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  • May 2, 2013 |

    Bakers, BLP, CMS among contenders as RBS reviews EMEA panel

    The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has kicked off a review of its EMEA legal panel, with the tender process for places on the new roster opening last month. Allen & Overy (A&O), Ashurst, Eversheds, Baker & McKenzie, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Clifford Chance (CC), CMS Cameron McKenna, Linklaters, SJ Berwin, Travers Smith and White & Case are all understood to be among the firms pitching for a place on the panel, which covers 24 countries.

    1 minute read

  • May 2, 2013 |

    Linklaters and Bakers receive approval to launch in Seoul

    Linklaters and Baker & McKenzie have received approval from South Korea's Ministry of Justice to launch offices in Seoul. The international duo, both of which applied for licences last year, bring the total number of foreign law firms legally permitted to work in the North Asian country to 18, with more firms expected to be granted approval in due course.

    1 minute read

  • April 25, 2013 |

    Beating heart - British Heart Foundation GC on asking lawyers to work for free

    Deborah Prince worked in private practice, at Tesco and Which? before heading the legal team at the British Heart Foundation. She talks to Grant Murgatroyd about her colourful career and why she isn't shy when it comes to asking lawyers to work for free...

    1 minute read

  • April 25, 2013 |

    Bakers aims to double female representation among equity

    Baker & McKenzie is overhauling its approach to the promotion of female lawyers in a bid to double the proportion of women in its equity partner ranks. The firm, which has a 15% female equity partnership, is aiming to increase this figure to 30% with a shift away from billable hour targets – a factor that has long hampered the career progression of working mothers. More importance will now be placed on individuals' overall non-billable contributions, including their involvement in client and practice development, team building, promotion of firm culture and values, profile-raising and leadership.

    1 minute read

  • April 25, 2013 |

    MoFo boosts Hong Kong PE team with Ropes & Gray partner hire

    Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) has added to its Hong Kong private equity team with the hire of Ropes & Gray partner Marcia Ellis. Ellis, who was a partner at MoFo between 2007 and 2008, has rejoined her old firm this week to work alongside corporate partner Thomas Chou and M&A partner Jeremy Hunt, who joined the firm last year from magic circle firm Allen & Overy.

    1 minute read

  • April 25, 2013 |

    A&O, CC and Bakers score lead roles on $6.6bn Thai retail bid

    Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy and Baker & McKenzie have landed leading roles on the Thai convenience store operator CP All's $6.6bn (£4.32bn) bid for a majority stake in national retailer Siam Makro. CP All, Thailand's largest convenience chain and third-largest operator of 7-Eleven stores globally, owned by Thai billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont, is to buy the 65% majority stake in Siam Makro, the owner of Makro cash-and-carry stores in Thailand, from Dutch Investment Company Netherlands-based SHV Nederland BV, one of the world's biggest trading groups.

    1 minute read

  • April 18, 2013 |

    The way to Westminster – making the transition from law to politics

    Law and politics may be a potent mix, but it is surprising just how many lawyers have successfully made the transition to elected representative. According to research by strategic communications consultancy the Madano Partnership, 12% of the elected new MPs at the 2010 general election have a legal background. Jonathan Reynolds, Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, was formerly a corporate lawyer at Addleshaw Goddard in Manchester. He believes there are a lot of "natural synergies" between the two professions. "Lawyers are skilled at absorbing large quantities of data and they can get to the crux of the argument very quickly," he says. "They also know how to critically analyse complex data and documents. All these skills are required of MPs."

    1 minute read

  • April 18, 2013 |

    Outsourcing out of favour as majority of partners back more near-shoring schemes

    The majority of partners at UK law firms believe firms should set up their own near-shoring ventures to cut costs ahead of sending work to outsourcing companies, according to new research published in the wake of several firms scaling back contracts with Integreon. Legal Week's latest Big Question survey found nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents believe own-firm near-shoring ventures in cheaper locations such as Belfast or other regional UK locations provide a better alternative to outsourcing companies for both legal process and back office support. A further 18% said firms should look to set up their own offshore ventures in regions such as the Philippines and India, with only the same percentage coming out in favour of outsourcing companies.

    1 minute read

  • April 18, 2013 |

    Pinsents launches Singapore TMT practice with local team hire

    Pinsent Masons has launched a technology, media and telecoms (TMT) practice in Singapore with the hire of a team led by partner Bryan Tan from local boutique Keystone Law Corporation. Tan, a founding member of Keystone, will join Pinsents in the Asian city state this May, alongside two associates and one trainee.

    1 minute read

  • April 17, 2013 |

    Bakers seals merger with top UAE law firm Habib Al Mulla

    Baker & McKenzie is merging with respected United Arab Emirates leader Habib Al Mulla & Company. The merged firm, which will be known as Baker & McKenzie Habib Al Mulla in the UAE, will go live on 1 July. The tie-up is significant as the first merger of a global law firm with a UAE independent.

    1 minute read