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  • September 29, 2010 |

    Dealmaker: Mark Soundy

    Weil Gotshal buyout veteran Mark Soundy on keeping it in the family and why you can't trust a banker

    1 minute read

  • September 23, 2010 |

    Ashurst structured finance chief Handling joins BarCap as EMEA GC

    Ashurst's head of securities and structured finance Erica Handling is leaving the firm to take up a new role as EMEA general counsel at Barclays Capital. Handling, who joined Ashurst in 2000, has significantly contributed to the development of the firm's global finance practice, and was part of the team that led the firm's surprise US law launch in February last year with the hire of a 10-partner structured finance team from US ally McKee Nelson.

    1 minute read

  • September 15, 2010 |

    Candover's fate marks the year of wine and vinegar

    Depending on where you sit, for private equity lawyers the announcement that Candover Investments is to go into run-off could be taken as either painfully symbolic of the humbling of Europe's buyout community or symbolic of nothing at all. These are confusing times for private equity advisers, who are trying to find their direction in a year frequently, if somewhat hopefully, described as a "great vintage" for buyouts. Even if such sentiments are pushing it a bit, the logic is understandable. Private equity has traditionally done its best deals in terms of investment returns when the market is down, largely because the acquisitions that get done in tough times only get done if they have a compelling logic rather just than the backing of oodles of cheap debt.

    1 minute read

  • September 15, 2010 |

    Partners undaunted by law firm collapses

    Partners remain bullish that their firms can withstand financial shocks or the impact of mass partner departures despite the aftermath of Halliwells' recent collapse, according to new research. The latest Big Question survey found that 77% of partners remain confident that their firm is able to avoid 'severe financial problems' or a full-scale collapse. In contrast, only 17% of the 158 respondents to the survey admitted that they were 'a little' worried, while 6% of partners stated that they were 'very worried' about their firm.

    1 minute read

  • September 8, 2010 |

    Ashurst takes lead advisory role for buyout giant Candover on wind down

    Ashurst has taken a lead role on the wind down of listed buyout group Candover, which announced plans to return cash to investors last week (31 August), having failed to conclude a deal to sell its assets to Alberta Investment Management six weeks ago. Candover Investments said in the announcement of its first half results last week that it was set to conduct a sale of its portfolio in order to distribute value to investors.

    1 minute read

  • September 8, 2010 |

    Takeover surge prompts busy summer for deal finance teams

    Europe's leading deal finance teams are forecasting a revival in activity after advisers benefited from a recent flurry of debt-financed takeovers. Firms to have secured large acquisition finance mandates in recent weeks include Allen & Overy (A&O), Linklaters, Latham & Watkins and Clifford Chance (CC).

    1 minute read

  • September 1, 2010 |

    Partners anxious about career prospects

    The majority of senior lawyers are anxious about their future career prospects, with many doubting the value of their business contacts outside of the support structure of their law firm, according to Legal Week's latest Big Question survey. In a legal landscape where regular lateral moves throughout a partner's career are now commonplace, many feel uncertain about their future career path. Seventy-four percent of respondents expressed some level of anxiety about their professional future - including 30% who said they were 'quite' or 'very' anxious - while only 26% felt completely confident.

    1 minute read

  • September 1, 2010 |

    CC and Ashurst act on €1.4bn acquisition of RBS loan portfolio

    Clifford Chance (CC) and Ashurst have won lead roles on Intermediate Capital Group's (ICG) €1.4bn (£902m) acquisition of a large leveraged loan portfolio from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). Ashurst advised private equity debt manager ICG on the deal, which is thought to be the first-ever acquisition of a leveraged loan portfolio from a bank without vendor financing.

    1 minute read

  • September 1, 2010 |

    A&O and Linklaters lead on Korean oil company's £1.87bn bid for Dana

    Allen & Overy (A&O) and Linklaters have won lead roles on the hostile bid for Dana Petroleum by Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC). The South Korean state-owned oil and gas company made a £1.87bn bid for the Aberdeen-based energy company last month (20 August), but Dana is fighting the takeover and has until 8 September to set out its defence.

    1 minute read

  • August 31, 2010 |

    Nabarro partner moves to Boodle Hatfield

    Boodle Hatfield has strengthened its corporate practice with the hire of Nabarro partner Richard Beavan. Beavan, who will join the West End firm tomorrow (1 September), focuses on fundraisings, takeovers, acquisitions and disposals, venture capital, restructuring and corporate governance.

    1 minute read