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  • December 1, 2009 |

    Independent Law Firms in Europe: A model of resilience

    The global recession has done little to alter the faith of Europe's independents in the strength of their law firm models. While the global UK and US-based firms have been busy with internal housekeeping and the struggle for position in their home markets, Europe's independent law firms cannot be accused of having let the opportunity pass them by.

    1 minute read

  • November 27, 2009 |

    Ashurst sees revenues fall by 14% for first half of financial year

    Ashurst has seen revenues fall by 14% for the first half of the financial year, becoming the latest firm to post a double-digit decrease in turnover at the half-year stage. The UK top 20 firm saw revenue levels drop to £136m for the period ending 31 October after a challenging six months.

    1 minute read

  • November 26, 2009 |

    Ashurst names first Middle East chief in regional overhaul

    Ashurst has overhauled its Middle East management structure, appointing a regional managing partner for the first time. Nick Williamson will become Middle East managing partner from the beginning of 2010. Williamson, who relocated to Abu Dhabi from London in early September to boost the firm's corporate offering in the region, will take overall responsibility for tightening up client relations in the region, with local heads in Abu Dhabi and Dubai reporting into him.

    1 minute read

  • November 25, 2009 |

    Raft of UK firms advise as OFT loses out in Supreme Court overdraft charges dispute

    The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has lost its court battle to launch an investigation into the fairness of unauthorised overdraft charges. Five Justices of the Supreme Court, led by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, ruled this morning (25 November) in favour of seven banks and one building society, ending the two-year case which was initially brought to the High Court in 2007.

    1 minute read

  • November 25, 2009 |

    Restructuring and insolvency: Year of the living dead

    As the economy began to show signs of overheating during the peak of the credit boom between 2005 and 2007, many insolvency advisers were predicting the next big thing would be a wave of increasingly complex restructurings - accompanied by a frenetic round of debt trading. Accordingly, many of the funds and investment banks active in the sector set about bolstering their restructuring teams. Andrew Wilkinson's 2007 move from the leading London restructuring team of US firm Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, which he built up during the late 1990s and early part of the decade, to head up Goldman Sachs' European restructuring advisory arm was only the most high-profile of a series of such moves.

    1 minute read

  • November 24, 2009 |

    Freshfields and Linklaters lead on £1bn Gartmore listing

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have taken lead roles on British fund manager Gartmore's £1bn initial public offering (IPO). The float, which will cover 30%-50% of the company, is intended to cut net debt from £400m to £100m.

    1 minute read

  • November 24, 2009 |

    UK trio lead on multimillion-pound publishing takeover bid

    A trio of City firms have landed roles as publishing giant Informa prepares to launch a multimillion-pound takeover of Germany-based publishing rival Springer Science and Business Media. Regular adviser CMS Cameron McKenna has taken the lead role for Informa on the deal, with a team led by City corporate partner Gary Green and corporate head Andrew Sheach.

    1 minute read

  • November 23, 2009 |

    Ashurst recruitment continues with hire of RBS UK restructuring chief

    Ashurst has looked in-house for its latest finance hire, bringing in Royal Bank of Scotland's UK head of corporate and restructuring for its loan markets team. Lee Doyle is set to join Ashurst at the beginning of December, with his arrival coming just weeks after former White & Case restructuring partner Dan Hamilton arrived at the City firm.

    1 minute read

  • November 17, 2009 |

    Nabarro and Ashurst take lead roles on property firm's £191m rights issue

    Nabarro and Ashurst have won roles on Quintain Estates and Development's £191m rights issue as the company pushes forward with two London regeneration schemes. The developer turned to longstanding adviser Nabarro on the fundraising, which will be used for regeneration schemes in Greenwich and Wembley as well as to expand the company's fund management business.

    1 minute read

  • November 11, 2009 |

    Ashurst and Freshfields lead on £360m National Express rights issue

    Ashurst is advising longstanding client National Express as it pushes ahead with plans for a £360m rights issue. London corporate partner Steven Fox is leading the firm's team assisted by senior associate Tom Mercer and US corporate partner Daniel Bushner.

    1 minute read