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  • April 2, 2008 |

    Middle East and India: Money talks

    Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) have dominated the headlines of recent weeks after buying stakes in US investment banks hit by write-downs of billions of dollars. The $7.5bn (£3.7bn) equity investment by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) in Citi is a notable example. Two weeks ago the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation broadened its reach by investing A1bn (£788m) in a company controlled by Italy's Benetton family. Many of the state-owned SWFs, such as the Kuwait Investment Authority, have in fact been in existence for half a century or more. However, the spotlight has only really been focused on these funds in the past two or three years. This is primarily due to the abundance of super liquidity arising from the spike in the price of commodities, most notably oil (up from $10 (£5) a barrel in 1990 to $100 (£50) or so now) but also the steady decline in the dollar, which has had a marked impact on the fortunes of China and other east Asian countries.

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  • April 2, 2008 |

    ...Legal Week Lunchbox: 2/04/08...

    The five most popular articles on legalweek.com today; plus the pick of the day's posts; and more

    1 minute read

  • April 1, 2008 |

    Ashurst promotions add 17 to partnership

    Ashurst has announced its partner promotions for 2008, with the City giant making up 17 new partners from 1 May. Eight promotions come in the firm's London hub across a range of practices, while three in Paris get the nod alongside two in Frankfurt and one apiece in Brussels, Dubai, Madrid and Stockholm.

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  • April 1, 2008 |

    MacRitchie hands Shearman City reins to Ward

    Anthony Ward is stepping up to become managing partner of Shearman & Sterling in London, the US firm announced today (1 April). Ward, who is currently head of Shearman's City finance team, will succeed high-profile incumbent Kenneth MacRitchie in the management role. MacRitchie returns to full-time fee earning in the project development and finance group after six years at the helm of the London office.

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  • March 20, 2008 |

    External funding booms as litigators plot upturn

    Eight out of 10 of the City's top law firms are already using or assessing external funding for litigation and arbitration cases, it has emerged, marking a dramatic move of third-party funding into mainstream practice. All of the top 10 City firms except Linklaters and Slaughter and May are now offering, or considering offering, clients external funding in some cases, Legal Week has established.

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  • March 18, 2008 |

    ...Legal Week Lunchbox: 18/03/08...

    The five most popular articles on legalweek.com today; plus the pick of the day's posts; Manches' Joanne Edwards on Heather versus Sir Paul; and more

    1 minute read

  • March 17, 2008 |

    Ashurst raids W&C again for Asia finance hire

    Ashurst has bolstered its Asian banking and restructuring practice with its second hire in as many months from US outfit White & Case, the top 10 UK law firm announced today (17 March). Carl Dunton, whose clients include a number of major international banks, joins the Singapore office of Ashurst as a partner. He will work alongside banking and projects partners Matthew Bubb, who heads up the office, and Ashley Wright.

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  • March 13, 2008 |

    Lehman cost-cutting seals panel place for Simmons

    US investment bank Lehman Brothers has extended its main UK legal roster, adding top 10 City firm Simmons & Simmons to its list of preferred advisers.Simmons, which has been doing an increasing amount of work for the bank over the last 12 months, joins Lehman's established UK advisers - Linklaters, Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Lovells, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Weil Gotshal & Manges - following a review that also saw the bank crack down on fee arrangements with outside counsel.

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  • March 13, 2008 |

    Pinsents loses out as National Grid completes panel review

    FTSE 100 energy giant National Grid has finalised its UK-based general commercial and disputes panel with historic adviser Pinsent Masons missing out on a place on the main roster. Wragge & Co and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) have won places as general advisers to National Grid, with Eversheds mandated to advise on commercial litigation and construction work. National rival Hammonds will advise on general commercial and health and safety matters. Pinsents, while missing out on a formal place on the panel, will continue to provide competition advice.

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  • March 12, 2008 | International Edition

    Commentary: Pressure is on for Kirkland as McKeeve heads for the exit

    For many in the private equity community it was only a matter of time, but last week's announcement that one of its most-trumpeted signings, Raymond McKeeve, had resigned leaves Kirkland & Ellis facing awkward questions about its UK strategy. Rumours, which partners had conceded internally were not baseless, had been circulating for months that all was not well with the firm's private equity team. Even ignoring claims that McKeeve's informal style was not playing well within a conservative partnership and judging the team purely on performance, the situation did not look good, with many questioning whether McKeeve and his ex-Linklaters colleague Graham White had delivered

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