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  • October 31, 2012 |

    Herbert Smith and MoFo line up on closely-watched HK$4bn pharma IPO

    Herbert Smith Freehills and Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) have both acted on the HK$3.97bn (£318m) initial public offering (IPO) of Shanghai-based Fosun Pharmaceutical Group, in one of the largest listings in the region this year. Herbert Smith advised the underwriters - UBS, China International Capital Corporation, JP Morgan Securities, Deutsche Bank, Agricultural Bank of China International and Haitong International - led by Hong Kong corporate partner Gary Lock and Asia head of US securities Kevin Roy.

    1 minute read

  • October 30, 2012 |

    Milbank continues City recruitment with hire of rated Norton Rose partner

    Norton Rose is set to to see the departure of respected financial disputes partner Charles Evans to US firm Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy's London office. Evans - who is top-rated for contentious financial services by Chambers - joined Norton Rose's London practice in 1997 and made partner in 2000. He represents corporates, financial institutions and individuals under investigation and in enforcement proceedings.

    1 minute read

  • October 29, 2012 |

    Freshfields and Slaughters lead on Penguin Random House merger

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May have picked up leading roles alongside two US firms on the planned joint venture between Penguin and Random House, which will create a consumer publishing giant with combined revenues of around £2.5bn. UK media group Pearson and German rival Bertelsmann confirmed today (29 October) that they have agreed to combine their respective publishing outfits, with Random House owner Bertelsmann set to own 53% of the new Penguin Random House joint venture and Penguin parent Pearson the remaining 47% stake.

    1 minute read

  • October 25, 2012 |

    Firms forced to bid for Asia work in front of rivals amid costs squeeze

    Partners in Hong Kong confirmed that pressure to reduce costs has resulted in occasional instances of state-owned enterprises asking tendering firms to reveal fee quotes in front of their competitors, with several magic circle and US law firms among those stating that they have been required to publically bid for some work in recent months.

    1 minute read

  • October 25, 2012 |

    Pitch perfect – general counsel on the dos and don'ts of the panel pitch

    "We do look for concise, effective communication. If the firm can't do something as simple as keep to the word count how can I be confident it can follow instructions and be concise and precise when advising?"

    1 minute read

  • October 25, 2012 |

    Reed Smith's BBC ties face scrutiny as firm appointed to Savile probe

    The BBC has appointed longstanding adviser Reed Smith to a lead role on the broadcaster's inquiries into the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal. The law firm is set to act as secretariat to both the independent review led by former Sky News head Nick Pollard into why a Newsnight report on Savile was dropped, as well as a separate investigation - led by former Appeal Court judge Dame Janet Smith - into whether culture and practices at the BBC enabled Savile to carry out the sexual abuse of children.

    1 minute read

  • October 24, 2012 |

    King & Wood Mallesons secures hire of Bakers global private equity chief

    King & Wood Mallesons has sealed the hire of Baker & McKenzie's global head of private equity Mark McNamara, as the Sino-Australian giant seeks to bolster its M&A practice. The firm, the result of the merger of Australia's Mallesons and China's King & Wood earlier this year, has recruited McNamara as its new head of private equity, as part of a wider strategy to grow its regional footprint and enhance key practice areas. He will make the move on 6 November.

    1 minute read

  • October 19, 2012 |

    A&O and Freshfields score roles on $2bn ING Asia insurance sale

    Allen & Overy (A&O) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have both advised on the $2bn (£1.2bn) sale of the bulk of ING's Asia insurance business to telecoms company Pacific Century Group.

    1 minute read

  • October 18, 2012 | International Edition

    Global 100: top firms push revenues to new high amid merger rush

    Consolidation in the legal market has helped the world's 100 largest law firms to cast aside the ongoing economic downturn to see combined revenues soar to a record high of $81.9bn (£50.7bn) over the last year.

    1 minute read

  • October 18, 2012 | International Edition

    New world orders: the 2012 Global 100

    At first glance the 2012 Global 100 rankings, which show revenues for the world's largest law firms rising to an all time high of $81.9bn (£50.8bn) during the last financial year, do much to prove the well-coined expression that, rain or shine, people (or at least major public companies) always need lawyers.

    1 minute read