Legal Week - Fieldfisher

Fieldfisher merges with Italian firm

Anna Ward, staff — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 06:16:24 -0400

UK firm Fieldfisher has merged with Italy's Studio Associato Servizi Professionali Integrati (SASPI). The merger will take effect 1 July. It will be…

Fieldfisher launches dedicated Africa offering with ex-Deloitte hire

Anna Ward, contributor — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:00:00 -0500

UK firm dips its toes into the African market with the arrival of the former head of tax for Deloitte's France Africa cluster

Chissick re-elected as Fieldfisher managing partner

Vern Pitt, contributor — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:09:00 -0500

Former technology, outsourcing and privacy group head re-elected for second term after standing unopposed

Fieldfisher posts 8% rise in revenue amid rising disputes activity

Anna Ward, contributor — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 12:45:00 -0500

Firm reports growth in turnover compared to the first half of 2014-15 as London and European offices perform well

Pinsent Masons tops latest AIM adviser rankings

James Booth, staff — Tue, 4 Aug 2015 19:03:00 -0400

Firm tops the AIM adviser rankings, despite losing five clients over the course of the last quarter

Fieldfisher promotes four to partner in reduced round

Frances Ivens, contributor — Wed, 1 Apr 2015 05:26:00 -0400

Firm makes up four new partners in its London and Brussels offices across four different practice areas

Fieldfisher posts 9% half-year revenue rise, breaks six-month £50m barrier

Frances Ivens, contributor — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 11:59:00 -0500

Fieldfisher has posted a 9% rise in revenue in the first six months of 2014-15, with fee income rising to £54.3m from £49.9m at the same time last year.

Field Fisher partner arrives at Hogan Lovells ahead of 18-month notice period

John Malpas, contributor — Wed, 4 Jun 2014 09:17:00 -0400

A senior partner has joined Hogan Lovells from Field Fisher today (4 June) - just eight months after Field Fisher insisted he would be held to an 18-month notice period.

Careful what you wish for: an edgy mid-tier serves up OC-Field Fisher talks

Georgina Stanley, staff — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:03:00 -0400

Given the continued economic uncertainty in global markets, that two law firms sitting in the crowded UK mid-tier like Osborne Clarke (OC) and Field Fisher Waterhouse are pursuing a tie-up – as emerged this week – is interesting but no shock.

Women in law: Role models

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:19:00 -0500

"When I first started out I was doing a range of work - it was excellent exposure and I had to grow up very fast. It was the boom time in the late 80s and I decided to try my hand at a bigger firm. It was intimidating at first - every second person seemed to be public school and I thought I'd made a mistake. But I realised it was a lot more diverse, grew to love it and got involved in all sorts of interesting work. I haven't looked back."

Commentary: FFW bucks trend as lure of silver screen fades for City

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 4 Feb 2009 23:04:00 -0500

Given the furore surrounding redundancies and partner culls in recent weeks, SJ Berwin's announcement that it is closing its media team was easy to miss. Lawyers in the media, though, are shocked by the news of the departure of the highly-rated team, led by partner Tim Johnson. It is a move that many see as sad both for the individuals concerned but, more crucially, because of what it says about the state of the media market. In reality perhaps the most surprising aspect was that SJ Berwin was still offering film and television finance advice at all. Alongside Olswang, and to a lesser extent Reed Smith and DLA Piper, the firm has been one of an ever-shrinking handful of City players to offer such advice.

Gilmour re-elected as FFW managing partner

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:43:00 -0500

Field Fisher Waterhouse managing partner Moira Gilmour has been re-elected to lead the firm for a second term. Gilmour, who has been managing partner of the firm since April 2006, stood unopposed for the position, which she will hold for another three years.Before replacing Colin McArthur in the management role, she headed Field Fisher's real estate practice - a role now filled by Paul Houston.

FFW partner caught up in India terrorism crisis

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:43:00 -0500

Field Fisher Waterhouse international partner Mark Abell is among the number of British and US citizens trapped in the terrorist crisis in the Indian city of Mumbai. Abell is understood to be trapped in the five-star Trident Oberoi hotel in Mumbai, where he was staying on business.Late last night, the Oberoi, along with another hotel the Taj Mahal Palace, were taken over by gunmen as part of a round of co-ordinated attacks on the city which have reportedly left over 100 dead and more than 280 injured. It is thought the terrorists are specifically targeting British and US nationals.

FFW in talks with 175 staff in new round of cuts

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:41:00 -0500

Field Fisher Waterhouse has launched a second redundancy consultation, with the City firm in talks with more than half of its 300 UK-based support staff. The firm confirmed today (21 November) that it is in talks with 175 support staff, with the consultation expected to lead to around 40 job losses in total. No fee earners will be affected by the latest redundancy talks, which are contained to secretarial and business staff in its City base.

FFW makes up seven after review of partnership criteria

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:53:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse is promoting seven of its partners to the equity, following a recent overhaul of its partnership promotion criteria. Seven of the firm's salaried partners will join the equity from 1 November, boosting the corporate, intellectual property (IP), technology and employment practices.

Field Fisher scores second Reed Smith hire in a month

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 2 Oct 2008 01:52:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse has hired its second partner from Reed Smith in a month to secure a new partner for its London pensions practice. Michael Calvert, who is the latest in a string of hires for the City law firm, will join Field Fisher's employment and pensions practice as a partner. Calvert joined Reed Smith in 2003 and, prior to that, worked at Ashurst. His practice includes acting for both employers and trustees on transactional and non-transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, outsourcings, scheme mergers and wind-ups and pensions regulator issues.He becomes the third lateral partner to join Field Fisher in recent weeks, following the hires of property litigator Lesley Webber, who also joined from Reed Smith, and technology and telecoms litigator Andrew Dodd from DLA Piper. The firm has already made nine lateral hires during the current financial year, taking its total partnership to 126.Calvert becomes the second partner in Field Fisher's London pensions group alongside practice head David Gallagher. The group's clients include Electricity Pensions, Arriva and the Government Actuary's Department. Gallagher said: "Calvert has an excellent reputation in the industry and his expertise in private sector pensions will be a good complement to our practice's leading public sector pension capability."

FFW cuddles up to Hamleys' India expansion

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 1 Oct 2008 22:34:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse has scored a role for toy giant Hamleys as the iconic British retailer expands into India. The firm has acted for the company on a franchising deal with Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries for the launch of two stores in India.The agreement, thought to be worth more than £300m, sees franchising partner Mark Abell take the lead for Hamleys, acting alongside assistants Gordon Drakes and Sonal Patel. Reliance turned to Indian firm AZB & Partners partner Shuva Mandal.

RPC signs up four-lawyer Field Fisher team

Legal Week, contributor — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:31:00 -0400

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) has recruited a four-lawyer team from Field Fisher Waterhouse, including a new head for its real estate practice. RPC has taken on Field Fisher partner Martin Barrett to head its real estate team, along with assistant Sarah Cassidy, who will join as a partner.Barrett previously headed up Field Fisher's projects, infrastructure, commercial and industrial group, spending five years at Rosling King and five years at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer before joining Field Fisher as a partner in 1992. His practice centres on energy and transport and he also advises on property-related matters for chemical, pharmaceutical, oil, gas and railway operating companies.

Editor's Blog: All eyes on Field Fisher - this time for the wrong reasons

Georgina Stanley, staff — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:01:00 -0400

After several years in which Field Fisher Waterhouse has gained attention for putting forward a more ambitious agenda, the firm now finds itself hitting the headlines for less welcome reasons. Head of trademark and brand protection John Olsen's claim of harassment and age discrimination against the firm means that Field Fisher is unlikely to be signing up to the 'all publicity is good publicity' cliche. Details contained within the 19-page grievance document point to power struggles and an unforgiving working environment within both the intellectual property (IP) and trademark group and the wider firm.

Field Fisher scores second partner with Reed Smith hire

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 4 Sep 2008 00:53:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse has bagged its second partner in a week after taking on Lesley Webber from Reed Smith. Webber joins the firm's City real estate practice from the local office of Reed Smith, where she was a partner and head of the UK property litigation and planning group.

Field Fisher signs up IT/tech partner from DLA

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:02:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse has boosted its intellectual property (IP) and technology dispute resolution practice with the hire of partner Andrew Dodd from DLA Piper. Dodd, who is set to join Field Fisher on 8 September, is leaving DLA Piper after seven years with the firm. He will take Field Fisher's IP and technology dispute practice to seven partners, in addition to 14 other lawyers.

Field Fisher set for property redundancies

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Fri, 8 Aug 2008 11:44:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse is the latest firm to be hit by the downturn in the property market, with the firm today confirming it has kicked off a redundancy programme at its City headquarters. Field Fisher has begun a consultation across its property practice, which is likely to see a number of its fee earners lose their jobs. The firm refused to comment on numbers involved, although the practice currently has 44 fee earners.

Field Fisher eyes UK top 25 after stellar results

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:39:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse has announced dramatic rises in both turnover and profits for the last financial year to position itself as one of the best performing City firms in the last 12 months. Revenue at Field Fisher increased by 30% over the last 12 months, up from £67.7m in 2006-07 to a new high of £88m.

Field Fisher builds up franchising practice with Eversheds triple-lawyer appointment

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 8 May 2008 00:30:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse has bagged a three-lawyer team from Eversheds, taking respected franchising head Chris Wormald to co-head its practice.Wormald joins Field Fisher along with consultant and former franchising head Martin Mendelsohn and senior associate Shelley Nadler.

Eversheds hires hand FFW franchising coup

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Fri, 2 May 2008 10:45:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse has bagged a three lawyer team from Eversheds, taking respected franchising head Chris Wormald to co-head its practice. Wormald joins Field Fisher along with fellow partner and former franchising head Martin Mendelsohn as well as senior associate Shelley Nadler. The hires represent a significant boost for Field Fishers' franchising group, which will now be co-led by Wormald and Mark Abell.

TMT rivals Bird & Bird and Field Fisher maintain substantial promotions round

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:39:00 -0400

Bird & Bird and Field Fisher Waterhouse have joined a raft of firms including Slaughter and May and Lovells in announcing their new partner promotions this week. Bird & Bird has made up its largest-ever haul, with 14 new partners - doubling its 2007 count - with the London and German practices receiving the biggest share with four partners each.

New anti-doping body gets legal injection

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:15:00 -0400

A clutch of senior lawyers have been appointed to the newly-established National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) to oversee doping cases brought against athletes. One Essex Court's Peter Leaver QC has been appointed as president of the 16-strong panel, while Farrar's Building tenant Patrick Harrington QC will act as vice president.

Managing/Senior Partner of the Year 2007: David Pester, TLT

Ben Wheway, staff — Thu, 6 Dec 2007 19:22:00 -0500

The British Legal Awards 2007: Managing/Senior Partner of the Year. Winner: David Pester, TLT. Finalists: Peter Crossley, Hammonds; Kevin Gold, Mishcon de Reya; Moira Gilmour, Field Fisher Waterhouse; David Gray, Eversheds; Joy Kingsley, Pannone

KKR, Permira and Apax storm ahead in private equity league

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 7 Nov 2007 23:34:00 -0500

Buy-out giants Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR), Permira and Apax Partners have emerged as the most lucrative clients in the sector in recent years, according to new research. Mergermarket rankings compiled exclusively for Legal Week show the private equity houses have completed the highest value of deals in Europe over the last three years.

Field Fisher hits Paris after seven-partner Dubarry raid

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:23:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse has launched an office in Paris, taking on seven partners from historic alliance partner Dubarry after it secured permission to practise from the French Bar last week. The new office, which will be the firm's third international outpost, opened for business last week. The top 40 City firm has taken on Dubarry partners Mario Celaya, Philippe Netto, Louis-Bernard Buchman, Valerie Dubaile, Bruno Ducoulombier, Stephane Benezant and Remi Kleiman. They have been joined by 13 further fee earners.

Field Fisher in for Arsenal stake sale to Russian

Georgina Stanley, staff — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:48:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse has advised Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov on his purchase of a stake in Arsenal Football Club. The mid-tier City law firm advised investment company Red & White Holdings, which is jointly owned by Usmanov and London-based investor Farhad Moshiri, on its £75m acquisition of a 14.6% stake in the club from former vice-chairman David Dein.

Bloxham: Freshfields considered 'Heroes' in pensions overhaul

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:03:00 -0400

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer was accused of "inter-generational unfairness" by ex-partner Peter Bloxham, who took the stand yesterday (10 July) in an age discrimination claim against his former firm, worth £4.5m. The 54-year-old retiree complained to the tribunal about the way he was treated at the hands of Freshfields in a deal which saw his pension drawings cut by 20% when the firm phased in a new pensions plan. He says the new pension scheme "forced" him to retire six months earlier than he otherwise would have done.

Field Fisher rips up strategy for pan-European launch

Georgina Stanley, staff — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:04:00 -0400

Field Fisher Waterhouse is in advanced merger talks with Paris firm Dubarry and is to launch in Germany and Belgium in a series of moves that will end its European alliance. The firm announced internally last week that it would be ending its alliance of referral firms at the end of March and the new offices will be officially launching in April.

Field Fisher revamps restructuring practice

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 23:49:00 -0500

Field Fisher Waterhouse is revamping its restructuring practice with the hire of a partner from Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis. Robin Tutty…

Field Fisher secures trophy deal from US hotel giant Wyndham

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:03:00 -0500

Wyndham turns to Field Fisher over traditional US advisers for EMEA expansion plans

Linklaters and Freshfields lead on $1.5bn Experian IPO

Georgina Stanley, staff — Wed, 4 Oct 2006 20:03:00 -0400

Experian float to brave market as GUS demerger keeps long-term adviser Linklaters busy

Field Fisher handles Reiss China franchise move

Charlotte Edmond, contributor — Wed, 5 Jul 2006 20:03:00 -0400

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