Filter This View

  • April 16, 2008 |

    Online special: Partners hail gay initiatives

    More than 90% of leading lawyers believe the profession has improved its record on supporting gay staff, as highlighted by a number of law firms recently launching their own lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups. Emma Sadowski reports

    1 minute read

  • April 16, 2008 |

    Connect for success

    Until recently, most law firm leaders have successfully juggled their producer and manager roles, succeeding in both getting the work done and motivating the law firm's professionals. However, the current environment is much more competitive and challenging than ever before. Not only do clients and associates expect more, issues of size and increasing corporatisation, geographic coverage, and mergers and acquisitions that rarely deliver the expected value have added significant complexity. So, too, has the trend in some sectors for industrial organisations to enter the professional services arena.

    1 minute read

  • April 11, 2008 |

    Orrick, Dorsey named in new Brobeck profits suit

    The trustee in the bankruptcy case of defunct US law firm Brobeck Phleger & Harrison is suing 10 former partners and the two firms they joined for work they took with them after Brobeck dissolved, writes The Recorder. Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe and four partners at the firm are the defendants in one suit, with Dorsey & Whitney and six of its partners named in the other.

    1 minute read

  • April 10, 2008 | International Edition

    Simmons wins surprise UK role on Bear Stearns fire sale

    Simmons & Simmons has won a surprise role on the fire sale of Bear Stearns - advising the stricken Wall Street giant on the UK aspects of its sale to JP Morgan last month. Simmons' role on the high-profile sale will be seen as a coup for the top 10 City firm's corporate and finance practices, with the partners Jeremy Hoyland (financial markets) and Alan Karter (corporate) brought on board when it became apparent that the bank was in trouble.

    1 minute read

  • April 10, 2008 |

    Simmons wins surprise UK role on Bear Stearns fire sale

    Simmons & Simmons has won a surprise role on the fire sale of Bear Stearns - advising the stricken Wall Street giant on the UK aspects of its sale to JP Morgan last month. Simmons' role on the high-profile sale will be seen as a coup for the top 10 City firm's corporate and finance practices, with the partners Jeremy Hoyland (financial markets) and Alan Karter (corporate) brought on board when it became apparent that the bank was in trouble.

    1 minute read

  • April 10, 2008 |

    Morgan Cole wins sole contract as first adviser to Welsh legislative body

    Welsh heavyweight Morgan Cole has become the first law firm to be appointed to advise the Welsh legislature. The firm was awarded the sole contract by the National Assembly for Wales Commission after a competitive tender process, with the appointment set to last for four years.

    1 minute read

  • April 8, 2008 |

    SRA to probe Veneik's BLP departure

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has kicked off an investigation into the departure of real estate partner Vinay Veneik from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP). The regulatory body has launched a formal investigation looking into the abrupt departure of Veneik from the City firm in January, with BLP's staffing procedures and conduct during the incident set to come under the microscope.

    1 minute read

  • April 7, 2008 |

    Covington nabs O'Melveny private equity team

    Covington & Burling has recruited to its New York office a seven-lawyer private equity team from O'Melveny & Myers - including former investment funds practice co-head Timothy Clark, writes the New York Law Journal. Clark, who will become co-chair of Covington's private equity practice, specialises in representing private equity fund sponsors. His clients have included CCMP Capital, Eos Capital Partners, Tishman Speye and JP Morgan Capital.

    1 minute read

  • April 4, 2008 |

    Morgan Lewis picks up Paris funds partner

    Morgan Lewis & Bockius has strengthened its Paris arm with the hire of Debevoise & Plimpton local private equity and fund formation head Ann Baker. Baker, who was an international counsel at Debevoise, becomes the first dedicated funds partner at Morgan Lewis' French outpost. She is accompanied to her new firm by associate Rima Maitrehenry.

    1 minute read

  • April 2, 2008 |

    Middle East and India: Money talks

    Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) have dominated the headlines of recent weeks after buying stakes in US investment banks hit by write-downs of billions of dollars. The $7.5bn (£3.7bn) equity investment by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) in Citi is a notable example. Two weeks ago the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation broadened its reach by investing A1bn (£788m) in a company controlled by Italy's Benetton family. Many of the state-owned SWFs, such as the Kuwait Investment Authority, have in fact been in existence for half a century or more. However, the spotlight has only really been focused on these funds in the past two or three years. This is primarily due to the abundance of super liquidity arising from the spike in the price of commodities, most notably oil (up from $10 (£5) a barrel in 1990 to $100 (£50) or so now) but also the steady decline in the dollar, which has had a marked impact on the fortunes of China and other east Asian countries.

    1 minute read