Legal Week - Allen & Overy

Clifford Chance and Linklaters lead the way on gas network deal

James Booth, staff — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 19:03:00 -0400

Clifford Chance advises the winning bidder on gas infrastructure deal in Germany as Linklaters advises seller Macquarie

Freshfields, A&O and Slaughters lawyers register in Ireland as Brexit fears mount

Anna Ward, contributor — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 00:03:00 -0400

UK-qualified lawyers apply to join Irish roll of solicitors to obtain European rights ahead of Brexit vote

A&O launches JV with Deloitte to help banks tackle regulation

Anna Ward, contributor — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 12:14:00 -0400

Magic circle firm teams up with Big Four accountant to create MarginMatrix ahead of new regulatory rules

White & Case set for key role as $2.5trn Saudi Aramco prepares to float

Anna Ward, contributor — Wed, 8 Jun 2016 00:37:00 -0400

US firm understood to be advising on informal plans ahead of what could be the biggest IPO in history as Saudi Arabia shakes up its energy strategy

Freshfields climbs FTSE 250 adviser rankings as Slaughters holds top spots

Anna Ward, contributor — Tue, 31 May 2016 00:03:00 -0400

Magic circle firm moves from third place to second in the FTSE 250 adviser rankings, as Slaughters tops FTSE 100 and 250 tables

Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance advise as Chinese group buys Italian sports rights business

Anna Ward, contributor — Thu, 26 May 2016 00:16:00 -0400

Magic circle duo land roles as Chinese appetite for global sports deals continues

Cleary hires Allen & Overy financial services regulation expert

Rose Walker, staff — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 05:10:00 -0400

Head of non-contentious financial services regulation Bob Penn will join the US firm after 17 years at Allen & Overy

Magic circle duo bed down for €1.2bn Hotelbeds sale

Rose Walker, staff — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 07:03:00 -0400

Freshfields is advising long standing client Cinven while Allen & Overy is the owner of Thompson Airways and Thompson Holiday

In-house lawyers fear Brexit with most wanting to stay in Europe

Rose Walker, staff — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 19:21:00 -0400

More than two-thirds of in-house lawyers believe their companies would be adversely affected if Britain left the EU

Allen & Overy makes up six London lawyers in 21-strong partner promotions round

Ben Wheway, staff — Fri, 8 Apr 2016 06:01:00 -0400

A&O promotes twenty-one lawyers to partnership across 12 offices in 11 countries

Magic circle duo advise on $965m Travelex and UAE Exchange financing

James Booth, staff — Wed, 6 Apr 2016 07:15:00 -0400

Allen & Overy and Linklaters take the lead as foreign exchange businesses seek to raise cash

Allen & Overy rejigs corporate practice management as Ballheimer steps up

Rose Walker, staff — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:00:00 -0400

London corporate head Richard Browne takes place on corporate management team following Andrew Ballheimer's election as managing partner

Addleshaw Goddard and Ashurst drop off Aviva roster as panel confirmed

James Booth, staff — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 20:03:00 -0400

Ashurst and Addleshaw Goddard have both moved off Aviva’s roster of advisers

A&O Hong Kong corporate partner set to join MoFo

Anna Ward, contributor — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 00:03:00 -0400

Vivian Yiu due to depart after 10 years at the firm as the trend of magic circle Asia partner exits to US firms continues

Leaders of Travers, Clydes and Simmons among backers of anti-Brexit report

Anna Ward, contributor — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 07:03:00 -0500

Managing and senior partners from top firms among 280 lawyers who have signed document putting case for EU membership

Partners ill-prepared for law firm management, report reveals

Rose Walker, staff — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 19:23:00 -0500

Nearly two-thirds of lawyers in senior management positions say they had little or no help in preparing for their roles

Allen & Overy and Wachtell win roles on $1.1bn NASDAQ acquisition of Deutsche Boerse arm

James Booth, staff — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 06:12:00 -0500

Magic circle firm and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz take the lead on latest stock market deal following LSE and Deutsche Boerse merger talks

As partner exits mount, will the magic circle pass the test of time in Asia?

Frances Ivens, contributor — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:33:00 -0500

The UK magic circle are sticking to their traditional growth strategies in Asia but they face increasing competition for talent, fees and profitability - can they maintain their position?

Allen & Overy sees second Italy practice head exit in a month

Rose Walker, staff — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 19:03:00 -0500

Head of the firm's anti-trust group in Italy Silvia D'Alberti has left A&O for local firm Gattai Minoli Agostinelli & Partners

Allen & Overy elects Wim Dejonghe as senior partner

Vern Pitt, contributor — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 08:48:00 -0500

Dejonghe sees off competition to replace David Morley at the magic circle firm

A&O to launch Peerpoint in Australia as it eyes US expansion

Frances Ivens, contributor — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 19:03:00 -0500

Allen & Overy is launching its flexible lawyer business Peerpoint in Australia next month, as it looks to grow the service globally

‘We can’t pretend we’re as credible in the US as we’d like' - A&O's Morley on his hopes for the firm

Georgina Stanley, staff — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 19:13:00 -0500

The magic circle firm's outgoing senior partner says firms need to be more ambitious to crack the States, with attracting talent another major challenge

Law firms told to do better on promise to provide ongoing PRIME student support

Rose Walker, staff — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 00:10:00 -0500

Two-thirds of all students that took part in placements said that they had not had any further contact with firms, report finds

Allen & Overy advises Asahi as it nears €2.6bn deal to buy Peroni and Grolsch

Anna Ward, contributor — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 11:41:00 -0500

Magic circle firm wins mandate to advise the Japanese beer brand on its bid to acquire two of SAB Miller's European beer brands

Barclays kicks off global panel review with firms asked to focus on 'key priorities'

Rose Walker, staff — Sun, 7 Feb 2016 20:46:00 -0500

The bank has informed firms it intends to open its tender process at the end of Q1

RSA GC steps down as insurer prepares to kick off delayed panel review

Rose Walker, staff — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 10:00:00 -0500

Derek Walsh set to leave next month, with insurer's delayed panel review expected to start this quarter

Allen & Overy wins Paris sex discrimination case

Vern Pitt, contributor — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 05:22:00 -0500

Firm ordered to pay out €65,000 for not following local procedures correctly when dismissing senior associate

India legal market liberalisation back on agenda following Osborne trade talks

Vern Pitt, contributor — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 07:17:00 -0500

Chancellor George Osborne reaches agreement with his Indian counterpart on long-awaited opening to foreign firms

Linklaters and Ashurst advise on Countryside Properties flotation

Rose Walker, staff — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 07:06:00 -0500

Countryside is expected to be valued at £1bn as it sets its sights on raising around £114m through the IPO

Allen & Overy’s highest-paid partner's pay soars 37%

Vern Pitt, contributor — Thu, 7 Jan 2016 09:45:00 -0500

Top paid partner takes home nearly £3m as key management also get pay rise, magic circle firm’s accounts reveal

Allen & Overy gears up for contested management election with eight partners in the running

Vern Pitt, contributor — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 07:07:00 -0500

Magic circle firm confirms contenders to replace senior partner David Morley and managing partner Wim Dejonghe

PwC Legal hires Allen & Overy’s former China head as it mulls Hong Kong law offering

Vern Pitt, contributor — Thu, 3 Dec 2015 08:19:00 -0500

Accountant picks up Joseph Tse as an adviser in its Chinese arm as part of ambitious plans for growth in the region

Allen & Overy, DLA Piper and Bakers act on Canada Pension Plan's $500m Korea JV

Frances Ivens, contributor — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 05:11:00 -0500

Trio advises on the $500m (£333m) JV between Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and APG Asset Management

British Legal Awards Law Firm of the Year: why we selected the firms on the shortlist

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 13:53:00 -0500

Legal Week editor Georgina Stanley outlines the thinking behind the shortlist for Law Firm of the Year at this year's British Legal Awards

Allen & Overy makes senior hire for Asia-Pac contract lawyer push as new names emerge in management race

Vern Pitt, contributor — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 09:03:00 -0500

More likely candidates have emerged in the race to replace senior partner Morley and managing partner Dejonghe

Chinese Ministry of Commerce appoints magic circle firms to panel

Frances Ivens, contributor — Thu, 5 Nov 2015 07:27:00 -0500

A number of international and PRC domestic firms have also been appointed to the four-part legal panel

DLA Piper, Allen & Overy and Allens advise on AUS$2.3bn Link Group IPO

James Booth, staff — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 08:32:00 -0400

DLA Piper, Allen & Overy and Linklaters ally Allens advise on flotation of Australian admin company Link Group

Allen & Overy and HSF advise as private equity companies buy Moonpig owner for £400m

Anna Ward, contributor — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:23:00 -0400

Magic circle firm takes on the private equity buyers in its fourth major consumer goods related deal in three months

Redundancies, more office closures and Dentons setting itself apart once again – the best of Legal Week over the last week

Georgina Stanley, staff — Tue, 6 Oct 2015 10:18:00 -0400

The best of Legal Week over the last week

Allen & Overy senior partner Morley to retire in 2016 after 36 years at firm

Vern Pitt, contributor — Fri, 2 Oct 2015 09:40:00 -0400

Senior partner set to leave the firm when his second term in the role ends next spring

Allen & Overy and Ropes & Gray advise on £1bn Ibstock IPO

Rose Walker, staff — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 19:02:00 -0400

Magic circle firm advises new client Ibstock as private equity owner Bain puts brick business shares up for sale

Allen & Overy closes Canadian outpost as sole partner leaves

Vern Pitt, contributor — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 10:12:00 -0400

Middle East veteran and Toronto founding partner Francois Duquette to leave firm to take in-house role in Canada

Total no-brainers, rainmaking outside London and bank panels – the best of Legal Week last week

Georgina Stanley, staff — Mon, 7 Sep 2015 12:12:00 -0400

The best of Legal Week last week

Alston & Bird and Ropes among firms called up for $8bn Veritas purchase

Frances Ivens, contributor — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 03:20:00 -0400

Bakers and A&O also handed roles as The Carlyle Group buys software company Veritas

A&O hires Ashurst's former Spanish banking co-head

Anna Ward, contributor — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 10:29:00 -0400

Magic circle firm recruits Juan Hormaechea in Spain as it continues to grow after launching its Barcelona branch last year

Allen & Overy and Freshfields face off as 888 trumps competitor to buy bwin

Vern Pitt, contributor — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 05:17:00 -0400

Magic circle pair lead on the deal as rival bidder GVC Holdings fails in attempt to buy gambling web service

Technological breakthrough – the firms that are making the most of the booming tech sector

James Booth, staff — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 19:00:00 -0400

A thriving technology industry is playing to the advantage of US law firms as data shows the sector outpacing the market

Linklaters and Allen & Overy lead on international supermarket deal

James Booth, staff — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 08:22:00 -0400

Cravath Swaine & Moore and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett also win mandates on Ahold-Delhaize merger

Allen & Overy kicks off review of junior lawyer pay

Vern Pitt, contributor — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 19:36:00 -0400

Firm brings in external consultants for review of associate salaries. Nothing off the table in bid to stay competitive

Firms advise on Exeltium's €1.5bn debt refinancing

Frances Ivens, contributor — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 04:27:00 -0400

Allen & Overy and Linklaters are among four firms with roles on the deal that involves 11 financial institutions

Clifford Chance and Sullivan & Cromwell advise Barclays on $2.4bn forex fines

Vern Pitt, contributor — Thu, 21 May 2015 07:17:00 -0400

Six banks hit with $5.7bn in new fines in a scandal that has generated roles for a host of firms including Allen & Overy and Slaughter and May

Allen & Overy advises Computer Sciences Corp on split

Anna Ward, contributor — Wed, 20 May 2015 13:26:00 -0400

Magic circle firm wins US tech mandate for longstanding client with New York M&A partner Peter Harwich taking the lead

Allen & Overy retains lone Sao Paulo partner after his attempt to leave

Vern Pitt, contributor — Fri, 15 May 2015 12:38:00 -0400

Bruno Soares had been set to make the jump to US firm Paul Hastings but will now stay at the magic circle firm

Ex-magic circle duo join Italian firm Grimaldi

Frances Ivens, contributor — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 04:52:00 -0400

Former Clifford Chance chief Michael Bray and an ex-Allen & Overy Italy head join firm as partners

Bakers and Allen & Overy act on €4.4bn FedEx bid for TNT

Frances Ivens, contributor — Tue, 7 Apr 2015 04:56:00 -0400

Baker & McKenzie is advising FedEx alongside Dutch firm NautaDutilh while TNT has turned to Allen & Overy

Magic circle duo land roles on £1.6bn ports sale

Vern Pitt, contributor — Wed, 1 Apr 2015 19:03:00 -0400

Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance lead as Goldman Sachs and its co-investor sell stake in the UK's biggest ports group

Allen & Overy overhauls US corporate finance leadership as Wickenden leaves

Vern Pitt, contributor — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 10:45:00 -0400

Jim Wickenden left the firm last month after just under three years that included a stint in Hong Kong

Linklaters posts 91% spring retention rate

Vern Pitt, contributor — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 10:10:00 -0500

All the qualifying trainees that were offered a place at the magic circle firm accepted the offer

Allen & Overy's Peerpoint operation launches in Hong Kong

Vern Pitt, contributor — Mon, 2 Feb 2015 05:06:00 -0500

Hong Kong office is the first part of the firm's plan for international expansion of its flexible resourcing division

Allen & Overy announces 100 new roles at Belfast support centre

Frances Ivens, contributor — Thu, 9 Oct 2014 10:14:00 -0400

Allen & Overy has revealed plans to recruit up to 100 new staff for its business and legal support centre in Belfast over the next five years.

Allen & Overy raids local firm to launch first magic circle South African office

Frances Ivens, contributor — Wed, 8 Oct 2014 04:56:00 -0400

Allen & Overy has become the first magic circle firm to set up its own practice in South Africa after raiding local outfit Bowman Gilfillan for a seven-lawyer team including four partners.

A&O closes in on Johannesburg launch as Bowmans banking chief quits

Frances Ivens, contributor — Mon, 1 Sep 2014 06:43:00 -0400

Allen & Overy has moved closer to opening its first South African office with a team from Bowman Gilfillan, as banking partner Lionel Shawe has confirmed his exit at the Johannesburg based firm.

Allen & Overy looks to Jo'burg as pursuit of SA base hots up

Frances Ivens, contributor — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 19:08:00 -0400

Allen & Overy has stepped up its bid to break into South Africa with plans to set up its own office in Johannesburg.

Law firm quartet dials in for groundbreaking BT pensions deal

Frances Ivens, contributor — Sun, 6 Jul 2014 19:05:00 -0400

Allen & Overy, Hogan Lovells, Clifford Chance and Willkie Farr & Gallagher have all landed roles on BT Pension Scheme's £16bn deal to hedge more than a quarter of its exposure to longevity risk.

Virgin Group legal panel re-appointed following internal review

Frances Ivens, contributor — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 07:31:00 -0400

Virgin Group has re-appointed all eight firms on its legal panel after conducting a review of the roster, which includes Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith Freehills and Macfarlanes.

California dreaming - firms look further west in bid for US expansion

Georgina Stanley, staff — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:03:00 -0400

"While UK practices are still continuing their developing markets push, behind the scenes attention had already started shifting back to the perpetual elephant in the room: cracking the US market..."

The long, long haul - can the magic circle break America?

Georgina Stanley, staff — Thu, 1 Mar 2012 19:03:00 -0500

As attention turns to emerging economies, London’s top firms continue to press on in the US. Georgina Stanley asks whether a breakthrough is finally in sight

Addleshaws, A&O lead on Yorkshire Building Society merger deal

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:33:00 -0400

Addleshaw Goddard and Allen & Overy (A&O) have picked up lead advisory roles on Yorkshire Building Society's merger with Norwich and Peterborough (N&P) Building Society, creating a combined company with three million members and 224 branches. A&O is advising longstanding client Yorkshire, which is the UK's second largest building society with assets exceeding £30bn. The magic circle firm's team is being led by corporate partner Richard Slynn, assisted by associates Ilan Kotkis and Susannah Gwyn-Thomas.

CC tops Q1 European M&A rankings despite global drop in deal volumes

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 6 Apr 2011 19:39:00 -0400

Clifford Chance (CC) has topped Mergermarket's European deal rankings by volume for the first three months of 2011 - a quarter that saw deal volumes fall both globally and in Europe. The magic circle law firm jumped from sixth place in Europe at Q1 2010 to first place in 2011, with roles on 43 deals worth $34.6bn (£21.3bn). These include transactions such as Criteria CaixaCorp's takeover of the banking business of majority owner La Caixa, worth around $13bn (£8bn).

BLP, A&O and BAE scoop prizes at British Legal Awards

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Fri, 3 Dec 2010 05:51:00 -0500

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Allen & Overy (A&O), and BAE Systems were among the prize winners at last night's (2 December) British Legal Awards 2010, which took place in a snowy London at Old Billingsgate Market.

Allen & Overy and BLP take lead roles on Nomura City move

Legal Week, staff — Thu, 3 Sep 2009 09:24:00 -0400

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) have landed key advisory roles as Japanese banking giant Nomura prepares to move into new premises in the City. The pair have advised on a 20-year lease arrangement, likely to be the largest UK office letting in 2009, which gives Nomura a six-year rent-free period on the newly-constructed Watermark Place building near Cannon Street.

Commentary: A&O bets on the IP market – but will it go the distance?

Legal Week, staff — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:47:00 -0400

It’s not often you see magic circle firms turn to national players for lateral partner hires, but Allen & Overy (A&O) recently made an exception with the hire of intellectual property (IP) litigators Neville Cordell and Huw Evans from DLA Piper and Wragge & Co respectively. The most interesting thing about the pairing is not where the hires came from, but that a firm like A&O made them at all. Coming after a prolonged boom that saw many of the larger City firms’ commitment to IP questioned while more lucrative corporate and finance work was on offer, the latest additions take A&O to six IP partners in London, three of whom will primarily focus on disputes.

Commentary: The leveraged finance team with a shortage of leverage

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:02:00 -0400

When Legal Week revealed in February that Allen & Overy (A&O) had asked five partners in its London leveraged finance team to depart as part of its sweeping restructuring, it is fair to say the move generated some surprise.Yes, the sector has been devastated by the financial turmoil over the last year, leaving A&O and its 69-partner City banking practice heavily exposed. But even so, the level of departures from the firm's 12-partner leveraged finance team - historically one of A&O's most influential and highly-rated practices - was still unexpected.

Eversheds, Links honoured at British Legal Awards

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:48:00 -0500

Eversheds was among the winners at the 2008 British Legal Awards, beating a strong field of competition to scoop the coveted Law Firm of the Year award.Former Allen & Overy senior partner Guy Beringer - who now holds non-executive positions at investment managers Fleming Family & Partners and on the board of Her Majesty's Courts Service - was honoured with the City of London Law Society Lifetime Achievement award after 30 years at the magic circle law firm.

Leading City firms continue to post double-digit H1 financials

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:54:00 -0500

A host of major City firms including Allen & Overy (A&O) have withstood the economic turmoil to report double-digit growth in revenues for the first half of 2008. A&O last week (7 November) became the first magic circle firm to post its results for the six months - revealing an 11% increase in revenue on the same period last year. The hike saw the firm's revenues grow to £548m from last year's equivalent figure of £493m.More than half of the firm's billings came from outside the UK, with A&O opening in both Munich and Sao Paolo during the six-month period.

Magic circle firms take lead on £37bn bailout for trio of banks

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:38:00 -0400

Allen & Overy (A&O), Slaughter and May and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are among the top City firms winning roles on the UK Government's £37bn bailout of three of the country's biggest banks. Freshfields has reprised its role for longstanding client the Bank of England on the rescue plan, fielding a team under corporate partner Michael Raffan. Slaughters is acting for the Treasury on the agreement, which will lead to the Government owning a majority stake in Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and a stake of 43% in the merged HBOS and Lloyds TSB.

Magic circle firms head up £37bn bank bailout

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:51:00 -0400

Allen & Overy, Slaughter and May and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are among the top City firms winning roles on the UK Government's £37bn bailout of three of the country's biggest banks. Freshfields has reprised its role for longstanding client the Bank of England on the rescue plan, fielding a team under corporate partner Michael Raffan. Slaughters is acting for the Treasury on the agreement, which will lead to the Government owning around a 60% stake in Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and a stake of around 40% in the merged HBOS and Lloyds TSB.

Links and A&O set to lead on Lloyds-HBOS talks

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:56:00 -0400

Linklaters is tipped for the top advisory role as Lloyds TSB enters into merger talks with Britain's biggest mortgage lender HBOS. Linklaters is understood to be advising Lloyds TSB on the talks, news of which emerged this morning when the Financial Services Authority was forced to release a statement saying it was satisfied with HBOS's position after the bank's share price went into freefall.

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

Emma Sadowski, contributor — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 22:38:00 -0400

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.

A&O and Slaughters lead on BA/Iberia merger bid

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:50:00 -0400

Allen & Overy (A&O) has landed a high-profile instruction advising Spanish airline Iberia on its merger talks with British Airways (BA). A&O is fielding a team led by Madrid managing partner Inigo Gomez-Jordana and London corporate veteran Alan Paul in what will be seen as a trophy mandate for the top five London firm.

Magic circle trio break into profits top 10 as City firms move up Global 100

Ben Wheway, contributor — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:37:00 -0400

Profits per equity partner (PEP) at top US law firms still narrowly exceed key UK rivals - despite the significant increases the magic circle have achieved in turnover and profitability in recent years. Figures compiled by Legal Week and The American Lawyer show that just three UK firms make it into the global top 10 by PEP - Slaughter and May, Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. In contrast, seven US firms make the grade - headed by elite firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz.

A&O, Wragges rate highly in workplace survey

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:24:00 -0400

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Wragge & Co have been named as the best two workplaces in the legal sector in a new survey. The pair are the only two law firms to feature in the annual rankings of the UK's best workplaces, released today by the Great Place to Work Institute.

Performance scrutinised as attrition rates fall

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:05:00 -0400

City firms are set to take a tougher line on associate performance as they try to counteract falling staff turnover brought about by the uncertain economic climate. Partners are predicting falls in staff churn over the coming year with many typical destinations for associates - such as investment banks - freezing recruitment and associates more wary about moving.

CC, BLP and Olswang play it safe with modest salary rises

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:53:00 -0400

Clifford Chance (CC), Allen & Overy (A&O) and Olswang have joined the ranks of firms announcing associate salary rates for 2008, with all three avoiding significant rises. A&O last week became the first magic circle law firm to reveal it was holding salary bands at 2007 levels, with the firm announcing it had frozen associate salaries for 2008. The move is in line with Herbert Smith's decision in April to hold its rates at 2007 levels.

Simmons and Reed Smith swoop in to land roles on Airbus finance panel

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:39:00 -0400

Simmons & Simmons and Reed Smith have joined a raft of firms appointed to the new Airbus financing panel. Simmons, Reed Smith, Norton Rose, White & Case and Allen & Overy (A&O) have all been given places on the panel, which provides legal advice on issues relating to the financing of new Airbus aircraft.

Magic circle trio dealt lucky hand with Goldman pensions purchase

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:28:00 -0400

Three magic circle firms have taken lead roles advising on Goldman Sachs' purchase of the Rank Group's pension scheme - the UK's biggest ever pensions liability transfer to date.Allen & Overy (A&O) took the main role for Goldman, advising as its recently-formed subsidiary Rothesay Life purchased the assets and liabilities of the Rank Group pension scheme. The deal is thought to be the largest transfer of pension liabilities in the UK so far, with the Rank scheme assets valued at around £700m.

A&O senior partner and Freshfields' Crisp secure senior positions after law

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 6 Mar 2008 00:09:00 -0500

Allen & Overy's (A&O's) outgoing senior partner, Guy Beringer, has taken up a non-executive role at investment house Fleming Family & Partners as he prepares to retire from the magic circle firm. Beringer took up the position of non-executive director at the firm earlier this year, becoming one of five non-executive board members, alongside former cabinet minister Lord Waldegrave and former Standard Chartered UK/Europe chief executive Gareth Bullock.

A&O spends £108m on Bishops Square HQ

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:59:00 -0500

Allen & Overy spent £108m fitting out its new Bishops Square headquarters after securing a sizable rent free period, it has emerged. Accounts recently filed with Companies House reveal that the magic circle firm spent £55.7m on office improvements over the 2006/7 financial year, in addition to £14.8m on furniture and fittings and more than £10m on computers. The LLP is also benefiting from a rent free period.

Sky calls in A&O for ITV competition battle

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:59:00 -0500

Allen & Overy (A&O) is set to battle on behalf of BSkyB as the satellite television operator launches a legal challenge against the Competition Commission over its stake in rival broadcaster ITV. A&O is fielding a team under City competition partners Antonio Bavasso and John Wotton to represent Sky, after the Commission last month ordered the company to sell the majority of its stake in ITV.

A&O leads for new client on $1.5bn power plant sale in CIS

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:56:00 -0500

Allen & Overy (A&O) has taken a lead role on the $1.5bn (£770m) acquisition of Kazakhstan's largest power producer, bagging a new client in the process.The deal saw A&O advising new client, copper producer Kazakhmys, on its acquisition of Ekibastuz power plant and Maikuben West coal mine in Kazakhstan for up to $1.5bn. The magic circle law firm, which won the client after taking part in a competitive pitching process last year, fielded a team under corporate partner Keith McGuire and projects partner Nigel Pritchard. A&O acted alongside Salans' Almaty office, which advised on local law.

A&O claims pole position in '07 DCM tables

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Fri, 8 Feb 2008 09:43:00 -0500

Allen & Overy (A&O) has held on to top spot in the latest international debt capital markets rankings, with the magic circle firm seizing an 8% market share for 2007. A&O advised managers on 651 deals worth a combined $331.8bn (£170.4bn) over the last year to top the table, compiled by Thomson Financial.

Magic circle firms eye M&B pub chain sell-off

Georgina Stanley, staff — Tue, 5 Feb 2008 07:37:00 -0500

A raft of City firms, including Slaughter and May, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy (A&O), are in line to win roles on the potential sale of pub and restaurant company Mitchells & Butlers (M&B). The company, which owns chains such as Harvester and O'Neill's, last week (29 January) admitted it was open to offers after revealing a £274m post-tax loss from hedging an aborted property transaction with Robert Tchenguiz in 2007.

Wells faces Dejonghe in A&O leadership battle; Morley tipped for senior partner

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:44:00 -0500

Four candidates have emerged for the senior management roles at Allen & Overy as the City giant gears up for an overhaul of its top brass. Belgian managing partner and corporate co-head Wim Dejonghe will face senior finance partner Boyan Wells in a race for the managing partner position that is set to be hotly contested.

City giants to redeploy lawyers as markets shift

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:07:00 -0500

Allen & Overy (A&O) is attempting to usher in a new era of flexibility among its lawyers in part to prepare for fluctuating market conditions, marking the strongest evidence yet that top UK law firms are having to adapt to the post-credit crunch environment.The magic circle firm has launched a scheme to move fee earners and staff around the firm more easily and is encouraging lawyers to gain a wider range of experience and build a more general practice.

UK trainees avoid crunch fallout as top firms' retention soars above 90%

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:03:00 -0500

Trainee retention rates across the UK's elite legal profession have remained steadfast, with many firms keeping hold of more than 90% of their intake despite a sharp dip in City lawyers' overall business confidence. Eighteen out of 25 of the UK's top firms are holding on to more than 90% of their March class of qualifying lawyers, including six firms with a 100% retention rate.

A&O boosts work-life credentials with holiday 'trading' initiative

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:26:00 -0500

Allen & Overy (A&O) lawyers are now able to buy and sell holiday entitlement, under the latest flexible working scheme introduced at the magic circle law firm. Lawyers and staff at A&O have been given the option of selling a proportion of their holiday allowance back to the firm as well as being able to buy extra holiday.

Big four cast long shadow in deal league but nationals gain ground

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:04:00 -0500

It was a good year for London's big four in the key M&A markets, no doubt, but 2007's wildly uneven corporate market also drew a strong performance from firms such as Eversheds and Pinsent Masons. Echoing its market-leading performance in Legal Week's primary adviser tables, which track lead corporate roles on Europe's largest deals, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer topped the full tables for European M&A, according to recently-released research from Mergermarket.

High-level Shearman hire hands A&O Germany boost

Georgina Stanley, staff — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:03:00 -0500

Allen & Overy (A&O) has bolstered its German corporate practice with the hire of Shearman & Sterling's global co-head of M&A. Hans Rolf Koerfer will join A&O's Duesseldorf arm, which opened in September, after nearly eight years with Shearman. The appointment of a respected corporate lawyer from one of Shearman's leading European offices will be seen as a boost for the magic circle firm's German practice, which has been identified as a key investment priority.

A&O eyes multimillion-pound Courts fees windfall

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Tue, 8 Jan 2008 08:56:00 -0500

Allen & Overy (A&O) is set for a major fees windfall from its role advising on the administration of failed furniture retailer Courts after it emerged the firm and other advisers have billed a total of more than £18.5m since the company collapsed in November 2004. An administrator's progress report filed with Companies House late last year revealed that the failed company has paid out £18.5m to legal and professional advisers since it went bust. The sum has been pocketed for the most part by A&O, which is advising the administrator KPMG and investment bank NM Rothschild, which is acting as financial adviser.

City giants lead Emap's £1bn B2B sell-off

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 2 Jan 2008 10:43:00 -0500

Ashurst and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are advising Guardian Media Group and private equity house Apax on their £1bn takeover of the business-to business arm of publishing giant Emap. The terms of the recommended cash offer, announced on 21 December, together with a £1bn special dividend payable to shareholders following the sale of Emap's consumer and radio divisions, effectively value the company at £2bn.