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  • March 14, 2013 |

    Lands of opportunity – charting the rise of Africa as an attractive destination for deal lawyers

    With much of the world economy in the doldrums, Africa is an increasingly attractive prospect for investment. And while it's risky to generalise about 54 countries, there is a theme of increased sophistication when it comes to the deployment of legal services across the continent. Nuno Antunes, director at Miranda, a practice that has a long-standing alliance in Africa, describes the situation as something of an 'economic conundrum', given the rate at which Africa is growing compared to the rest of the world. He also notes an increasingly long-term approach to investment in the continent. "Short-term gains are not easy, if they ever were, in the current volatile economy," he says.

    1 minute read

  • March 14, 2013 |

    A&O and Slaughters called in once more as RBS cuts Direct Line stake below 50%

    Allen & Overy (A&O) and Slaughter and May have led on a deal that has seen the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) give up control of UK insurer Direct Line with a £507m share sale. RBS, which sold a 34.72% share in Direct Line when it listed on the London Stock Exchange last year, has now sold a further 15.3%, reducing its stake in the insurer to just below 50%.

    1 minute read

  • March 14, 2013 |

    Bingham, Skadden and MoFo enjoy strong year in London as revenues rise

    Bingham McCutchen, Morrison & Foerster and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom all saw London revenues climb in 2012 as the rank of US firms unveiling last year's financial results continues to grow. Bingham saw City revenues rise by 11% during the last calendar year to $54.7m (£36.6m) compared with $49.1m (£32.9m) in 2011, with around 50 lawyers clocking up average revenue per lawyer of $1.158m (£776,000), compared to firmwide revenue per lawyer of $969,000 (£649,800).

    1 minute read

  • March 8, 2013 |

    Access to the legal profession: a student's perspective

    The practice of law is undoubtedly changing. The profession is now much more diverse and accessible than it was 50 years ago. However entering the law is still notoriously difficult, with barriers at every stage of the process; from funding studies, to past performance, to gaining the much coveted training contract.

    1 minute read

  • March 7, 2013 | International Edition

    Betting on in-house – can corporate moves into legal services win credibility?

    "At a time when in-house advisers are under growing pressure to demonstrate their worth to the wider business, why not try to leverage skills already housed within the department to make a profit from external clients or make new inroads where they know they have a ready made client base to serve?"

    1 minute read

  • March 7, 2013 |

    Betting on in-house – can corporate moves into legal services win credibility?

    "At a time when in-house advisers are under growing pressure to demonstrate their worth to the wider business, why not try to leverage skills already housed within the department to make a profit from external clients or make new inroads where they know they have a ready made client base to serve?"

    1 minute read

  • March 7, 2013 |

    Slaughters and Ashurst lead on Esure's London float

    Slaughter and May and Ashurst have won lead roles on the planned London listing of Esure, the insurer behind brands such as Sheilas' Wheels. The UK insurance company, which also owns half of price comparison website gocompare.com, hopes to raise £50m through an offer of ordinary shares to repay outstanding debt.

    1 minute read

  • March 6, 2013 |

    Slaughters heavyweight Randell joins FSA successor ahead of retirement

    Slaughter and May corporate heavyweight Charles Randell has been named as one of three independent directors of the new Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), ahead of his retirement from the magic circle firm this August. Randell, who has spent over 30 years at Slaughters after qualifying in 1982 and making partner in 1989, is one of the magic circle firm's best-known partners, and has in recent years advised the Treasury on a range of matters arising from the credit crunch, including the collapse of Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley, as well as the Icelandic banks crisis.

    1 minute read

  • March 5, 2013 |

    CC overtakes Links as top law firm in annual ranking of business brands

    Clifford Chance (CC) has moved ahead of Linklaters to regain its position as the top-ranked law firm in the annual Superbrands poll of leading UK business brands. CC dropped to second place behind its magic circle rival last year, but retook the top law firm spot this year - despite dropping 63 places to rank 241 out of a total of 500 brands.

    1 minute read

  • March 5, 2013 |

    BLP, Pinsents and Eversheds among winners on Heathrow Airport panel

    Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Morton Fraser are among nine firms landing spots on Heathrow Airport Holdings' legal panel, with the duo appointed to the roster for the first time. The company, formerly known as BAA, has reappointed existing panel members Allen & Overy, Blake Lapthorn, Brodies, Eversheds, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Pinsent Masons, with the latter winning a spot after merging with longstanding adviser McGrigors last year.

    1 minute read