Could the UK be on the brink of a US-style class action explosion? December 16, 2018 The Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group, Tesco, Google and Mastercard. These are just a handful of the household names that have been targeted in group action lawsuits in the UK with billions of pounds at stake. The UK, unlike the US or Australia, does not have a long history of class action-style lawsuits, [...]
Pinsent Masons tops Acritas legal brands survey alongside DLA Piper, CMS, Linklaters, Allen & Overy, Eversheds Sutherland and Clifford Chance May 2, 2018 An index of the leading UK legal brands has seen law firm Pinsent Masons take the top spot for the first time, beating Eversheds Sutherland into second place. The biggest climber is CMS, which following its three-way merger with Olswang and Nabarro last year, has climbed to fourth in the rankings, from 13th last year. [...]
Claimants up the stakes against Clydesdale Bank over Tailored Business Loans with second legal letter March 22, 2018 The stakes have been raised in a £1bn dispute against Clydesdale Bank and National Australia Bank (NAB) after lawyers for a group of small businesses sent a second letter threatening legal action. Claim management group RGL Management, which acts for the group, has accused Clydesdale Bank and NAB of acting fraudulently and dishonestly in their [...]
Post-Weinstein can the legal sector change its secretive cover up culture March 25, 2018 In the less than six months since Ronan Farrow published his explosive New Yorker expose on movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, behaviour that would previously have been hushed up or talked about in whispers in the media and business world is now being exposed to the cold light of day. The legal sector is no different [...]
After a bumpy end to 2017 what is the outlook for the London listing market in 2018? April 9, 2018 Nearly £3bn worth of initial public offerings (IPOs) were pulled in London at the end of last year. Deals that were announced but then failed to make it to market include debt collector Cabot Credit Management, professional services business TMF Group and phone mast company Arqiva. In the six months to December companies that had [...]
Tech giants, Chinese buyers and activist investors are the new drivers of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), business heads claim December 7, 2017 Protectionism, new technology giants, shareholder activism and interest from China will be the big factors influencing deals in 2018, business heads have claimed. Senior executives and advisers surveyed from Europe, Asia and the US have said that political intervention in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is on the rise globally, often against a background of [...]
Insiders are now expecting Bell Pottinger administration on Tuesday following South Africa scandal | City A.M. September 11, 2017 Insiders at Bell Pottinger expect the disgaced PR firm to fall into administration on Tuesday following a nightmare week. Staff were informed on Thursday last week that the firm was likely to collapse early this week, with administration expected as soon as Monday. This has not come to pass, but there is little hope among [...]
Bell Pottinger senior management criticised in damning South Africa report as chief executive resigns | City A.M. September 4, 2017 An independent report into PR firm Bell Pottinger’s conduct in South Africa today concluded that there had been failings among senior staff as well as the account team. Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills said that its inquiry into Bell Pottinger’s work for Oakbay Capital, owned by the influential Gupta family, had led it to believe [...]
Bell Pottinger senior management criticised in damning South Africa report as chief executive resigns | City A.M. September 4, 2017 An independent report into PR firm Bell Pottinger’s conduct in South Africa today concluded that there had been failings among senior staff as well as the account team. Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills said that its inquiry into Bell Pottinger’s work for Oakbay Capital, owned by the influential Gupta family, had led it to believe [...]
Bell Pottinger Middle East arm bought by London-headquartered PR firm Hanover Communications | City A.M. November 20, 2017 Bell Pottinger’s Middle East arm has been bought by PR rival Hanover, it was announced this lunchtime. The sale was negotiated by Bell Pottinger group administrator BDO after the PR giant collapsed in September. Hanover founder and chief executive Charles Lewington said: “Bell Pottinger Middle East is a terrific business with a talented, professionally run [...]