Filter This View

  • January 2, 2013 |

    A&O and Debevoise head up $1.7bn ING Malaysia insurance sale

    Allen & Overy (A&O) and Debevoise & Plimpton have advised on the sale of ING's Malaysian insurance operations to AIA Group. The deal, which completed last month after being announced in October, has seen AIA purchase the Dutch financial services company's life insurance and employee benefits businesses in Malaysia, as well as taking a 60% stake in ING's takaful Islamic insurance business, for a reported value of around $1.7bn (£1bn).

    1 minute read

  • December 13, 2012 |

    London Office of the Year: Edwards Wildman Palmer

    A series of strategic mergers helped Edwards Wildman Palmer stand out in a field in which Baker & McKenzie, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and NCTM also caught the judges' attention. Following the combination of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge with Kendall Freeman in 2008, in 2011 the firm went on to merge with Chicago firm Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon.

    1 minute read

  • December 13, 2012 |

    New Hong Kong laws push firms to review paternity pay policies

    Law firms in Hong Kong are facing an overhaul of their paternity leave policies following a move to force all private companies in the region to provide employees with at least three days' paid leave. The government proposals, endorsed by the Hong Kong Labour Advisory Board last month, will see men paid at least 80% of their salaries for the paternity leave period.

    1 minute read

  • December 13, 2012 |

    Eyes on China as leadership change sees West gauge impact on the world economy

    From a business perspective, the results of the US election last month broadly maintained things as they were. But the once in a decade political changes that occurred in China at the same time are likely to have a far greater impact. Xi Jinping, the charismatic son of a relatively political liberal father, gained control of both the Communist Party and the Chinese military and is set to be appointed as President next March.

    1 minute read

  • December 13, 2012 |

    Hogan Lovells eyes move into Mexico amid Latin America boom

    Hogan Lovells is eyeing up a move into Mexico, as interest from global law firms in the Latin American markets continues to grow. The transatlantic firm confirmed it is considering opening in the country, with all options up for debate including an acquisition, an alliance and a joint venture.

    1 minute read

  • December 6, 2012 |

    Foreign law firms in Vietnam face pushback from local practices

    The activities of international law firms in Vietnam have been thrown into question following a call by local law practices to bring in tighter restrictions for global entrants to the market. The issue was discussed last month at Vietnam's National Assembly, at which an amended version of the country's Law on Lawyers was passed. The legislation is perceived by some as ambiguous as to whether foreign firms can draft local commercial contracts and business charters.

    1 minute read

  • December 6, 2012 |

    Fixed-fee billing favoured by 50% of corporates, LW research finds

    Half of all corporates prefer fixed fees when it comes to law firm billing, according to a Legal Week study of client satisfaction among in-house lawyers. Legal Week Intelligence's Client Satisfaction Report, which surveyed 1,204 companies, found 50% favouring fixed fees, with 11% of respondents preferring hourly billing to other methods, while a quarter said they prefer capped hourly rates.

    1 minute read

  • December 4, 2012 |

    Bakers expands in South Africa with disputes firm takeover

    Baker & McKenzie has bulked up its new Johannesburg base with the takeover of three-partner disputes practice Rudolph Bernstein & Associates (RB&A). RB&A founders Gerhard Rudolph and Darryl Bernstein have joined Bakers along with Kate Daniels, with all three becoming partners at the international firm.

    1 minute read

  • November 29, 2012 |

    EDF set to appoint panel firms for new two-year term after roster review

    A host of firms are poised to be appointed to EDF Energy's new UK legal panel as the energy giant finalises a review of its roster of external advisers. Herbert Smith Freehills, Eversheds, Squire Sanders and TLT are among those expected to be reappointed to the line-up, with Baker & McKenzie winning a first-time appointment to the roster. Final terms and panel structure will be agreed in the coming weeks.

    1 minute read

  • November 29, 2012 |

    Law firms vote for prestige over value as lure of central Hong Kong withstands soaring office costs

    Office space in Hong Kong's central business district (CBD) may be more expensive than anywhere else in the world, but leading global law firms have little intention of following the lead of other professional services businesses and moving into cheaper areas. Proximity to banks and other clients, combined with competition for mandates and partners, means property analysts predict firms will stay put despite cutting costs in other areas. The predictions come despite a report by real estate consultancy CB Richards Ellis (CBRE) finding that annual occupancy costs in central Hong Kong stand at $248.83 (£155.38) per sq ft – higher than any other market.

    1 minute read