for setting up the panel, which is expected to be finalised within the next few months.

    1 minute read

  • May 6, 2009 |

    Skadden moves City QC for Asia arbitration launch

    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has launched an Asian international arbitration and litigation practice with senior lawyers relocated from London to Hong Kong. The practice will be led by Paul Mitchard QC (pictured), a veteran arbitration specialist who has represented numerous multinational corporations in international commercial matters, particularly in the energy and financial services industries.Counsel Mark Mangan and associate Calvin Chan will also relocate from London to Hong Kong to join the international arbitration and litigation group. The firm has also recruited associate Alan Tsang for the group from the local arm of Pinsent Masons.

    1 minute read

  • May 5, 2009 |

    DLA Piper and Skadden win Christie's panel roles

    Leading auction house Christie's has overhauled its panel of legal advisers to focus on working with a smaller group of firms across a number of jurisdictions. Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and DLA Piper have been appointed as lead global counsel following an invitation to tender sent out to firms late last year.The company did not previously operate an official panel, instead using a large number of advisers around the world as and when the need arose. The review has rationalised that list of firms in an effort to improve efficiency and cut costs.

    1 minute read

  • April 29, 2009 |

    Skadden and Norton Rose secure $3bn energy sale in Kazakhstan

    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has landed a role advising on two acquisitions in Kazakhstan thought to be worth about $3bn (£2.06bn) in total. The New York leader advised Kazakhstan's largest privately-owned oil company, JSC MangistauMunaiGaz (MMG) and its holding company Central Asia Petroleum (CAP) on the sale of a 100% stake in MMG to Mangistau Investments - a joint venture between China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and KazMunaiGas (KMG).

    1 minute read

  • April 22, 2009 | International Edition

    In Russia with love

    For the unseasoned visitor, Moscow's insalubrious reputation as a haven for oil-rich but morally-questionable businessmen, gun-touting drug barons and Stalinist ideologies is probably quite intimidating.Throw in five airports, nine main train stations, nightmarish traffic and winters cold enough to freeze your caviar and it is understandable why visiting lawyers could be a little thrown by the prospect of a business trip to the Russian capital.

    1 minute read

  • April 22, 2009 |

    In Russia with love

    For the unseasoned visitor, Moscow's insalubrious reputation as a haven for oil-rich but morally-questionable businessmen, gun-touting drug barons and Stalinist ideologies is probably quite intimidating.Throw in five airports, nine main train stations, nightmarish traffic and winters cold enough to freeze your caviar and it is understandable why visiting lawyers could be a little thrown by the prospect of a business trip to the Russian capital.

    1 minute read