Europe Intelligence Wire articles from May 2006

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from May 2006

Carol reveals a brand new style to reverse the decline.
May 1, 2006... (From Nottingham Evening Post) A Major re-focus of business over the past three years for the Long Eaton-based lingerie and swimwear manufacturer, Sherwood Group plc, has prevented the company from going bust. Intense overseas...

Set yourself a goal, and trust in your own abilities.
May 1, 2006... (From Nottingham Evening Post) Starting Out: Graham Darnell, Chief executive of Notts-based specialist logistics business ClearwayLeaving school at 16 is not the ideal way to start a successful career but that's what happened to me....

Hungry carter saying: Just watch this space!
May 1, 2006... (From Nottingham Evening Post) Carter & Carter, the Notts-based training business, is on the acquisition trail again. The stock exchange quoted company, which counts EMTEC among its divisions, says it is likely to make another acquisition...

County show a huge success.
May 1, 2006... (From Leicester Mercury) First-day crowds at the historic County Show - an event billed as a celebration of rural life - have delighted organisers. Early estimates indicated that more than 10,000 people attended the event yesterday....

Hammonds set to take harder line on partner departures.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Hammonds is to radically reform the way it handles resignations and notice periods of departing partners once the firm's 14-month lock-in ends in June. The firm is considering a range of measures that will help to cut...

Freshfields in talks to end all-equity model.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has launched a full-scale review of its cherished all-equity partnership model, including the possibility of de- equitising partners. In what is a momentous U-turn, the magic circle...

Irwin Mitchell slams Govt over vCJD compensation scheme.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) The Irwin Mitchell partner advising 150 families affected by the human form of mad cow disease has hit out at the Department of Health's (DoH) handling of the compensation scheme set up to support his clients. David...

Linklaters outstrips A&O, Lovells in newly qualified salary stakes.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Lovells has raised newly-qualifieds' salaries by 6 per cent to overtake Allen & Overy (A&O), but it still trails Linklaters as this year's first associate salary hikes are revealed. Lovells has increased its...

DWS embarks on mission to bolster depleted partnership.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Denton Wilde Sapte is set to rebuild its partnership with 26 promotions after losing almost a fifth of its partners over the past two years. Technology, media & telecoms (TMT), which notoriously lost 11 partners in...

BLP sets record with thirteen promoted to the partnership.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has promoted a record 13 associates to its partnership. The number dwarfs the previous year's promotions, when just two associates were made up. BLP managing partner Neville...

Three new female partners for Beachcrofts.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Beachcroft Wansbroughs has made up three partners, all female, in its smallest round of promotions for three years. The new partners are based in London and Leeds and see the firm strengthen some of its core practice...

Olswang buys up Kanter Jules in real estate push.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Olswang is kicking off its new financial year with the acquisition of property boutique Kanter Jules. In total, nine fee-earners will join Olswang this week, with four signing up as partners. The new arrivals are...

Carrefour fined in China piracy case.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) In the first high-profile piracy dispute between two Western companies in China, a Shanghai court has fined French retailer Carrefour GBP25,000 for selling fake Louis Vuitton handbags. At fault was Carrefour's...

Clifford Chance appoints learning and development partner.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Clifford Chance has appointed its first global learning and development partner in a bid to develop and streamline the firm's legal and business services training programmes. Former private equity partner Julia Clarke...

Cloisters reshuffle to focus on the little guy.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Cloisters chambers has overhauled its strategy in order to reinforce its reputation as a crusader fighting for the rights of individuals against authority. The set has formed four new groups: the system, workplace,...

LEADER: Catrin Griffiths.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) And so the Kirkland & Ellis recruitment saga draws to a close with the hire of leveraged finance partner Stephen Gillespie from Allen & Overy (A&O). Kirkland's trawl for leveraged buyout (LBO) partners is the only...

Ince overseas offices undergo sea change.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Ince & Co has returned to its maritime roots with four new partners, all based in the firm's foreign offices. The promotions see the firm moving away from the trend of recent years, where the bulk of new partners have...

Expansion costs to top GBP326m as City firms boost headcounts.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) City law firms could face a collective refurbishment bill estimated at GBP240m if expansion plans to take on an additional two million sq ft of office space over the next three years come to fruition. The office...

Clyde & Co promotions help female partner ratio.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Clyde & Co has improved its ratio of female partners by making up two women in its latest round of promotions. In 2005 the firm brought in no new female partners, either by promotion or lateral hire. However, this...

High-profile cases help Four New Square to record results.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Four New Square has unveiled a record turnover of GBP18.5m, a rise of 16 per cent from the previous financial year. The set's 57 members brought in an average of GBP325,000 each, compared with GBP290,000 the previous...

Kings' year crowned by income rise.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Manchester and Leeds set Kings Chambers overcame a difficult first half of the year to post a 2 per cent income rise to GBP13.5m in 2005-06. The set saw its turnover increase from GBP13.2m in 2004-05. Revenue per...

Speechly partnership buoyed with five additions.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Speechly Bircham added five to its partnership with its fourth lateral hire of the year and four internal promotions. The firm has brought in litigation specialist Jim Sharkey, who joins from DLA Piper Rudnick Gray...

Watson Farley makes up three.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Watson Farley & Williams has promoted three associates to the partnership this year, two of whom started as trainees in 1995. Litigation specialist David Foster and corporate lawyer Christina Howard were made up in...

Weightmans swoop sinks marine capability of DLA Piper Liverpool.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Weightmans has sailed off with two lawyers from DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, ending the firm's marine law capability in Liverpool. Associates Mike Burns and Terry Donaghy have joined Weightmans as partners in its...

International Power extends top Middle East lawyer's role.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) International Power is to hand more authority to its Middle East general counsel after the departure of David Wadham for Ashurst. Graham Methold has been named the UK energy company's top lawyer for the lucrative...

LUXEMBOURG: Arendt and Elvinger enjoy funds upswing.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Arendt & Medernach and Elvinger Hoss & Prussen were the main beneficiaries of the double-digit growth in the Luxembourg funds market. Both firms advised on a record number of funds, taking the top two spots in the...

International report: LOGOS.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Icelandic firm Logos has set its sights firmly on the London market. As first reported by The Lawyer (13 March), the firm has followed Icelandic companies to the UK in the hope of benefiting from this increased...

US: Goodwin raids pave way for California expansion.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Boston-based Goodwin Procter has launched an assault on California, opening in Los Angeles (LA) and San Francisco on the back of raids on Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and Cooley Godward. The LA office will be...

XXIV enjoys 16 per cent turnover hike.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Chancery set XXIV Old Buildings is celebrating a 23 per cent rise in revenue per barrister, posting an average income of GBP434,000 for each of its 29 members. The set saw turnover rise by 16 per cent to GBP12.6m in...

DUBAI: Norton Rose Dubai lands Etisalat instruction.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Norton Rose's Dubai-based partner Zubair Mir led an international team acting for the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) on its $2.65bn (GBP1.48bn) acquisition of 26 per cent of the Pakistan...

Italy: Bonelli 2, Gianni 0.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Like Milan's football clubs Internazionale and AC Milan, the rivalry between Italy's two biggest law firms, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo and Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners, is inspired by more than just healthy competition....

JAPAN: Townsend picks Tokyo for first overseas foray.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) San Francisco-based IP firm Townsend and Townsend and Crew has opened an office in Tokyo. The move represents the first international expansion in the nearly 150- year history of the firm. The office, which will...

Italy: Milan proves fertile for Paul Hastings.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) For US law firms, a successful Italian office can be difficult to get right. Simply hiring a big name will not guarantee a solid presence in the country. White & Case's experience with Alberto Morano is one example. ...

Italy: Linklaters ponders Labruna alliance.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Linklaters will be following with interest the fortunes of Antonio Segni, the ex-Gianni capital markets specialist who set up his own firm with three partner colleagues and a host of associates. With only two partners...

Corporate: Gleiss leads Blackstone through telco investment.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Gleiss Lutz advised longstanding client Blackstone on its first investment in a government-controlled company. The US private equity group was selected by the German government as the preferred bidder for a 4.5 per...

Deals roundup: Norton Rose helps CGI with Linklaters HQ sale.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Norton Rose has advised German property fund Commerz Grundbesitz Investmentgesellschaft (CGI) on the off-market sale of Linklaters' headquarters to Beacon Capital Partners. Norton Rose real estate partner Robin Mitchell...

Deals roundup: Olswang advises ARG on takeover by All3Media.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Olswang's media group advised talent agency Artists Rights Group (ARG) on its sale to television production company All3Media, which is now looking to list on the London Stock Exchange. ARG handles entertainment talent...

GREECE: Norton Rose introduces chief as part of Athens growth strategy.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Norton Rose has appointed its first local managing partner for its Greek operation and is to move into new Athens offices as part of plans to double in size. Dimitri Sofianopoulos was named Greek managing partner on 3...

Deals roundup: Slaughters given role by Cadbury on US bottler buy.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Slaughter and May is understood to be acting for longstanding client Cadbury Schweppes on its acquisition of the US Dr Pepper and Seven Up Bottling Group from the Carlyle Group. Cadbury Schweppes is reportedly close to...

DWS boosts TMT practice with Lloyds IT outsourcing mandate.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) is looking to bolster its technology media and telecoms (TMT) practice after bagging mandates on three IT deals in three weeks, including its first outsourcing instruction from Lloyds TSB. ...

Richards Butler lands first Microsoft acquisition remit on Lionhead.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Richards Butler has scooped the lead advisory role for Microsoft Game Studios on its takeover of UK company Lionhead Studios. It is the first time the firm has acted for Microsoft on an acquisition. Corporate partner...

Italy: A&O grows in Rome.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Senior associates can now stop crossing their fingers, screwing up their eyes and praying as hard as they can - partnerships have at last been announced. In Italy, Allen & Overy (A&O) led the field of international law...

Beauty parade could turn ugly as Galileo consortium unravels.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) David Middleton looks at the inability of the Galileo project's companies to agree on a legal adviser The biggest project in the European market is proving to be one massive headache for the lawyers. The Galileo...

Deals comment: Simmons, Macfarlanes ride out bookstores' merger debacle.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Just when the merger of bookstore chains Waterstone's and Ottakar's looked set to go ahead, Tim Waterstone put a spanner in the works with an offer to buy Waterstone's from HMV. The GBP280m offer from the business's...

Lawrence Graham focuses on India in new corporate strategy.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Lawrence Graham is to focus on growth in India after seeing its revenue from the country more than triple during the past two years. The firm's recently revised corporate strategy has the country as one of three key...

Corporate: Hunton's AIM expertise secures mining listing.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Hunton & Williams has advised on the third AIM listing of a special purpose acquisition corporation (Spac), a niche US investment vehicle structure. The firm used its reputation as an AIM specialist to advise KBC...

LAWYER INTERVIEW: Mission impossible?
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Office of Fair Trading chair Philip Collins wants to turn around the embattled regulator. Can he do it? By Donna Sawyer Philip Collins is braver than most. The 58-year-old veteran competition lawyer has courageously...

Deals comment: Cahill becomes player in LSE takeover sage.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) The London Stock Exchange (LSE) saga continues with the US's Cahill Gordon & Reindel the latest firm to be brought into one of the most drawn-out takeover bids of recent times. Nasdaq recently acquired a $782m (GBP437.4m)...

The North West: The end for James Chapman & Co.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) There has been speculation for ages about the fate of James Chapman & Co. The long-established Manchester firm had a nice line in insurance work, but suffered after being dropped from the Axa panel in 2004. Work...

ANALYSIS: Patent profits.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) US law firms are making big money by taking David and Goliath patent suits on a no-win, no-fee basis. But the US Supreme Court could be about to move the goalposts. By Ben Moshinsky If you strolled into your firm with...

The North West: Pinsents restores a little parity.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Pinsent Masons' Manchester corporate team has been under attack during the past few months. First Cobbetts got its claws in, taking corporate head Sean Fitzgerald in January, followed by corporate partner Paul Johnson and...

The North West: Hill Dickinson staff made up.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) The annual round of partner promotions has begun, with Hill Dickinson the first North West firm to announce its new partners. It has been a good year for the firm's associates, with nine becoming partners and an...

Opinion: Alistair MacFarlane.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Alistair MacFarlane, partner, Thomas Eggar With free healthcare, but means-tested social care, people in England and Wales are getting a raw deal Up and down the country, dinner party conversation in many homes...

Ex-Simmons lawyer launches scheme for Pakistani children.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) A former Simmons & Simmons lawyer is setting out to help vulnerable children in Pakistan and build up a network highlighting the value of pro bono work in the country. Mahnaz Malik, previously a litigation associate...

IN-HOUSE INTERVIEW: Rugby tackled.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) With its first in-house lawyer in place, the Rugby Football League is getting tough on both drugs and external advisers. By David Middleton Rugby league is a tough and physically demanding game, but when the sports...

FINANCIAL SERVICES & PENSIONS: The principle argument.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) The Financial Services Authority is changing its mode of regulation, relying more on its 11 Principles of Business. But can such an approach be enforced? Peter Bibby reports The Financial Services Authority (FSA) and...

FINANCIAL SERVICES & PENSIONS: Growing hedges.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) With the prospect of hedge fund listings arriving on our shores, regulators want less potential for conflicts and wider access for mainstream retail investors. By Jonathan Herbst Hedge funds have become increasingly...

The North West: It's a grin up North.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) It is official: Pannone is the best law firm in the country to work for. The firm came third in this year's The Sunday Times' 'Best Companies To Work For' list, behind Gore-Tex manufacturer WL Gore and the Sandwell...

Firm profile: Napthens Solicitors.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) When the partners at Lancashire firm Napthens Solicitors decided to examine their strategy, they looked outside the legal profession for the person who would do the review. The chosen candidate was former HSBC area...

FINANCIAL SERVICES & PENSIONS: Labour pay?
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) The fight over the Parliamentary Ombudsman's findings regarding the Government's misleading advice to pensioners is set to continue - and Europe is the next battleground. David Gallagher reports On 14 March this...

FINANCIAL SERVICES & PENSIONS: The final act.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Pension fund trustees are looking to the provisions of the Pensions Act 2004 to protect the interests of members in the case of bankruptcy. By Andrew Visintin and Grant Jones Much coverage has been given to the state...

To be continued.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) With the right mental preparation, adapting to a new career after the law can be a cinch, says Peter Barton The law used to be a career for life, but for many senior professionals this is no longer true. Early...

The work-life quiz: Mark Shaw QC.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Mark Shaw QC Blackstone Chambers What was your first-ever job? Selling old books to customers who looked even older in an antiquarian bookshop in Bournemouth. What was your worst experience as a pupil? I...

Linklaters' losses unlikely to upset firm's Big Apple cart.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) The roles were reversed within the magic circle in New York last week. While Allen & Overy (A&O) and Clifford Chance made their presences felt with new lateral hires, Linklaters suffered its first group defection. ...

Grapevine: Cipa and Itma: too close for comfort.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Despite being siblings in the nuclear IP family, patent agents and trademark attorneys have not always seen eye-to-eye. But the fallout from the Clementi report might force them to work a little closer together than they...

Grapevine: Paul Hastings' real estate in a real state.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker's London real estate woes show no signs of abating. Despite London head Mark Eagan claiming that lateral hires are imminent, the Los Angeles-based firm appears to be rapidly losing ground...

FINANCIAL SERVICES & PENSIONS: Conflict killers.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) Pension trustees often face conflicts of interest, but tools exist to help them manage such situations and protect their decisions. Arshad Khan reports on the best solutions Pension trustees are facing increasing...

Grapevine: Wembley war produces firm friends.
May 1, 2006... (From The Lawyer) The construction of the new Wembley Stadium has been a mess of delays, wrangles and rows, and last week the dispute between Australian builders Multiplex and steel company Cleveland Bridge reached court. Clifford Chance...

'You have to seed it, weed it, water it, roll it and rake it, trim it, edge it scarify it and mow it'.
May 1, 2006... (From The Northern Echo) Byline: sharon griffiths THERE is something so beautiful about the perfect lawn - so smooth, so green so manicured. It cries out for champagne and strawberries , for lazy afternoons enjoying the best of the...

DJ Lisa's outdoor deck.
May 1, 2006... (From The Northern Echo) Byline: SARAH FOSTER It was value for money that first attracted DJ Lisa Shaw to her home in Consett. Women's Editor SARAH FOSTER has a guided tour IT'S raining buckets when I arrive at Lisa Shaw's home,...

Point and shoot.
May 1, 2006... (From The Northern Echo) Byline: Nigel Burton As the summer season approaches, it might be time to update your camera. We pick six of the best compacts on the market CONTINUALLY packing more features into compact cameras is the...

Get into the swing.
May 1, 2006... (From The Northern Echo) Byline: IAN LAMMING Fresh air and exercise are just a few of the health benefits of the game of golf. But as IAN LAMMING discovers, a bit of coaching also goes a long way to getting the most out of the sport...

Solvency II positioning and potential impact reviewed.
May 2, 2006... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) The majority of European insurers believe that Solvency II will improve their companies' risk and capital management functions, and half have already enacted formal programmes to address the proposed European...

Guy Carpenter launches Electronic Claims File initiative.
May 2, 2006... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Guy Carpenter today announced that it is formally launching its Electronic Claims File (ECF) initiative for reinsurers in the London market after development, testing and implementation of a pilot project with...

UK multi-tie channel leads on e-business according to survey.
May 2, 2006... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) The multi-tie distribution channel is leading the way for electronic trading, according to the Focus Quotient Review of 2005, a report by Focus Business Solutions that measures the industry's progress in terms...

Strong result from Markel.
May 2, 2006... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Markel Corporation has reported net income of USD7.67 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 compared to net income of USD7.47 per diluted share for the same period of 2005. Gross premium volume...

Slight drop at Safeco.
May 2, 2006... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Safeco has reported net income of USD208.2m compared with USD212m, for the first quarter.. "We made the commitment to stick to our underwriting fundamentals, and so we have," said Paula Rosput Reynolds,...

Growth at Argonaut.
May 2, 2006... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Argonaut Group has posted record pre-tax operating income up 35% at USD31.2m for the first quarter on gross written premiums up 30% at USD269.2m. Argonaut Group President and CEO Mark E. Watson III said,...

KMD Awarded Commission to Build New City Hall for Seoul, Korea.
May 2, 2006... (From Hugin) Striking Design Creates a New Architectural Icon That Reflects the City's Pride and Growing Importance as a World-Class International City SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/02/2006 -- San Francisco-based...

Q1 2006 Eclipsys Earnings Conference Call - Research and Markets offers a brief of 'Eclipsys' Conference Call.
May 2, 2006... (From Corporate Conference Call Abstracts) CORPORATE CONFERENCE CALL ABSTRACTS-2 May 2006-Q1 2006 Eclipsys Earnings Conference Call - Research and Markets offers a brief of 'Eclipsys' Conference Call. (C)2006 Research and Markets...

Q1 2006 Pinnacle Entertainment Earnings Conference Call - Research and Markets offers a brief of 'Pinnacle Entertainment' Conference Call.
May 2, 2006... (From Corporate Conference Call Abstracts) CORPORATE CONFERENCE CALL ABSTRACTS-2 May 2006-Q1 2006 Pinnacle Entertainment Earnings Conference Call - Research and Markets offers a brief of 'Pinnacle Entertainment' Conference Call. ...

Q1 2006 RR Donnelley Earnings Conference Call - Research and Markets offers a brief of 'RR Donnelley' Conference Call.
May 2, 2006... (From Corporate Conference Call Abstracts) CORPORATE CONFERENCE CALL ABSTRACTS-2 May 2006-Q1 2006 RR Donnelley Earnings Conference Call - Research and Markets offers a brief of 'RR Donnelley' Conference Call. (C)2006 Research and...

Q1 2006 Iron Mountain Incorporated Earnings Conference Call - Research and Markets offers a brief of 'Iron Mountain Incorporated' Conference Call.
May 2, 2006... (From Corporate Conference Call Abstracts) CORPORATE CONFERENCE CALL ABSTRACTS-2 May 2006-Q1 2006 Iron Mountain Incorporated Earnings Conference Call - Research and Markets offers a brief of 'Iron Mountain Incorporated' Conference Call....

Q1 2006 Kansas City Southern Earnings Conference Call - Research and Markets offers a brief of 'Kansas City Southern' Conference Call.
May 2, 2006... (From Corporate Conference Call Abstracts) CORPORATE CONFERENCE CALL ABSTRACTS-2 May 2006-Q1 2006 Kansas City Southern Earnings Conference Call - Research and Markets offers a brief of 'Kansas City Southern' Conference Call. (C)2006...