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  • September 23, 2009 |

    Bevan Brittan, Shoosmiths miss out as Zurich cuts back adviser roster

    Bevan Brittan and Shoosmiths have lost their places on Zurich's non-claims related legal panel after the financial services company completed a review of its legal advisers. Beachcroft and Pinsent Masons retain their spots as the two main firms on the panel, while Tanners has been retained to carry out some real estate work.

    1 minute read

  • September 23, 2009 |

    Former Ashurst partner joins Field Fisher's London office

    Field Fisher Waterhouse has continued its City expansion with the hire of former Ashurst structured finance partner Gonzalo Fernandez. Fernandez, who left Ashurst in August after 11 years as a partner, joined Field Fisher last Monday (14 September) as a partner in the derivatives and structured finance group.

    1 minute read

  • September 23, 2009 |

    MoD review set to cut two firms from coveted UK projects panel

    The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched a review of its projects panel, with the overhaul set to see two UK law firms trimmed from the eight-strong roster. Law firms have been invited to tender for the coveted panel, which covers the body's public private partnership and private finance initiative (PFI) work, by the end of October. The four-year contracts are to be awarded in January.

    1 minute read

  • September 23, 2009 |

    Renewable energy: Critical mass

    "The nuclear industry was for many years not very glamorous in this country, to say the least," recalls Amec Nuclear legal director Kevin Smith. "Now, though, it has suddenly become fashionable," he continues, "with law firms suddenly claiming they have got a nuclear law department". The shift in attitude began in 2003, counter-intuitively with the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which subsequently opened up the decommissioning of various ageing nuclear plants, including Sellafield, to private companies. Around this time the Government's commitment to reduce its carbon emission levels, agreed under the Kyoto Protocol, came into force.

    1 minute read

  • September 18, 2009 |

    Ashurst boosts energy and projects team with Linklaters hire

    Ashurst has expanded its London energy and projects practice with the hire of Antony Skinner from Linklaters as a partner. Skinner, a counsel at the magic circle firm, joins the energy and project finance group after four years at Linklaters. He was promoted to counsel earlier this year.

    1 minute read

  • September 16, 2009 |

    Jon Fortnam: Buffett's ebbing tide makes professionals claim targets

    Warren Buffett remarked that 'only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked'. Professionals may - rightly or wrongly - be targets for the deflection of some of the ensuing embarrassment. Professional negligence claims are already on the increase.

    1 minute read

  • September 9, 2009 |

    Pinsents signs deal to broker litigation insurance

    Pinsent Masons has sealed a groundbreaking deal with a major insurer that makes it one of the first major law firms with authority to broker after-the-event (ATE) insurance for commercial litigation clients. The national law firm signed a deal with FirstAssist Legal Protection to launch a package called CaseCover earlier this month (1 September). The package gives the firm delegated authority to insure an unlimited number of commercial litigation cases.

    1 minute read

  • September 9, 2009 |

    RBS puts select firms on fast track; Nestle unveils UK counsel

    Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has invited a handful of its closest legal advisers to 'fast-track' its general legal review, it has emerged, guaranteeing a group of core firms places on its coveted panel. The bank contacted a number of its key advisers earlier this summer inviting them to join the panel early providing they agreed to basic terms on fees, rather than waiting until the full review is completed later this year. It is thought Allen & Overy (A&O), Linklaters, Ashurst and Denton Wilde Sapte are among those invited to take part.

    1 minute read

  • September 9, 2009 |

    Sodexo unveils nine firm roster

    Nine law firms have scored roles on food and facilities management services group Sodexo's new legal panel. Top 25 firms Ashurst, Eversheds, DLA Piper, SJ Berwin and Beachcroft have all won spots on Sodexo's UK & Ireland panel, while Davenport Lyons, Devonshires, Lindsays and Shadbolts have also won roles.

    1 minute read

  • September 1, 2009 |

    Pinsents hires Ashurst vet for transport push

    Pinsent Masons has strengthened its international projects team with the hire of Ashurst head of transport Raymond Beven. Beven, who will join the national law firm as a partner in its London office later this month, will lead Pinsents' transport team, which sits within the projects and international construction group.

    1 minute read