• November 15, 2011 |

    Shoosmiths tops diversity rankings as Black Solicitors Network reveals league table

    Shoosmiths has been named as the UK's most diverse law firm according to this year's Black Solicitors Network (BSN) Diversity League Table. The ranking combines law firm demographics across four different strands of diversity - disability, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation - with policy and practice information at the firms also being taken into consideration. In total, 44 law firms in the UK took part in the report.

    1 minute read

  • November 11, 2011 |

    SJ Berwin and CC lead as Universal and Sony-consortium split EMI

    SJ Berwin and Clifford Chance (CC) are among a host of firms to win roles as beleaguered music company EMI is to be split into two, with Universal Music set to take over the recording unit for £1.2bn and a Sony-led consortium bidding $2.2bn (£1.4bn) for the publishing business.

    1 minute read

  • November 10, 2011 |

    BBC Worldwide appoints first-ever GC

    BBC Worldwide has appointed its first-ever general counsel with the promotion of its director of legal and business affairs to the new role. Martyn Freeman will take up the newly-created post at the BBC's commercial arm as of 21 November. The role will see him handle legal and business affairs and policy and regulatory matters, as well as other responsibilities including the negotiation of deals and joint ventures, rights management, crisis management, compliance, risk management and talent accounting...

    1 minute read

  • November 9, 2011 |

    British Airways calls for alternative fees in first post-Iberia panel review

    British Airways (BA) has kicked off its first panel review since its merger with Spanish airline Iberia went live at the beginning of the year (24 January). The review is being overseen by head of legal Andrew Fleming, who was promoted to the role earlier this year after his predecessor Maria da Cunha took up a new post as director of people, legal and government affairs in the wake of the merger.

    1 minute read

  • November 9, 2011 |

    Taking it personally - consumerisation brings a little style into legal technology

    With budgets under pressure, IT heads are scrambling to adapt to consumerisation, contain costs and find ways to capture and manage commercially-crucial data. Neil Hodge tracks the latest trends in legal tech...

    1 minute read

  • November 7, 2011 |

    Linklaters and Latham among firms on Virgin Media's debut legal panel

    Linklaters, Latham & Watkins and Sullivan & Cromwell are among a raft of firms to have won roles on Virgin Media's inaugural legal panel. The new panel, which will take effect from next year, also includes Ashurst and US firm Fried Frank, both of which are existing advisers to the company.

    1 minute read

  • November 4, 2011 |

    Slaughters and Bakers check in on Lufthansa's sell-off of BMI airline

    Slaughter and May and Baker & McKenzie are advising on Lufthansa's sale of British Midland International (BMI) to British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG). Bakers is acting for Lufthansa, the owner of BMI, which operates flights to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

    1 minute read

  • November 4, 2011 |

    Sidley adds capital markets partner in Shanghai with Bakers hire

    Sidley Austin has recruited a capital markets partner for its Shanghai office with a hire from Baker & McKenzie, reports The Asian Lawyer. Anthony Jacobsen, a Hong Kong-qualified partner in Bakers' commercial and securities group in Shanghai, principally advises Chinese companies on Hong Kong law aspects of overseas debt and equity offerings.

    1 minute read

  • November 2, 2011 |

    More expected to flock to Turkey as Bakers secures long-planned launch

    Baker & McKenzie is set to join the growing ranks of international law firms in Turkey after entering into a co-operation agreement with local practice Esin 
Attorney Partnership. The firm is entering Europe's fastest growing economy through a partnership with the Istanbul-based firm Esin, a 40-lawyer firm covering practice areas including corporate, real estate, dispute resolution and competition law.

    1 minute read

  • November 2, 2011 |

    CC and Bakers advice on financing for flagship $10.8bn Saudi project

    Clifford Chance (CC) and Baker & McKenzie have advised on the second phase of financing for a $10.8bn (£6.8bn) aluminium development in Saudi Arabia. CC advised a consortium led by 15 banks, including the Arab National Bank and The Saudi Investment Bank, providing $2.15bn (£1.3bn) of financing for a $3.58bn (£2.2bn) bauxite mine and alumina refinery to be developed at Al Ba'itha in Saudi Arabia.

    1 minute read