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  • October 31, 2013 |

    Into Africa – firms must be alert to continent's rich diversity

    Given Africa's resources and status as one of the few parts of the world with strong economic growth, it is hardly surprising that international law firms have been busily reviewing their Africa strategies. The list of countries identified as targets is long. For example, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is eyeing countries such as Mauritania, Congo-Brazzaville, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Morocco, while Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya and Sudan are on Pinsent Masons' target list. Berwin Leighton Paisner has earmarked, among other countries, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Cameroon and Gabon. So between them, three London-based firms have identified 15 African countries as having the potential to generate decent levels of legal work.

    1 minute read

  • October 29, 2013 |

    Deutsche Bank profits fall after £1bn legal costs provision

    Deutsche Bank set aside an additional €1.2bn (£1bn) in legal provisions to combat potential litigation over the wave of scandals that have hit the banking sector in recent months. The provision, which meant Deutsche's legal war chest is now €4.1bn (£3.5bn), severely hit the bank's third quarter pre-tax profit, which plummeted 98% to €18m (£15.4m), down from €747m (£640m) in Q3 2012.

    1 minute read

  • October 29, 2013 |

    Ex-Slaughters and Linklaters lawyers face trial in HK for insider dealing

    Two Hong Kong lawyers who previously worked for magic circle firms are facing trial in the SAR after the High Court refused to strike out proceedings against them for their alleged involvement in insider dealing offences. Young Bik Fung, an ex-Slaughter and May lawyer, and her boyfriend Lee Kwok Wa, previously with Linklaters, have been the subject of a lawsuit filed by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in 2010 which claims they violated the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) after using confidential information to trade shares.

    1 minute read

  • October 24, 2013 |

    US Q3 2013 round-up

    The top US deals from the past three months, featuring mandates for Davis Polk & Wardwell, Slaughter & May and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

    1 minute read

  • October 24, 2013 |

    Top firms land places on China Resources' first global panel

    Baker & McKenzie, Herbert Smith Freehills and Hogan Lovells are among a raft of firms to have won spots on China Resources' first international legal panel. The state-owned conglomerate has appointed about 10 firms to the panel, although it would not confirm the exact number. The panel is subdivided into practice areas that include M&A and litigation. Other successful firms include King & Wood Mallesons, Davis Polk & Wardwell and Reed Smith, along with the magic circle quartet of Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May. Between five and 10 firms have been allotted to each practice area, depending on demand.

    1 minute read

  • October 24, 2013 |

    Location, location, location still key as law firms see offices as vital in attracting clients

    The latest Big Question survey shows that 91% of respondents feel that a law firm's office space significantly influences how clients perceive it, with fewer than one in 10 disagreeing. The vast majority of respondents also regard office space as important in attracting and retaining talent, with 96% describing it as either very (39%) or quite (57%) important. "The location and feel of the office is much more important than you might otherwise think," said Norton Rose Fulbright global head of corporate Martin Scott (pictured, right). "It is essential to have a space that people want to be in. It's been five years since we moved but the building still feels cutting edge.

    1 minute read

  • October 23, 2013 |

    Eversheds, BLP advise on Manchester Airport project

    Eversheds and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) are among five firms to have secured roles on a British-Chinese joint venture to develop the UK's first airport business district. Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has secured an £800m investment from China's Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) to build the 'Airport City' project.

    1 minute read

  • October 17, 2013 |

    A&O and Ashurst among firms to win spots on Morrisons' debut panel

    Supermarket chain Morrisons has unveiled its first-ever formal legal panel, with a host of firms winning places, including Allen & Overy (A&O), Ashurst, Eversheds and DAC Beachcroft. The panel review – which has been overseen by recently appointed general counsel Mark Amsden – has been divided into six categories: property, employment, personal injury (PI), licensing and regulatory, Scotland and an 'everything else' panel, which covers corporate, commercial, litigation, pensions and IP. Amsden said Morrisons' debut panel would give the retail giant "better leveraging ability" than it had in the past, when it used an informal roster of firms. He admitted that the retail giant, Britain's fourth-largest supermarket chain, had previously overspent on legal fees.

    1 minute read

  • October 10, 2013 |

    White & Case upsets Slaughters' Bupa ties

    White & Case is challenging Slaughter and May's position as Bupa's go-to adviser for big-ticket international M&A work, as the healthcare specialist looks to expand its profile in new markets. The US-headquartered firm has advised Bupa on two major deals so far this year, despite having no formal place on the company's panel of external advisers. These mark the firm's first mandates for the company. Bupa legal head Paul Newton said that, while Slaughters was still its "principal City firm", the company was looking to cast the net wider for cross-border work.

    1 minute read

  • October 10, 2013 |

    Pharoah leads for Slaughters on Thomas Cook's Egyptian sell-off

    Slaughter and May and Trowers & Hamlins have won the lead role advising Thomas Cook on the travel company's sale ofr tis Egyptian and Lebanese operations to business group Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo. M&A corporate partner Tim Pharoah led the team advising longstanding client Thomas Cook Group on the deal, while Trowers corporate partner Tony Poole headed up the team representing the buyer.

    1 minute read