Annabel joined The Lawyer in May 2022 as a reporter. She primarily covers litigation and the Bar. You can follow her on both LinkedIn and Twitter.
This week on Spotlight, we delve into the world of transport with Backhouse Jones, a specialist firm which has been advising the market for nearly a century. Origin: James and Jonathon Backhouse, known to many as the Backhouse twins, come from a long line of solicitors, which can be traced all the way back to […]
Mishcon de Reya and South Square Chambers have secured a £177.5m judgment against the former CEO of London Capital & Finance (LCF) and others alleged to have been involved in a scheme which defrauded nearly 12,000 bondholders. The case was featured as one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2024. It went to trial […]
Kingsley Napley has elected the former CEO of Taylor Vinters as its new managing partner from 1 April 2025. Matt Meyer will take over from Linda Woolley, who announced her retirement today (13 November) after 18 years in the position. Kingsley Napley says she will stay with the firm to ensure a smooth transition. The […]
Over a decade since Herbert Smith and Freehills tied the knot, the firm is on course for the next – and crucial – stage of its growth strategy, as it expands in the US. But what does the market think? By going to vote on its merger with US firm Kramer Levin, HSF looks set […]
Class action firm Pogust Goodhead has received a further loan from its financial backer Gramercy to add to its $552.5m (£450m) deal agreed a year ago. The firm sealed the original partnership with the Connecticut-based investment manager in October 2023. The corporate debt finance deal, which was considered the largest worldwide investment in a law […]
Willkie Farr and Geradin Partners square off in carriage dispute for Amazon class action Expect fireworks in court as Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Geradin Partners go head-to-head on Monday (11 November) in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) for two days. Both seek the right to represent a proposed class representative (PCR) for the Amazon […]
One Essex Court’s Laurence Rabinowitz KC has been appointed as chair of the UK Takeover Panel, the independent body that regulates takeovers and mergers. Rabinowitz will continue in full-time practice alongside the appointment, which commences on 1 May 2025, when Fountain Court’s Michael Crane KC will retire. Called to the Bar in 1987, Rabinowitz’s recent […]
Disputes boutique Seladore Legal is to open in Singapore with a hire from Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), marking its ninth hire from the firm. HSF New York senior associate Liang-Ying Tan will join as a partner to launch the Singapore office. The firm is in the process of applying for its Foreign Law Practice Licence. […]
Bust air conditioning, an electricity shutdown and issues with video feeds: the Rolls Building has had a multitude of meltdowns this year and litigators are furious.
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) has hired Blackstone duo Lord Pannick KC and Paul Luckhurst, instructed by Kingsley Napley, to challenge the UK Government’s decision to levy VAT on independent school fees. The ISC is an umbrella body for seven associations representing independent schools, their heads, bursars and governors. Through its member associations, it represents […]
Two Axiom Ince employees have been sanctioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) after one allowed the improper transfer of £54.5m, while the other had altered bank statements. When Axiom Ince collapsed in October 2023, around £60m in client money was missing and 1,400 people lost their jobs. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) also conducted nine raids and […]
This week in Spotlight, we laser in on a disputes boutique whose partners are all ex-Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) lawyers. The firm in question – Seladore Legal – has a blockbuster case ongoing, in which it is bringing a $14bn dispute on behalf of a jailed Russian businessman against 22 defendants. This is the largest […]