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  • September 2, 2011 |

    Slaughters and A&O win roles on $2bn Cathay Pacific bond programme

    Slaughter and May has advised Cathay Pacific Airways on its application for the listing of a $2bn (£1.2bn) medium-term note programme on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, reports The Asian Lawyer. According to the Hong Kong airline, the programme will broaden the company's sources of funding and increase its financial flexibility.

    1 minute read

  • August 31, 2011 |

    Partners fear takeover phobia will hamper M&A recovery

    Last month's £7.1bn bid for UK software company Autonomy by Hewlett-Packard has led to renewed calls for the Government to bring in new laws protecting UK businesses from the threat of overseas takeovers. The political flare-up following the largest overseas takeover of a UK company since last year's controversial acquisition of Cadbury by US food group Kraft has prompted collective eye-rolling among corporate partners across the City.

    1 minute read

  • August 31, 2011 |

    UK and Indian firms take lead as India's Piramal buys Vodafone Essar stake

    Stephenson Harwood and Linklaters have advised alongside Indian firms on Piramal Healthcare's acquisition of a $640m (£389m) stake in Indian mobile operator Vodafone Essar. The trio advised on English law aspects of the deal, which saw Indian pharmaceutical group Piramal take on a 5.5% stake in Vodafone Essar.

    1 minute read

  • August 25, 2011 |

    Line-up of top UK firms pitch in with pro bono help for riot-hit businesses

    Linklaters, Eversheds and DLA Piper are among a list of leading UK law firms to have offered pro bono legal support to victims of the London riots. Legal charity LawWorks has launched a dedicated helpline to offer free legal advice and support to those affected by the recent riots, in particular owners of small independent businesses to have suffered as a result of the unrest.

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  • August 25, 2011 |

    Olswang, Freshfields among firms on major German real estate deal

    Olswang's Berlin office has won a key role on Germany's largest commercial real estate deal so far this year, with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer also advising on the €740m (£652m) transaction. The deal, which has handed roles to a raft of law firms, saw Dundee International become the first-ever Canadian real estate investment trust (REIT) to enter the European market, investing around €740m in a German real portfolio.

    1 minute read

  • August 23, 2011 |

    Ashurst partner takes up two-year secondment at Takeover Panel

    Ashurst corporate partner Tom Mercer has begun a two-year secondment at the Takeover Panel, becoming the latest City partner to take up a role at the regulator. Mercer, who is based in London and was promoted to Ashurst's partnership earlier this year, has been appointed by the panel as a new secretary for a period of two years beginning next month (12 September).

    1 minute read

  • August 23, 2011 |

    Magic circle duo and Gibson Dunn head up CVC's Virgin Active buyout

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Slaughter and May and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher have taken lead roles on private equity group CVC Capital Partners' acquisition of a controlling stake in Virgin Active. Freshfields advised the acquirers on the deal, which values the fitness chain at around £900m. The magic circle firm fielded a team led by London corporate partners Tim Wilmot and Chris Bown.

    1 minute read

  • August 22, 2011 |

    Pinsents and Wragges freeze rates for newly-qualified London lawyers

    Pinsent Masons and Wragge & Co have become the latest firms to confirm details of associate salaries for 2011-12, with both firms freezing rates for newly-qualified (NQ) lawyers in London. NQs in Wragges' City base will continue to receive £58,000, while salaries for Birmingham-based NQs will increase by £1,000 to £38,000.

    1 minute read

  • August 19, 2011 |

    Gibson Dunn, Slaughters lead firms on HP's £7bn Autonomy takeover

    Gibson Dunn and Slaughter and May have won lead roles on Hewlett-Packard's (HP) £7.1bn takeover bid for Britain's largest software company Autonomy, in a deal which could become the largest ever in the history of the European IT sector.

    1 minute read

  • August 16, 2011 |

    Slaughters scores role on Arsenal's Fabregas sale

    Slaughter and May has won a role advising Arsenal Football Club on the high-profile sale of its captain Cesc Fabregas to FC Barcelona. The deal, which could be worth up to £35m, concludes one of the most protracted departures from a British premiership club, with Barcelona attempting to buy the Spanish national team star for several consecutive seasons without reaching a deal.

    1 minute read