Filter This View

  • September 5, 2013 |

    AIG to launch Asia-Pacific adviser review as regulatory demands grow

    AIG is set to kick off a review of its external legal advisers across the Asia-Pacific region, as the insurance giant sizes up a potential merger of its corporate and claims panels. The US-based company currently has a corporate panel including five to 10 law firms across several Asian countries, alongside a separate claims panel subdivided by jurisdiction and area of expertise. The corporate panel covers 13 countries where AIG has operations in Asia – Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. AIG expects to finalise the process before the end of the year.

    1 minute read

  • September 5, 2013 |

    Desert dreams – why law firms are reassessing their Middle East strategies

    In Abu Dhabi Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has been looking in recent months to sub-let half its office space on the 23rd floor of the prestigious Al Sila Tower. The firm stresses it remains committed to the city, but its move nonetheless reflects a broader readjustment of international law firm ambitions in the UAE capital. "It's no secret that we are looking to sub-let half of the floor we originally let," says Zubair Mir, head of HSF's Middle East operations, before adding that "we are not looking to return the lease in any way". He explains: "What happened was we bought an entire floor in Dubai which became more full than we expected, so when we negotiated in Abu Dhabi we took out more space than we needed to try to avoid the situation of not having enough room." HSF is not alone in rethinking its needs in Abu Dhabi. Hogan Lovells closed its outpost there last year and transferred its work to the firm's Dubai office, having decided that it made for a stronger regional hub.

    1 minute read

  • September 5, 2013 |

    Hard work has just begun: SJB and KWM chiefs outline bold plans for merged firm

    When counting down the days to a holiday, that 'to do' list can often seem a little daunting. But for most, pulling off an international merger deal is not one of the tasks on the agenda. SJ Berwin management duo Stephen Kon and Rob Day (pictured, top left and centre) have been enjoying a much-needed rest since signing an agreement to merge with Sino-Australian firm King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) at the tail end of July.

    1 minute read

  • August 27, 2013 |

    Transfer Window Asia: recent moves including Ashurst and Simmons

    Ropes & Gray has added to its corporate practice in Seoul with the hire of counsel Jaewoo Lee from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. Lee, who joins the US firm as a partner, will initially be based out of New York and Hong Kong but will relocate to Ropes and Gray's Seoul office when his license to practice in the North Asian state is approved.

    1 minute read

  • August 20, 2013 |

    SFO recruits Norton Rose Fulbright associate as bribery & corruption co-head

    The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has appointed a Norton Rose Fulbright senior associate as the joint head of its bribery and corruption division. Ben Morgan, previously based in Norton Rose Fulbright's business ethics and anti-corruption team, replaces Patrick Rappo, who stepped down from the role in April to join US firm Steptoe & Johnson as a partner.

    1 minute read

  • August 15, 2013 |

    Baker Botts becomes latest firm to move into much-coveted Rio market

    Baker Botts has opened an office in Rio de Janeiro, as it seeks to grow its energy and disputes practices throughout Latin America. The Brazilian base, which will operate as a foreign legal consultancy, is the firm's first office in South America in almost 50 years, and its ninth international branch worldwide.

    1 minute read

  • August 13, 2013 |

    Norton Rose Fulbright boosts newly qualified pay by £1,500 to £63,000

    Norton Rose Fulbright has raised salaries for its newly qualified (NQ) lawyers by £1,500, alongside the announcement of a 92% retention rate for this September's trainee intake. The new NQ salary, which came into effect at the start of 1 July this year but has been backdated to 1 May, has seen pay boosted to £63,000 from £61,500.

    1 minute read

  • August 8, 2013 |

    Eversheds takes advisory role as BPP gains full university status

    BPP has been granted full university status by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and will become BPP University as of 6 August this year. The move - which comes after the College of Law was granted university status last year and rebranded as the University of Law - has been confirmed by BIS after BPP met the criteria for full university title.

    1 minute read

  • August 6, 2013 |

    Asia Transfer Window: recent moves including CC, White & Case and KWM

    Clifford Chance is to boost its project finance practice in Tokyo with the relocation of its Paris-based project finance partner Ross Howard in September 2013. Howard, who typically advises public sector entities, sponsors and lenders on projects in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors, is expected to add to the Asia finance practice as sources of project finance become more diverse.

    1 minute read

  • August 2, 2013 |

    Client demand and intense competition set the agenda as law firm leaders look back on another difficult year

    "This is a rapidly changing market and you cannot afford to stick to one formula. You have to be responsive..." Emerging markets provide source of comfort as law firm leaders lament patchy deal flow...

    1 minute read