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  • September 10, 2008 |

    Chadbourne boosts UAE presence with partner trio

    Chadbourne & Parke has become the latest in a string of firms to ramp up their capabilities in the United Arab Emirates, with a hire of a new projects partner and the transfer of two partners to the region. Infrastructure partner Sohail Barkatali is set to move from London to the UAE at the beginning of October, while insurance arbitration partner Mark Prig, who was also formerly based in London, moved to the region in August.

    1 minute read

  • September 8, 2008 |

    A&O powers up Middle East with 20-lawyer switch

    Allen & Overy (A&O) is set to move 20 lawyers to the firm's Middle East offices as part of an initiative to grow the firm's international presence. Six partners and 14 associates are set to relocate to the firm's Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh offices in a move to boost A&O's Middle East banking, corporate, real estate and capital markets offerings.London corporate partner Andrew Schoorlemmer, along with London corporate partner Chris Thornes and London real estate partner Nick Smith, are set to move to the Dubai office.

    1 minute read

  • September 8, 2008 |

    A&O reveals results of £100m global investment

    Allen & Overy (A&O) is reaping the benefits of investing £100m in its international network, according the firm's recently published annual report. A&O pumped £100m into the network in an effort to develop its international capabilities as part of a five-year plan which kicked off during the 2003-04 financial year.The magic circle firm cited staff investment as a key driver in the firm's recent performance, with the firm investing up to 10% of turnover last year to keep staff motivated.

    1 minute read

  • September 8, 2008 |

    A&O, Addleshaws lead on Nationwide takeovers

    Allen & Overy and Addleshaw Goddard have taken the lead roles on Nationwide's takeovers of Derbyshire and Cheshire building societies. The two smaller rivals of Nationwide have been forced into loss by credit defaults in the near-prime and sub-prime mortgage and loan portfolios.Derbyshire Building Society, which has assets of £7.1bn, 50 branches and 485,000 members, is expected to report a pre-tax loss of £17m for the half-year to the end of June. Cheshire Building Society has around £4.9bn worth of assets, 45 branches and over 440,000 members and will record a loss of £10.5m for the half year.

    1 minute read

  • September 4, 2008 | International Edition

    Black Solicitors Network set for London debut

    The Black Solicitors Network (BSN) is to launch a new City arm, as leading law firms continue their drive to attract a more diverse selection of new recruits. The BSN, which has more than 5,500 members across England and Wales, is setting up a new group dedicated to private practice and in-house solicitors in London. The launch has the support of City firms such as Linklaters, which is hosting next month's launch of the networking group. Webster Dixon joint founding partner and BSN chair Michael Webster said: "This will help provide networking opportunities as well as information and support. Our mission is to promote retention. Attrition rates are higher for ethnic minority solicitors."

    1 minute read

  • September 4, 2008 |

    Black Solicitors Network set for London debut

    The Black Solicitors Network (BSN) is to launch a new City arm, as leading law firms continue their drive to attract a more diverse selection of new recruits. The BSN, which has more than 5,500 members across England and Wales, is setting up a new group dedicated to private practice and in-house solicitors in London. The launch has the support of City firms such as Linklaters, which is hosting next month's launch of the networking group. Webster Dixon joint founding partner and BSN chair Michael Webster said: "This will help provide networking opportunities as well as information and support. Our mission is to promote retention. Attrition rates are higher for ethnic minority solicitors."

    1 minute read

  • September 4, 2008 |

    Ashurst lands Emap corporate role

    Ashurst has scored the main corporate advisory role for Emap after the publishing company reviewed its legal panel in the wake of its takeover last year. The company has added Ashurst, CMS Cameron McKenna and employment boutique Dawsons to the roster of firms it uses for legal work, with the trio joining existing panel firms DLA Piper, Farrer & Co and US firm Epstein Becker & Green.The review was conducted by Emap group legal director Nilema Bhakta-Jones, who joined earlier this year to replace general counsel Nick Folland, who left in 2007 to join Kingfisher. Ashurst has been appointed as main corporate adviser, focusing on high-value and complex matters, with Farrers appointed to advise on mid-market work, including corporate acquisitions and disposals up to £5m and litigation matters.

    1 minute read

  • September 4, 2008 |

    BLP hires A&O senior associate to boost tax capabilities

    Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has bolstered its tax practice with the hire of Kevin Cummings from Allen & Overy (A&O). Cummings, who was a senior associate with A&O, where he focused on tax structured finance and securities work, joins BLP's London office as a partner. The move is part of a concerted push by the top 20 UK law firm to boost its tax capabilities after hiring practice head Michael Wistow in 2007 from Clifford Chance.BLP has hired a raft of corporate tax partners, including Jonathan Levy and Andrew Watters, who joined at the end of last year and who currently head up the firm's contentious tax practice.

    1 minute read

  • September 4, 2008 |

    A&O closes in on Sao Paulo launch as elite law firms pile into Latin America

    CC drafts in senior lawyers to Brazil, DLA Piper mulls LatAm launch and A&O gears up for Sao Paulo debut.Allen & Overy (A&O) is set to launch its first Latin American office within weeks, it has emerged, as growing numbers of international law firms look to make their mark in the region.

    1 minute read

  • September 3, 2008 |

    Freshfields and A&O score lead roles on Union Fenosa's E19bn acquisition

    Allen & Overy (A&O) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have landed leading roles on Gas Natural's E19bn (£15bn) takeover bid for Spanish energy rival Union Fenosa. The deal will mean Freshfields reprising a role for longstanding client Gas Natural while A&O is acting for the banks financing the acquisition through a E19bn (£15bn) syndicated loan.Freshfields is fielding a team from both its Spanish and UK offices, with M&A partner Armando Albarran leading a team in Madrid advising the gas giant. The team also includes finance partner Inaki Gabilondo, antitrust partner Alvaro Iza and Spanish chief Miguel Klingenberg. Meanwhile, leveraged finance partner Sean Pierce is advising in London.

    1 minute read