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  • January 19, 2012 |

    Stayin' alive (just) – high street woe looks set to shake restructuring market out of relative calm

    With budget fashion retailers Peacocks and Barratts this week looking set to join a growing list of high street casualties in the latest round of economic turmoil, 2012 should – in theory – shape up to be a busy year for City restructuring and insolvency partners. To date, January has already seen the likes of Addleshaw Goddard, Travers Smith, Linklaters and SJ Berwin win roles on the administrations of Blacks Leisure and lingerie chain La Senza and, with many predicting a surge of additional collapses, the tally of firms winning work from turbulence on the high street is obviously set to increase. Still, a quick glance behind the more high-profile headlines shows that restructuring – and in particular, insolvency – work has so far failed to see the sustained upsurge predicted in the wake of Lehman Brothers' collapse and the onset of the last recession. While there was a run of deals in the wake of the banking crisis through 2009 and early 2010, by consensus pickings have been slimmer than restructuring teams expected.

    1 minute read

  • January 13, 2012 |

    Salans broadens Turkey capabilities with new alliance deal

    Salans has sealed a new alliance deal in Turkey, joining forces with local firm Balcioglu Selcuk Akman in a deal which will expand its practice in the country. Salans, which was formerly allied with Turkey's Ozel & Ozel, has had a presence in the country for eight years. The new alliance will hand the firm new capability in banking, finance and litigation.

    1 minute read

  • January 12, 2012 |

    Switzerland

    Baker & McKenzie, Prager Dreifuss and Schellenberg Wittmer size up the key issues in the Swiss legal market, including tax liabilities for UK residents with Swiss bank accounts, the overhaul of the Insurance Contract Act and the introduction of a new simplified form of plea bargaining...

    1 minute read

  • January 12, 2012 |

    A shrinking world for evaders

    UK residents with Swiss bank accounts must disclose their UK tax liabilities or pay a witholding tax. Baker & McKenzie's Ashley Crossley discusses the impact of the high profile move against tax evasion

    1 minute read

  • January 12, 2012 |

    Travers Smith secures pension work mandate for Vodafone

    Travers Smith has won Vodafone as a first-time client, with the City firm securing a mandate to carry out pensions work for the telecoms giant. The firm was appointed in December last year, despite missing out on a spot on Vodafone's new UK panel announced in September 2011. The relationship will be managed by Travers pensions partner Peter Esam, with the firm hoping to expand the relationship into off panel mandates in other practices where possible.

    1 minute read

  • January 11, 2012 |

    UK law firms sign up to support Government social mobility push

    Ten top UK law firms have signed up to a government-led scheme to boost social diversity among big business. The participating organisations - which also include the Bar Council and the Legal Services Board - have committed to participate in initiatives aimed to benefit low income or minority ethnic groups, including encouraging staff to become mentors and ensuring equal access to work experience placements.

    1 minute read

  • January 6, 2012 |

    Kirkland boosts pay for new London qualifiers by 8% to £97,000

    Kirkland & Ellis has increased newly-qualified lawyer (NQ) salaries to £97,000 in a move which will bring it in line with rival US firms including Weil Gotshal & Manges. The salary increase, which represents an 8% increase on last year's rate of £90,000, places the firm at the top end of the US firm salary spectrum.

    1 minute read

  • January 5, 2012 |

    Five-partner Bakers team breaks away to launch Amsterdam firm

    Baker & McKenzie is set to see the departure of a team of around 25 lawyers - including five partners - from its Amsterdam office to launch a new independent firm. Private equity partner Marc van Campen is leading the team, with corporate partner Maurits Tausk's departure also confirmed.

    1 minute read

  • January 3, 2012 |

    McDermott secures Turkey launch as firm targets healthcare M&A work

    McDermott Will & Emery has become the latest law firm to expand into Turkey, with the US firm's new office set to operate in conjunction with Istanbul's Fora & Sanli. The association, which is required in order to comply with local bar rules, takes effect today (3 January).

    1 minute read

  • December 21, 2011 |

    Bakers & Slaughters at the fore as GSK sells over-the-counter brands

    Baker & McKenzie and Slaughter and May have lined up to advise on the $660m (£420m) sale of 17 healthcare brands, including Gaviscon, by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Bakers has advised consumer products group Prestige Brands, which acquired the products, led by Chicago M&A partner Dieter Schmitz and London M&A partner Jane Hobson, alongside Chicago partners Edward Harrison (corporate) and Chris Bartoli (securities).

    1 minute read