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  • November 22, 2010 |

    Ex-UBS chair and GC Kurer takes new role on Schoenherr strategy group

    Schoenherr has appointed former UBS chairman and general counsel Peter Kurer as an external member of its strategy committee. The move comes after the Central European firm formed the committee this summer following a review of its internal structures. The committee will draw up the firm's strategy and business plan, prepare its annual budget and allocate the merit-based portion of the firm's profit to partners. Kurer will hold a full vote on the four-member committee that includes managing partner Christoph Lindinger and partners Gerold Zeiler and Michael Lagler, who are responsible for finance and human resources respectively at the firm.

    1 minute read

  • November 17, 2010 |

    BP kicks off post-Deepwater review of UK legal adviser roster

    BP is set to launch a review of its UK panel of external legal advisers for the first time in three years. The British oil giant plans to kick off the process at the end of this month, with firms on the roster already alerted, although formal requests for proposals have not yet been sent out. Group general counsel Rupert Bondy is formally overseeing the process, with the new line-up expected to come into effect in spring 2011 for a three-year term.

    1 minute read

  • November 16, 2010 |

    Hong Kong shines as global IPO market evolves

    Despite the volatility of markets since the global financial crisis, companies have more choices than ever when deciding where to go to raise capital. One of the big trends in capital markets over the past decade has been the increasing willingness of companies to list outside their home country. This affords them an opportunity to expand into other markets, bolster their international reputation, tap new investors and take advantage of higher valuations and liquidity. According to data published by Ernst & Young, cross-border deals accounted for 72% of the total funds raised on the top four exchanges - Hong Kong, London, New York Stock Exchange and National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) - in 2009.

    1 minute read

  • November 16, 2010 |

    ...then we take Manhattan - strategic shifts and calculated bets at Norton Rose

    Back in June 2009, in the wake of news that Norton Rose was set to take over mid-tier Australian firm Deacons, Legal Week noted the wall of negativity that greeted the City stalwart's trip down under. Gauging the feedback following Norton Rose's dual takeover of Canada's Ogilvy Renault and leading South African practice Deneys Reitz reveals an interesting shift - while there is plenty of sniping, there is now more grudging admiration and some of the doubters seem to be rather going through the motions.

    1 minute read

  • November 12, 2010 |

    Bakers City arm follows Freshfields with emergency care service deal

    Baker & McKenzie's City office has teamed up with employee benefits company My Family Care to offer emergency care services for the firm's London employees. The new scheme, which will launch next week (16 November), will allow the US firm's City staff to search for and book a qualified and vetted nanny or childminder in the UK at as little as 30 minutes' notice. It will also enable staff to find home care for adult dependents in a location convenient to them.

    1 minute read

  • November 9, 2010 |

    Bakers and White & Case boost international banking groups

    Baker & McKenzie and White & Case are in the process of relocating two of their senior banking partners to Paris and Singapore respectively in a move to bulk up those offices. Bakers EMEA head of banking and finance Michael Foundethakis moved to Paris last month to lead the local banking and finance practice, replacing Laurent Barbara in the post. He will keep his existing roles leading the EMEA finance team, the global project finance practice and the German acquisition finance and project finance practice.

    1 minute read

  • November 9, 2010 |

    Bakers creates pro bono director role to lead on CSR initiatives

    Baker & McKenzie has appointed Madeleine Schachter as global director of pro bono and corporate social responsibility (CSR), with the appointment coming as the firm moves to strengthen its CSR initiatives with clients. In the newly-created role, New York-based partner Schachter will work exclusively on CSR matters, including pro bono work with an emphasis on international humanitarian rights, constitutional law and civil rights issues.

    1 minute read

  • November 2, 2010 |

    Bakers names new managing partner for China and Hong Kong in top-level shake-up

    Baker & McKenzie has appointed corporate partner and former executive committee member Poh Lee Tan as managing partner for China and Hong Kong following an overhaul of the firm's executive committee. Tan replaces corporate partner David Fleming as managing partner of Hong Kong, China and Vietnam. Fleming will remain in Hong Kong, but will now focus on client work.

    1 minute read

  • November 2, 2010 |

    Out in front - Unilever on its IP outsourcing deal with Baker & McKenzie

    Third-party LPOs aren't the only ones in the outsourcing game. Alex Aldridge speaks to Unilever about its decision to use Baker & McKenzie to do its low-cost work

    1 minute read

  • November 2, 2010 |

    DLA Piper brings in Hogan Lovells IP partner for Warsaw arm

    DLA Piper has hired Hogan Lovells' head of intellectual property, media and technology (IPMT) in Warsaw to head up the firm's practice in Poland. Krystyna Szczepanowska-Kozlowska joined DLA last month to head up the intellectual property and technology practice (IPT) after leaving Hogan Lovells in September. She is the only partner in DLA's Warsaw practice.

    1 minute read