• October 10, 2013 |

    Green shoots of recovery in Asia-Pacific as high deal flow in Q3 2013 props up sluggish year

    While Europe and the US have experienced a bounce in M&A activity, Asia has struggled to break free from three consecutive years of reduced deal flow. Figures from Mergermarket at the close of the third quarter showed that the Asia-Pacific region excluding Japan witnessed $259.7bn (£162bn) worth of deals during the first three quarters of 2013.

    1 minute read

  • October 10, 2013 |

    Top firms set to do battle at 2013 British Legal Awards

    Linklaters is leading the way in nominations for the top practice awards as the shortlist for the 2013 British Legal Awards has been unveiled. The magic circle has nominations M&A, banking, financing or restructuring, and commercial team of the year categories. However, it missed out on the law firm of the year shortlist.

    1 minute read

  • October 9, 2013 |

    LSB drops HSF over cost estimates on QASA judicial review

    The Legal Services Board (LSB) has brought in Field Fisher Waterhouse to replace Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) as its adviser to defend the controversial Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) in a judicial review. HSF was representing the LSB on the case, brought by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) against the advocacy scheme, after the board approved the introduction of a grading system for advocates in the criminal courts.

    1 minute read

  • October 9, 2013 |

    White & Case and Bakers secure clearance for Greek airline deal

    White & Case and Baker McKenzie have White & Case and Baker McKenzie have successfully represented Aegean Airlines in front of the European Commission as the Greek air carrier progresses its bid to acquire rival Olympic Air.

    1 minute read

  • October 3, 2013 | International Edition

    Moving the goalposts – Legal Week Law Quarterly Peer Review

    From sports disputes to increased regulatory activity, Ben Wheway looks back at the briefings and statistics making headlines in Legal Week Law over the past quarter...

    1 minute read

  • October 3, 2013 |

    Moving the goalposts – Legal Week Law Quarterly Peer Review

    From sports disputes to increased regulatory activity, Ben Wheway looks back at the briefings and statistics making headlines in Legal Week Law over the past quarter...

    1 minute read

  • October 2, 2013 |

    HSF ramps up in Australia with hires from Bakers, Norton Rose Fulbright

    Herbert Smith Freehills has ramped up in Australia with the hire of two new partners. Corporate partner David Ryan joins the Sydney team from Baker & McKenzie, whilst finance partner David Lyons has moved to HSF in Brisbane from Norton Rose Fulbright. Ryan was global head of mining and metals with Bakers, and had a strong energy and resources practice focusing on M&A in the electricity and gas sector. He will continue to concentrate on M&A and offer more general commercial advice in his new role.

    1 minute read

  • September 25, 2013 |

    Transfer Window Asia: recent moves including Clifford Chance, Mayer Brown and Eversheds

    Australian firm Gadens has added to its corporate team in Perth with the hire of King & Wood Mallesons partner David Perks. Having spent a decade at Mallesons, Perks has significant experience in Australia's M&A market, specialising in energy, projects and resources and advising clients such as BHP Billiton, CITIC Resources, Goldcorp and Focus Minerals.

    1 minute read

  • September 24, 2013 |

    Simmons, Bakers and Bird & Bird turn up the heat on £12bn smart meter contract

    Simmons & Simmons, Baker & McKenzie and Bird & Bird have landed roles on the UK Government's £12bn programme to install 'smart' utility meters across Britain by the start of 2020. Simmons is advising Telefonica's UK arm which has been granted a £1.5bn contract by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to provide smart meters for central and southern UK. Bakers client, communications company Arqiva, won a £625m contract for the north and Scotland.

    1 minute read

  • September 24, 2013 |

    Tencent appoints Paul Weiss and Bakers for $448m Sogou deal

    Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison and Baker & McKenzie have advised as the owner of WeChat, Tencent Holdings, has taken a 35.6% stake in Chinese search engine Sogou for $448m. The deal, which is the latest in a string of mergers and acquisitions among Chinese internet companies, will see the two businesses jointly develop and cross-promote their products, with Sogou Pinyin and Sogou Search gaining access to the user base of Tencent's online and mobile social communities.

    1 minute read