In a strategic move, the head of Watson Farley & Williams’ German public law and competition group, along with his team, has transitioned to Graf von Westphalen (GvW). This acquisition bolsters GvW’s capabilities in infrastructure and digitalization projects within the public sector. This development exemplifies GvW’s aggressive talent acquisition strategy, following their recent recruitment of…
London’s High Court has dismissed a substantial $13.8 billion damages claim brought forth by Ziyavudin Magomedov, a Russian businessman currently serving a 19-year prison sentence. Magomedov, along with his legal team, alleged that 22 defendants had conspired to wrest control of assets from him and his associated companies. This claim represented one of the most…
U.S. law firm Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has strategically enhanced its London practice by hiring Patrick O’Gara, a seasoned tax partner from Baker McKenzie. O’Gara, who has spent over two decades with Baker McKenzie, will spearhead Skadden’s tax controversy group in the UK capital, marking a significant personnel development for the firm. This…
The PRIME alliance, established in 2017, continues its mission to enhance socio-economic diversity in the legal profession. This initiative recently celebrated a milestone with the inclusion of its first in-house members. A notable testament to its impact is the journey of a private equity associate at Paul Weiss, who attributes part of his success to…
The legal profession has long grappled with ensuring wider socio-economic diversity, and initiatives like PRIME are striving to make significant strides in this area. Since its inception in 2017, PRIME has worked to enhance access and diversity within the legal sector. Recently, the organization announced the induction of its first in-house members, marking another step…
The UK Supreme Court is set to hear a significant case that marks the first time an effort to challenge the UK’s sanctions regime, known as “de-designation,” has reached this level. This legal challenge is brought by a billionaire individual targeted by the sanctions, which were imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly three years…
Bain Capital has been actively increasing its investment footprint in Japan, exemplified by its recent $634 million acquisition of JAMCO Corporation, a Japanese aircraft component manufacturer. The investment firm is being advised by Ropes & Gray and prominent Japanese firm Nishimura & Asahi. Meanwhile, another leading Japanese law firm, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, is representing…
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has made a strategic hire by bringing on board a partner from Baker McKenzie’s Financial Disputes and Investigations division. This marks the second noteworthy departure from Baker McKenzie’s London office this week. For further details, you can read the full story at FeedBlitz. Please note that there may be limited…
Jones Day has strengthened its European presence by hiring corporate partner Pierre-Olivier Mahieu in Brussels. Meanwhile, BCLP, Simmons & Simmons, Eversheds Sutherland, and other major firms are making strategic partner moves across Europe. These appointments reflect a continuing trend among large law firms to bolster their teams in key European markets amidst an evolving legal…
Morgan Lewis & Bockius, a notable player in the legal sector, has announced the closure of its Shenzhen office—an operation that was established under two years ago. This decision follows the departure of the firm’s former Shenzhen head who moved to DLA Piper in November. The context surrounding this exit remains scant due to the…
In a recent development in Malaysia’s burgeoning data infrastructure sector, Clifford Chance and Milbank have successfully guided Yondr Group through a substantial $900 million debt financing deal. This financing is earmarked for the construction and operation of a 98 megawatt data center located in Johor. The project forms a significant part of a broader development…
“`html The evolving global regulatory landscape presents both challenges and opportunities for corporate and trade lawyers advising foreign businesses. During the New York State Bar Association annual meeting, Howard Fischer, a former senior trial counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, remarked that it “is an incredible opportunity for both U.S. and non-U.S. lawyers…
Thomas Ubber, a prominent labor lawyer and former Germany Managing Partner at A&O Shearman, is set to establish a new boutique firm. Known for advising prominent clients such as Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn, and Amazon, Ubber plans to bring a team to new offices in Frankfurt and Munich. The specifics of the transition, including the firm’s…
Danish law firm Lundgrens is set to close following significant departures of key personnel. Last week, the firm experienced the loss of a 13-partner group to global law firm DLA Piper, as well as the departure of an employment partner to local competitor Mazanti-Andersen. The firm’s decision to shutter its operations marks the end of…
DLA Piper has announced new leadership for its Peru office, appointing Luis Vargas and Sergio Barboza as co-managing partners. This leadership change accompanies the recent recruitment of a five-person tax team. The firm, which entered the Peruvian market in 2017 through a merger with a local law firm, aims to strengthen its presence in the…
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has announced a strategic booster to its finance practice in London by acquiring a seasoned partner from White & Case. The move follows a string of high-profile departures from Weil last year and signifies an effort to rejuvenate their finance ranks in a competitive market. This latest hiring decision aligns…
In a significant move aimed at boosting Ethiopia’s economic landscape, the country has launched its first securities exchange in over 50 years. This development comes as Ethiopia seeks to transition towards a private-led economy, targeting more than $27 billion in investment. The establishment of the Ethiopia Securities Exchange (ESX) follows the liberalisation of key sectors,…
Global law firm CMS has announced a reduction of 15 roles within its U.K. real estate team, marking the second round of redundancies in 18 months. This move is attributed to ongoing economic challenges. While these job cuts affect associates and counsel, partners will not be impacted. Interestingly, despite these reductions within the U.K., CMS…
In a recent move, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has appointed Matthew Wagstaff as its new director of legal services. Wagstaff will succeed Sara Lawson KC, the current general counsel, marking a key internal transition within the SFO. As the most senior lawyer at the SFO, Wagstaff will face a number of significant challenges, including…
“`html The UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) recently rejected a claim due to an inadequacy in the class representative’s understanding of their own funding arrangements. This decision underscores the Tribunal’s expectation that class representatives should not simply function as figureheads while legal representatives manage the proceedings. Instead, class representatives are required to engage actively with…
In a significant move within the legal sector in Hong Kong, former partners from globally recognized law firms Dentons and Baker McKenzie have joined a boutique firm linked to China’s Yingke. This development highlights the evolving legal landscape in Hong Kong, where local firms are increasingly establishing connections with major Chinese legal entities. Vivian Hui,…
Antony Sassi, currently serving as the Asia head for the London-headquartered law firm RPC, has been named the firm’s global managing partner. Sassi, who took on the role of Asia managing partner in 2019, will begin his four-year term in May. He has been with RPC since 2010, leading the firm’s efforts across the Asian…
Law firms are encountering tensions surrounding the compensation of nonequity partners. The compensation packages for these partners can be quite similar to, or even surpass, those received by senior associates, counsel, and occasionally, equity partners, according to firm leaders and consultants. This overlap in earnings is generating friction within firms as they navigate the complexities…
In light of current global challenges to legal structures, Singapore’s Senior Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, underscored the integral role of the rule of law in fostering the nation’s progress during the 10th anniversary of the Singapore International Commercial Court. Addressing over 430 delegates from 15 jurisdictions, Mr. Lee emphasized the commercial certainty and confidence that…
The merger between Reon Legal, a Polish law boutique that separated from the German law firm Noerr, and Crido Group, a Warsaw-based professional services firm, was finalized in early January. Through this merger, Crido’s legal division has expanded its client base to include banks and companies from German-speaking countries, demonstrating a strategic push towards serving…