SJ movers and shakers

Crowdsourcing culture

Linklaters is launching a new crowdsourcing initiative to generate solutions to improve its employees' work- life balance.

'The Jam' is an online conversation that will run for 72 hours and is open to all staff members across the globe.

The Magic Circle firm expects the debate to tackle a range of issues including work allocation, improving recognition, and flexible working models.

Fiona Hobbs, a partner at Linklaters, said: 'As an employer, one of the things we can do is create a positive culture that encourages excellence but isn't shackled by inflexible ways of working, ensuring that this approach is consistent globally.'

She continued: 'Some people may sneer at a law firm's attempts to address work- life balance issues, but if law firms, and frankly businesses across many industries, are still grappling with the problem, I would argue that it is, perhaps in part, due to dismissive attitudes.'

Controlling shareholders

A Clifford Chance team, led by global head of corporate Guy Norman, is advising the controlling shareholders of AB InBev on its acquisition of SABMiller, including on its corporate and tax matters.

The firm has acted for the shareholders throughout the course of the matter, with particular involvement on the deal structuring side.

London-based Norman is leading the team along with fellow partner Patrick Sarch. They are assisted by Philippe Hamer and Niek de Pauw, who are advising on Belgian corporate matters.

The tax team is being led by David Moldenhauer and Philip Wagman in New York, David Harkness in London, and Thierry Blockerye in Brussels.

The Magic Circle outfit is also advising AB InBev on the financing of the transaction with a team led by finance partners Roderick McGillivray and Peter Dahlen in London.

Information is key

Mishcon de Reya has announced the appointment of Simon Kosminsky, who joins the firm as chief information officer (CIO).

Prior to joining Mishcon, Kosminsky was the IT director at SJ Berwin where, as a member of the firm's London and international management committees, he led a major transformation of its technology; most recently overseeing the integration with King & Wood Mallesons.

Kosminsky will join the Mishcon de Reya directorate and play an integral part in how the firm shapes its IT and knowledge strategy.

Commenting on the appointment, the firm's managing partner, Kevin Gold, said: 'We have long known that our success depends on more than just the hiring of good lawyers - we believe it is critical that we hire the best professionals across all areas of the firm.

'Simon's appointment underlines our commitment to this, his track record is exceptional and we look forward to his involvement in our future.'

Kosminsky added: 'I am thrilled to be joining Mishcon de Reya. The firm is going through a really exciting time and has a culture and a vision that really resonate with me.'

Italian strength

DLA Piper has appointed a team of three partners and six lawyers from Ashurst to its restructuring and litigation groups in Italy. These arrivals increase the number of lawyers in DLA's Italian offices to 169, including 43 partners.

The new team is led by partner Francesco De Gennaro and includes Luca Magrini and Alessandro Lanzi, both formerly Ashurst counsel, who join DLA as partners.

They are joined by senior associate Francesco Manzari, associate Martino Liva, and trainee Anna Ferrari, as well as senior associate Luisa Gatti and associates Andrea Bellenchi and Flavia Volpi.

The firm's litigation team in Italy is led by Stefano Modenesi and the restructuring team will work closely with Nino Lombardo, head of the finance and projects group.

Lombardo said: 'We are sure that the addition of the excellent lawyers in De Gennaro's team will enable us to further consolidate our leadership in the market.'

Bruno Giuffre, DLA's managing partner in Italy, commented: 'The talent, the experience and the vision of the lawyers in this new team will enhance our already impressive range of services, globally and nationally, in the complex areas of financial restructurings and turnarounds and the resultant requirements in terms of finance, distressed M&A, insolvency, and litigation.'

Regional growth

Listed-firm Gateley Plc has announced two more appointments to its fast growing Leeds office. David Armitage has joined the firm's corporate team as a partner in addition to Tamanna Keir, who joins as a solicitor.

Armitage led the expansion of Hammonds' international operations and offices before joining Cobbetts in 2010. He joins Gateley from DWF.

The firm, which opened its Leeds office in January 2012 and grown a team of seven to currently over 40. The appointment of Armitage is Gateley's eighth partner hire in three years in Leeds.

William Ballmann, head of Gateley's Leeds office, commented: 'These appointments are key as we look to further develop and grow our presence in Leeds. Attracting high calibre candidates to the Leeds office has been a key strategy for developing the regional operation while also being an asset to the firm nationally.'

Immigration expansion

Asons Solicitors of Bolton has launched a new corporate immigration division as part of its long-term expansion plans.

Naveed Ahmed has been recruited as head of the department to build the new business arm.

The Greater Manchester firm, which has previously specialised in litigation, has diversified into corporate immigration to provide a premium service assisting global industries such as technology, sports, energy, commerce, finance, and media in the smooth transfer of talented personnel and senior executives across territories.

The business will focus on the Asian and Arabian markets and professionals and entrepreneurs applying to work in the UK.

Trend bucking

A leading Midlands law firm is set to smash the £8m mark for the first time in its history after enjoying significant growth across a number of its specialist divisions.

QualitySolicitors Talbots, which boasts seven offices across the region, has bucked a flat property sector by posting a 20 per cent rise in commercial and residential matters in the last year, dealing with up to 700 cases per month.

This puts the firm in the top 20 conveyancing firms in the UK, with Land Registry data placing it in 13th position.

'It has been a very good year for the business and we are delighted to be on course to pass £8m in fees in 2015, recruiting 20 new lawyers and support staff in the process,' explained Martyn Morgan, the firm's director.

'We've seen steady growth across all our specialist teams, but property has definitely been the biggest success… especially considering the market has remained relatively flat.'

Sole adviser

DAC Beachcroft has been appointed by UK housebuilder Bellway Homes as its sole adviser for construction matters across England, Scotland and Wales.

The two-year mandate follows the firm’s appointment to FTSE 250-listed Bellway’s southern region construction panel in 2014. DAC is to advise on the full range of contentious and non-contentious construction legal work.

Construction partner James Harrison, who leads the team for DAC Beachcroft, said: 'We are delighted that Bellway has placed its trust in us to handle all the company's construction legal work.

'We have enjoyed acting for Bellway's Southern region over the last 12 months and are grateful for the opportunity to continue to build on the strong foundations we've created there to expand our reach across the country. It is a pleasure to work with them.'

Real estate

Wedlake Bell has advised Hamburg-based Warburg-HIH Invest Real Estate GmbH, a specialist investment management company, on the sale of the Angel Shopping Centre in Islington, London. The centre was acquired by CBRE Global Investors and the value of the transaction was not disclosed. 

The team was comprised of  25 lawyers in total led by corporate partner Jai Bal, senior associate Richard Belsey, and senior associate Grainne McCourt. Tax partner Mike Ridsdale and banking senior associate Richard Roberts also assisted on the transaction. 

Commenting on the transaction, Bal said: 'The sale was a highly complex deal which required a cross-team partnership between, in particular, our corporate, commercial property, and banking practices. We wish Warburg-HIH the best of luck in future ventures and look forward to working with them again.'

CBRE Global was advised on the acquisition by Linklaters.