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  • December 2, 2011 |

    A&O, Clydes and Centrica among winners at British Legal Awards 2011

    Allen & Overy (A&O), Clyde & Co and Centrica were among the winners at last night's (1 December) British Legal Awards, in London's Old Billingsgate Market. A&O scooped up the coveted law firm of the year award, seeing off competition from Clydes, Hogan Lovells, Kirkland & Ellis, Mishcon de Reya and Stephenson Harwood to win the prize.

    1 minute read

  • November 30, 2011 |

    Simmons and A&O advise on £200m Thomas Cook lifeline

    Simmons & Simmons and Allen & Overy (A&O) have taken lead roles on the rescue of stricken UK travel giant Thomas Cook. Thomas Cook, which appeared to be on the brink of bankruptcy last week, negotiated a £200m loan facility on 25 November with a consortium of banks 
led by Barclays, HSBC, RBS and UniCredit. The loan replaces a £100m short-term facility agreed in October. In addition, the banks have agreed to relax the financial covenants on the existing loan facilities, with the company stating that the agreement gives it "much increased headroom to deal with unexpected events and the effects of an uncertain economic environment."

    1 minute read

  • November 30, 2011 |

    Hogan Lovells and BLP take lead on £400m Prudential business park sale

    Hogan Lovells and Berwin Leighton Paisner have taken lead roles on Prudential's £400m sale of Green Park business park near Reading to Oxford European Holdings. The transaction, which closed earlier this month (18 November), marks Prudential's biggest-ever asset disposal and is the culmination of a 24-year project at the site, with Hogan Lovells advising on its assembly, development and disposal.

    1 minute read

  • November 30, 2011 |

    Ringing the changes - Vodafone GC Rosemary Martin on career support for women in law

    "Women tend to work collaboratively and innovatively, and should be part of the solution as law firms look at how their model needs to change" - Vodafone GC Rosemary Martin is calling on panel firms to provide better career support for women...

    1 minute read

  • November 28, 2011 |

    Simmons and A&O advise as Thomas Cook secures £200m lifeline

    Simmons & Simmons and Allen & Overy (A&O) have taken lead roles on the rescue of stricken UK travel giant Thomas Cook. Thomas Cook, which had looked close to the brink of bankruptcy last week, negotiated a £200m loan facility on Friday with a consortium of banks led by Barclays, HSBC, RBS and UniCredit.

    1 minute read

  • November 23, 2011 |

    Hong Kong horizons - what will the Asian legal market look like in 2021?

    Key Asian economies have established themselves globally as the West falters. 
Sofia Lind asks what the regional economy will look like in 2021

    1 minute read

  • November 23, 2011 |

    City elite give a little ground on fees but some firms still hiking rates

    Charge-out rates at the City's top firms have remained broadly static throughout 2011, with leading firms coming under pressure to reduce rates. New research carried out by costs lawyer Jim Diamond shows magic circle firms have reduced partner charge-out rates marginally, with average rates falling by 8% at the lower end of the range and 3% at the top in 2011. The reductions equate to an average partner hourly rate in the magic circle of between £600 and £700, down from a range of £650 to £725 in 2010.

    1 minute read

  • November 23, 2011 |

    Great contacts, grind and patience – what it takes to open doors to key Chinese clients

    There's no magic formula for winning China clients, writes Sofia Lind, but pragmatism and a full Rolodex don't hurt

    1 minute read

  • November 22, 2011 |

    Former Charles Russell managing partner takes up role as chairman of LPO company

    Charles Russell's former managing partner James Holder (pictured) has taken up a new role as chairman of UK business and legal process outsourcing company Global BPO. Holder, who stepped down as managing partner at Charles Russell in May this year, joined the outsourcer last month with a remit to help expand its client base and improve market perception of outsourcing.

    1 minute read

  • November 16, 2011 |

    Slaughters and Linklaters lauded as City's best-run firms as partners chase leadership dividend

    Nine out of 10 senior lawyers view leadership as key to success while DLA Piper's recruitment of former Linklaters head Tony Angel wins widespread backing. Simon Petersen reports

    1 minute read