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Articles by James Booth
100-year-old marathon runner shares his secret to longevity
“These, believe it or not, are the best years of my life.” You might not expect to hear that phrase out of the mouth of a centenarian, but that’s exactly what marathon runner Mike Fremont recently told author and podcaster Rich Roll. Fremont, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of 69, and reportedly given three months to live, turned to a plant-based diet in an attempt to help shrink the cancer.
Freshfields Lures Former Senior DOJ Antitrust Official in Washington
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Vanderbilt Receives $3.2 Million NIH Grant to Study Reading Skills in Hard-of-Hearing Children
By Joan Brasher, Public Affairs Officer Vanderbilt University has been awarded a $3.2 million grant by the National Institutes of Health to better understand how children who are deaf or hard of hearing excel at reading. An article detailing the research funded by the grant appears on the Vanderbilt University website. Millions of children are hearing impaired and these individuals tend to have below-average reading skills.
Latham Hires Away DLA Piper Co-Chair
To view this content, please continue to Lexis Advance®. Not a Lexis Advance® Subscriber? Subscribe Now Why am I seeing this? LexisNexis® is now the exclusive third party online distributor of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® customers will be able to access and use ALM's content by subscribing to the LexisNexis® services via Lexis Advance®.
DLA Piper Hit by Cyber Attack, Phones and Computers Down Across the Firm
To view this content, please continue to Lexis Advance®. Not a Lexis Advance® Subscriber? Subscribe Now Why am I seeing this? LexisNexis® is now the exclusive third party online distributor of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® customers will be able to access and use ALM's content by subscribing to the LexisNexis® services via Lexis Advance®.
Covington set to become second major US firm in Dublin with post-Brexit launch
US firm recruits Beauchamps lawyer for life sciences and tech-led move into Ireland Covington & Burling is set to become the second major US law firm with a base in Dublin, in a move prompted by the UK’s impending exit from the European Union (EU). The US firm is planning to launch a life sciences and technology practice in the Irish Republic, but is currently waiting for regulatory clearance from the Irish Law Society. This premium content is reserved for Legal Week Subscribers.
White & Case hit with record £250k fine for 'reckless' conflict of interest and confidentiality failures
Partner fined £50,000 and firm fined £250,000 in connection with 2014 oligarch case White & Case has been fined a record £250,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for failings around confidentiality and conflicts of interest, with one London partner fined an additional £50,000. This premium content is reserved for Legal Week Subscribers. Subscribe today and get 10% off.
Freshfields managing partner Chris Pugh steps down early in management overhaul
Magic circle firm has seen leadership team halve from four to two in just over 18 months Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer co-managing partner Chris Pugh has stepped down after little more than 18 months in the role, as the firm overhauls its management structure. This premium content is reserved for Legal Week Subscribers. Subscribe today and get 10% off.
HFW splashes out in Singapore with triple partner hire
Firm hires former BLP South East Asia head and partners from Wikborg Rein and Watson Farley & Williams Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) has strengthened its Singapore office with the hire of three partners. This premium content is reserved for Legal Week Subscribers.
20180301dlas Former France Managing Partner Quits Firm To Launch Ma Boutique - Legal Week
Michel Frieh, whose former firm merged with DLA in 2012, leaves for new solo venture DLA Piper’s former France managing partner has left the firm to launch a private equity and M&A boutique. Michel Frieh, who spent five years as DLA’s country managing partner for France after joining in 2012, stepped down from his leadership role last year.
20180228kirkland Allen Overy And Linklaters Check In For E4 4bn Hotel Deal - Legal Week
Line-up of top firms advise as investment consortium acquires 55% stake in Accor real estate assets Kirkland & Ellis, Allen & Overy (A&O) and Linklaters are among a line-up of law firms to have advised on the €4.4bn acquisition of a 55% stake in the real estate assets of AccorHotels by a consortium of investors.
20180226herbert Smith Freehills And Macfarlanes Lead On Private Equity Purchase Of Time Inc Uks Arm - Legal Week
Top UK firms lead on sale of publisher of magazines including NME and Marie Claire Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Macfarlanes are playing the lead roles on the sale of the UK arm of Time Inc to private equity firm Epiris. Time Inc’s UK magazine business includes NME, Marie Claire and Country Life. It is being sold by US parent company Meredith to private equity firm Epiris, whose investments include the UK franchise of US-style restaurant group TGI Fridays and bowling company Hollywood Bowl.
Ashurst takes Clyde & Co UK intellectual property head in boost for City practice
Former Stevens & Bolton and Bristows partner joins Ashurst after almost three years at Clydes Ashurst has strengthened its intellectual property (IP) team with the hire of Clyde & Co’s UK IP head David Wilkinson. Wilkinson has spent nearly three years at Clydes after joining in 2015 from Guildford firm Stevens & Bolton, where he was also head of IP.
Former Linklaters Partner Given Three-Year Prison Sentence for Sexual Assault
A former Linklaters partner in Germany has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison for sexual assault. Thomas Elser, a former tax partner at the Magic Circle firm, was sentenced Thursday in a Munich Court for the assault that took place after a Linklaters Oktoberfest party in 2014. Another former partner at the firm, Laurenz Schmitt, received a seven-month suspended sentence in 2016 for punching Elser in the face later on that same evening.
Hogan Lovells Partners With Elevate to Offer Flexible Lawyering Service | The American Lawyer
In another example of law firms looking to offer clients lower-cost alternatives to the traditional leverage model, Hogan Lovells has teamed up with alternative legal services provider Elevate to launch a new flexible lawyering service. The partnership, which launched February 15 in the United Kingdom, will give Hogan Lovells access to Elevate’s 1,500-strong pool of lawyers during times of high demand.
Siteslegalweek20180215former Linklaters Partner Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Sexual Assault - Legal Week
Ex-magic circle partner sentenced today in Munich following 2014 assault A former Linklaters partner in Germany has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison for sexual assault. Ex-Linklaters tax partner Thomas Elser was sentenced today in a Munich Court for the assault that took place after a Linklaters Oktoberfest party in 2014.
Siteslegalweek20180215hogan Lovells Strikes Deal With Elevate To Launch Flexible Lawyering Programme - Legal Week
Deal gives firm's UK arm access to Elevate's 1,500-strong pool of lawyers Hogan Lovells has teamed up with alternative legal services provider Elevate to launch a new flexible lawyering service. The partnership, which launches today (15 February) in the UK, will give Hogan Lovells access to Elevate’s 1,500-strong pool of lawyers during times of high demand.
Freshfields Lures Former Senior DOJ Antitrust Official in Washington | National Law Journal
Eric Mahr. A top U.S. Justice Department official who departed his post in November is joining Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Washington, D.C. Eric Mahr was a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr for more than 15 years before joining the DOJ’s antitrust division as director of litigation in 2015. He left the government position in November 2017 as the trial over his department’s lawsuit to block AT&T’s purchase of Time Warner fast approached.
Freshfields boosts Washington with ex-US Department of Justice antitrust heavyweight
Magic circle firm makes key antitrust hire in Washington DC Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has strengthened its Washington DC antitrust practice with the hire of a former senior lawyer from the US Department of Justice. Eric Mahr left the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in November after just over two years serving as director of litigation of the antitrust division.
DLA Piper scores role on £4.4bn Premier League TV rights deal
DLA is advising on the sale of rights to BT and Sky which has raised £4.4bn DLA Piper has bagged the key role advising the Premier League on the £4.4bn sale of live TV broadcasting rights to BT and Sky. Between them, BT and Sky have secured the rights to broadcast the majority of Premier League matches played between 2019 and 2022. BT has bought one package allowing it to screen 32 games over the period, with Sky acquiring four packages allowing it to show 128 games.
Latham hires Kirkland & Ellis securities partner in Hong Kong
Kirkland partner returns to former firm six years after joining as part of an eight-partner team hire Hong Kong securities partner Benjamin Su has left Kirkland & Ellis to rejoin Latham & Watkins after leaving the firm in 2011. Su, a US securities specialist, advises Chinese companies on listings in Hong Kong and the US. Last year, he acted for Singapore-based e-commerce company Sea on an $885m (£640m) initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.
Addleshaw Goddard pulls in eight-strong construction team from DWF
DWF's construction head Paul O’Kane and Manchester construction head Paul Barge to join Addleshaws with six associates Addleshaw Goddard has hired an eight-lawyer construction team from DWF in Manchester. The firm has hired DWF’s national head of construction and its Manchester head of construction alongside six associates. National construction head Paul O’Kane and Manchester head Paul Barge are set to join Addleshaws later this year alongside six lawyers from DWF’s construction team.
Shoosmiths lawyer killed in Grand Canyon helicopter crash
Shoosmiths senior associate Jason Hill named among tourists killed in Grand Canyon helicopter crash A Shoosmiths lawyer has been named as one of three British tourists killed in a helicopter crash in the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Senior associate Jason Hill, a corporate lawyer in the firm’s Milton Keynes office, was killed in the crash alongside his younger brother Stuart and Stuart’s girlfriend, Becky Dobson.
British Lawyer Killed in Grand Canyon Helicopter Crash | The American Lawyer
In this photo from Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, a survivor, lower right, walks away from the scene of a deadly tour helicopter crash in Arizona along the rocks of the Grand Canyon. (Teddy Fujimoto via AP) A lawyer from Shoosmiths, a large firm in the U.K., has been named as one of three British tourists killed in a helicopter crash over the weekend in the Grand Canyon.
Law firms set to scoop £9m in fees from GKN-Melrose deal as union boss criticises 'astronomical sums'
Slaughters and Simpson Thacher in line for millions for advice on high-profile bid Slaughter and May and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett are set to share £9m in fees for Melrose’s proposed £7bn hostile takeover of engineering business GKN. A bid document published by Melrose estimated the legal fees for the transaction at £9m.
Pay for top Pinsents Masons earner breaks £1m mark with 34% hike
Limited liability partnership accounts reveal firm's key management team shared £5.9m in 2016-17 Pay for Pinsent Masons’ top earner broke through the £1m mark in the last financial year, the firm’s limited liability partnership (LLP) accounts have revealed. The accounts are the first reported by its international LLP, which was created on 1 June 2016 as the firm’s overarching governance vehicle. The accounts run from 1 June 2016 to 30 April 2017.
Freshfields Germany partner trio leave with team of associates to found public law spin-off
Senior exits for Freshfields come as firm continues to shrink Germany partnership Three senior Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Germany partners are leaving the firm to establish a public law boutique with offices in Berlin and Duesseldorf. The three partners are Berlin public affairs head Wolf Spieth, Duesseldorf environment and regulatory partner Herbert Posser and Berlin disputes partner Benedikt Wolfers.
Linklaters criticised for alleged errors in professional negligence claim over Arsenal share sale
Claim brought by former Arsenal shareholder sheds light on magic circle firm’s role in fate of Arsenal ownership The details of former Arsenal shareholder Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith’s professional negligence claim against Linklaters have been laid out in a new High Court filing, which suggests that the law firm’s errors played a part in her decision to sell her shares to the club’s current majority owner, US businessman Stan Kroenke.
Eversheds Sutherland Joins $1 Billion Club with Post-Merger Revenues | The American Lawyer
L-R: Mark Wasserman and Lee Ranson, Eversheds Sutherland. (Photo: John Disney/ ALM) Eversheds Sutherland has announced revenues of $1.03 billion in its first financial results since its transatlantic tie-up one year ago. The figure reflects the financial year that ended Dec. 31 and includes combined results from Eversheds Sutherland (international), Eversheds Sutherland (U.S.) and the members of Eversheds Sutherland (Europe).
Herbert Smith Freehills, Pinsent Masons and Jones Day serve up Byron burger chain restructuring
Trio of firms take roles as Byron Burger agrees CVA with creditors Herbert Smith Freehills, Jones Day and Pinsent Masons have taken the lead roles on the restructuring of British burger chain Byron. Yesterday the restaurant group was given a new lease of life after its creditors voted to back a company voluntary agreement (CVA) that will see rent reduced at 20 of its sites for six months with potential closures further down the line.
New pricing strategy drives significant revenue boost at Hogan Lovells
The firm's pricing team delivered a 5.2% increase in revenue per litigator following adoption of new strategy What’s worse? Losing a great client over money? Or losing money over a great client?
Eversheds Sutherland breaks $1bn mark in first financial results since transatlantic tie-up
Firm announces 5% revenue increase in first post-merger financials Eversheds Sutherland has announced revenue of $1.03bn (£700m) in its first financial results since its transatlantic tie-up one year ago. The revenue figure relates to the financial year ended 31 December 2017 and has been aggregated from the financial results of Eversheds Sutherland (international), Eversheds Sutherland (US) and the members of Eversheds Sutherland (Europe).
Uber's new legal chief opens up about surveillance, secret CEO meetings and Uber’s 'hungry' lawyers
New Uber CLO on why he decided to take the gig and how he plans to help turn the embattled company around Tony West’s first official day as chief legal officer at Uber Technologies began by calling regulators to say: “Hi, it’s Tony. It’s my first day.
Potential buyers touring Carillion's legal services arm today as dozens of in-house jobs hang in the balance
The sale process for Carillion's managed legal services arm is at an advanced stage, insiders say Potential buyers are understood to be touring Carillion’s managed legal services arm today, as staff wait to hear their futures following the construction companies’ collapse earlier this month. Interested buyers for Carillion Advice Services (CAS) are being shown around CAS’s offices today and Thursday. CAS is staffed by about 70 paralegals, the bulk in Newcastle, plus 10 in Birmingham.
Berwin Leighton Paisner, Kingsley Napley and Fried Frank lawyers named as Presidents Club guest list is revealed
Three more lawyer names revealed on guest list for charity dinner at centre of sexual harassment scandal Partners from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Kingsley Napley and Fried Frank have been identified as among the hundreds of men on the guest list for the Presidents Club Charity Dinner at the centre of a sexual harassment scandal.
DLA Piper shakes up billing targets and tech following firmwide crowdsourcing project
Crowdsourcing project leads to changes around billable hour targets, technology and mental health DLA Piper has introduced a raft of reforms to areas such as partner performance reviews and lawyer utilisation targets following a firmwide crowdsourcing exercise. The initiative, dubbed the ‘CEO Challenge‘, was launched last February, with staff invited to visit an online portal to anonymously share ideas about how to improve the firm.
'CEO Challenge' to Employees Drives Major Changes at DLA Piper | The American Lawyer
DLA Piper has enacted a bevy of reforms to areas such as partner performance reviews and lawyer utilization targets following a firmwide crowdsourcing exercise. The initiative, dubbed the ‘CEO Challenge‘, was launched last February, with staff invited to visit an online portal to anonymously share ideas about how to improve the firm. In the two weeks the portal was open, 2,755 people from across the firm submitted almost 30,000 ideas, comments and votes.
Eversheds Sutherland recruits Reed Smith construction disputes team in Dubai
Hires come alongside shakeup of firm's Middle East management team Eversheds Sutherland has strengthened its Dubai office with the hire of a construction disputes team from Reed Smith. The firm has recruited highly rated construction partner Paul Taylor along with two junior lawyers from the US firm’s Dubai office. Taylor has been based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for more than ten years, spending five years at Gateley in Dubai prior to joining Reed Smith in 2012.
Vinson & Elkins taps Jones Day for City finance partner
Former Berwin Leighton Paisner partner jumps to Vinson's London base Vinson & Elkins has hired acquisition and leveraged finance partner Paul Simcock from Jones Day’s London base. Simcock, who joined the US firm in 2014 from Berwin Leighton Paisner, was previously a counsel at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, having trained at Allen & Overy.
Dealmaker: Freshfields' Charles Hayes on making partner, rare breed cattle and sending legal advice via text message
Private equity partner Hayes reflects on deal highlights, his first day as a partner and a second life as a farmer Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer private equity partner Charles Hayes is this week’s dealmaker. Hayes closed out a strong 2017 with roles on a number of deals including acting for private equity firm PCP Capital Partners on its pursuit of Newcastle United Football Club and acting for CVC on its ultimately unsuccessful bid for Unilever’s spreads division. Why did you become a lawyer?
'Almost all Anglo-Saxons' - DLA Europe partners lament 'UK-centric' senior partner race
European senior partner contenders face uphill struggle as City corporate trio lead the pack The emergence of three London corporate lawyers as favourites to succeed Juan Picon as DLA PIper senior partner have prompted concerns among some continental partners about the continued Anglocentric direction of the firm.
Defence group Chemring turns to Herbert Smith Freehills for SFO probe
HSF advising on SFO investigation into bribery, corruption and money laundering at defence company Defence business Chemring has appointed Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) to advise it on a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) probe announced yesterday. The SFO said on Thursday (18 January) that it had opened an investigation into bribery, corruption and money laundering at the London-listed defence company.
DLA Piper Inks New Saudi Deal Amid Spate of Lateral Hires | The American Lawyer
DLA Piper has established a new association in Saudi Arabia after its country managing partner left to set up his own firm in Riyadh. Eyad Reda, who had been DLA Piper’s country managing partner since 2009, left the firm at the end of December to launch a new practice in the Saudi capital under his own name. On Jan. 1, DLA Piper’s Saudi operations transferred to the newly created Amer Al Amr Law Firm, which is led by the global legal giant’s former Saudi litigation head Amer Al-Amr.
DLA Piper strikes new Saudi association as managing partner leaves to launch own firm
DLA Saudi managing partner leaves firm after more than eight years DLA Piper has established a new association in Saudi Arabia after its country managing partner left to set up his own firm in Riyadh. Eyad Reda, who had been DLA’s Saudi country managing partner since 2009, left DLA at the end of December to launch a new practice in the Saudi capital under his own name.
Eight partners to compete in DLA Piper’s first contested senior partner race in a decade
Senior partner race kicks off as eight partners confirm interest in role vacated by Juan Picon last year Eight DLA Piper partners have put their names forward to compete for the senior partner role at the firm following last year’s surprise resignation of former postholder Juan Picon. The race to replace Picon - who quit the firm in November to join Latham & Watkins – has now begun in earnest after the deadline for partners to confirm an interest in the role closed on Friday (12 Friday).
Santander appoints 46 firms to global adviser roster after lengthy review
Following marathon review, Santander pulls together global legal adviser line-up Santander has appointed almost 50 law firms to a new roster of global advisers after an 18-month review process. The Spanish bank confirmed that it had agreed terms with 46 firms, which will then be recommended for use to its subsidiaries around the world.
Kirkland & Ellis and Linklaters score key roles on restructuring of scandal-hit Steinhoff
US and UK firm advising on struggling Poundland owner's debt restructuring Kirkland & Ellis and Linklaters are advising on the restructuring of South African conglomerate Steinhoff International which plunged into crisis last month after admitting to accounting irregularities. In December, Steinhoff, which owns Britain’s Poundland, revealed financial irregularities, causing its share price to tank and lenders to restrict access to credit lines.
Former Spanish Prime Minister Aznar May Join Juan Picon at Latham After Quitting DLA Piper Adviser Role | International | The American Lawyer
Jose Maria Aznar Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has stepped down from his role as an adviser to DLA Piper’s global board, with local partners suggesting he may follow outgoing senior partner and global co-chair Juan Picon to Latham & Watkins. Aznar, who was prime minister of Spain between 1996 and 2004, has been an adviser to DLA Piper since 2013 and played a key role in its recent Latin American expansion.
Freshfields to appoint oversight committee for new lockstep as partners prepare to learn fate
Partners braced for pay decisions after lockstep changes voted through last year Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is set to appoint a committee of partners to oversee the magic circle firm’s impending lockstep shake-up. Between six and eight partners will be appointed to the so-called ‘Gates’ committee, which will oversee decisions made by practice heads and regional heads about partners’ progress through the firm’s new lockstep.
Former Spanish PM Aznar quits DLA Piper adviser role and is tipped to join Picon at Latham
Aznar to step down from DLA Piper adviser role at the end of February Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has stepped down from his role as an adviser to DLA Piper’s global board, with local partners tipping him to follow outgoing senior partner and global co-chair Juan Picon to Latham & Watkins. Aznar, who was prime minister of Spain between 1996 and 2004, has been an adviser to DLA Piper since 2013 and played a key role in its recent Latin American expansion.
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