27 June 2010
Students lectured on the power of the law
03/07/10 11:57
A former Foreign Minister will be taking to the podium at the upcoming law student event of the year.
The Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) has announced that the Honourable Gareth Evans AO QC will be the keynote speaker for the opening dinner at the ALSA Conference 2010, to be held in Adelaide this month.
The event will bring together about 500 law students legal professionals. The legal gathering allows students to attend the law competitions circuit, attend Legal Education Forums, contribute at ALSA Council and network.
Evans himself, who had a 21 year political career, most notably as Foreign Minister (1988-96), will base his speech on the power of the law in protecting those at risk.
Evans had a long-running involvement in this issue. He was co-chair of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, co-chair of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, and president emeritus of the International Crisis Group. This background led to him being the recipient of the 2010 Four Freedoms Award for Freedom from Fear.
Meanwhile, the acting International co-prosecutor at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), William Smith, will be the key note speaker at the Closing Gala Dinner.
For over a decade, Smith worked as a trial attorney, legal officer and analyst at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. He was also the International Deputy Co-Prosecutor of the ECCC for three years before taking up his current position.
The ALSA Conference 2010 will be held in Adelaide from 12-18 July this year.
The Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) has announced that the Honourable Gareth Evans AO QC will be the keynote speaker for the opening dinner at the ALSA Conference 2010, to be held in Adelaide this month.
The event will bring together about 500 law students legal professionals. The legal gathering allows students to attend the law competitions circuit, attend Legal Education Forums, contribute at ALSA Council and network.
Evans himself, who had a 21 year political career, most notably as Foreign Minister (1988-96), will base his speech on the power of the law in protecting those at risk.
Evans had a long-running involvement in this issue. He was co-chair of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, co-chair of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, and president emeritus of the International Crisis Group. This background led to him being the recipient of the 2010 Four Freedoms Award for Freedom from Fear.
Meanwhile, the acting International co-prosecutor at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), William Smith, will be the key note speaker at the Closing Gala Dinner.
For over a decade, Smith worked as a trial attorney, legal officer and analyst at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. He was also the International Deputy Co-Prosecutor of the ECCC for three years before taking up his current position.
The ALSA Conference 2010 will be held in Adelaide from 12-18 July this year.
Mallesons appoints 31 year old partner
03/07/10 11:56
JUST nine years after he joined Mallesons Stephen Jaques as a law clerk, Paul Lingard has been made a partner at the firm.
Mallesons has appointed the 31-year-old Lingard as a partner in its Perth office, reflecting his track record as an emerging market leader.
Part of the M&A team, Lingard has experience in energy and resources, major projects, electricity and gas and acts for Australia's largest resources and energy companies including BHP Billiton, Synergy and TRUenergy.
The firm said today that Lingard has led a number of high profile transactions including Synergy’s wholesale energy procurement programs, the establishment of the Western Australian Electricity Market, preparing documentation for large commercial projects and acting on the sale of a number of major national infrastructure assets.
Partner in Charge of the firm's Perth office, Beau Deleuil, said: “[Lingard’s] appointment as a partner reflects the outstanding contribution he has made to Mallesons’ energy & resources practice and the regard in which he is held by clients.
Lingard makes an impact with clients, said Deleuil.
Lingard said of his recent promotion: "I am very grateful for this opportunity. Mallesons' commitment to M&A and the energy and resources sectors and to our clients in those sectors is crucial to the firm's ongoing success and I am very pleased to be a part of this focus".
Paul Lingard’s promotion is effective from today.
Mallesons has appointed the 31-year-old Lingard as a partner in its Perth office, reflecting his track record as an emerging market leader.
Part of the M&A team, Lingard has experience in energy and resources, major projects, electricity and gas and acts for Australia's largest resources and energy companies including BHP Billiton, Synergy and TRUenergy.
The firm said today that Lingard has led a number of high profile transactions including Synergy’s wholesale energy procurement programs, the establishment of the Western Australian Electricity Market, preparing documentation for large commercial projects and acting on the sale of a number of major national infrastructure assets.
Partner in Charge of the firm's Perth office, Beau Deleuil, said: “[Lingard’s] appointment as a partner reflects the outstanding contribution he has made to Mallesons’ energy & resources practice and the regard in which he is held by clients.
Lingard makes an impact with clients, said Deleuil.
Lingard said of his recent promotion: "I am very grateful for this opportunity. Mallesons' commitment to M&A and the energy and resources sectors and to our clients in those sectors is crucial to the firm's ongoing success and I am very pleased to be a part of this focus".
Paul Lingard’s promotion is effective from today.
Brisbane firm makes round of promotions
03/07/10 11:56
BRISBANE law firm HopgoodGanim Lawyers has announced the promotion of nine of its lawyers.
The promotions include the advancement of resources specialist Dr Jonathan Fulcher, a leading native title lawyers as ranked by Chambers Global for the past four consecutive years, to the firm’s partnership.
Managing partner Bruce Humphrys said the promotions demonstrate the firm’s commitment to providing strong career development and progression opportunities for staff.
“HopgoodGanim is committed to providing a clear career path for our employees.”
As part of the promotions, Alison Ross has been appointed a special counsel in the firm’s family law practice.
New associates include Aaron Alcock in litigation and dispute resolution, Hayden Delaney in intellectual property and technology, Janelle Kenzler in commercial property, Jessica Paten in industrial and employment law, Sam Kingston in litigation and dispute resolution, Susan Malone in planning and development and Tim Scanlan in business services and structuring.
The promotions include the advancement of resources specialist Dr Jonathan Fulcher, a leading native title lawyers as ranked by Chambers Global for the past four consecutive years, to the firm’s partnership.
Managing partner Bruce Humphrys said the promotions demonstrate the firm’s commitment to providing strong career development and progression opportunities for staff.
“HopgoodGanim is committed to providing a clear career path for our employees.”
As part of the promotions, Alison Ross has been appointed a special counsel in the firm’s family law practice.
New associates include Aaron Alcock in litigation and dispute resolution, Hayden Delaney in intellectual property and technology, Janelle Kenzler in commercial property, Jessica Paten in industrial and employment law, Sam Kingston in litigation and dispute resolution, Susan Malone in planning and development and Tim Scanlan in business services and structuring.
Partners claim the prize after mass redundancies
03/07/10 11:55
PARTNER profits have skyrocketed as firms chipped away at staff numbers in the past year.
At Allen & Overy LLP, one of London’s top-grossing law firms, partner profits rose 10 per cent after massive lawyer cuts.
Allen & Overy is the first UK firm to post profits from the 2009-10 financial year.
Revenue fell 4 per cent to £1.05 billion ($1.88bn) for the year ending 30 April, the firm has said in a statement. Profits per partner, the standard method for measuring law firm results, rose to £1.1 million ($1.96 million) on average – up from £1m ($1.79m) last year.
The firm also confirmed that staff costs fell 11 per cent to £384m ($687m), which had about 450 partners globally. In February 2009. The firm fired 250 lawyers and 200 staff in a £46m ($82m) restructuring.
“We have made strategic choices to secure future growth, and in doing so have built resilience into our business, enhances our global reach and diversified out practice area mix,” Wim Dejonghe, managing partner of the firm, said.
Equity partners received individual profits ranging from 661,000 pounds ($1.18 million) to £1.65m ($2.9m). This was combined with the fact that as overall firm profit fell less than 1 per cent to £428.8m ($768.8m), the average number of partners declined by 39.
At Allen & Overy, other income was derived from sub-letting space in the firm’s London headquarters, which generated £2m. Finance director Ian Dinwiddie said the firm had been “particularly successful in [letting] spare space to American law firms”.
The firm occupies around 550,000 sq ft of the 700,000 sq ft building at One Bishops’ Square on the fringes of the City. Paul Hastings, Proskauer Rose and Akin Gump occupy most of the rest of the space.
The results come as Allen & Overy announced it would open in Indonesia through an association with Daniel Ginting Law Firm. The one-partner office will target Islamic finance, capital markets and project finance opportunities. A&O joins a handful of international firms, including Baker & McKenzie, Herbert Smith and Norton Rose, that have a presence in Jakarta through local associations.
At Allen & Overy LLP, one of London’s top-grossing law firms, partner profits rose 10 per cent after massive lawyer cuts.
Allen & Overy is the first UK firm to post profits from the 2009-10 financial year.
Revenue fell 4 per cent to £1.05 billion ($1.88bn) for the year ending 30 April, the firm has said in a statement. Profits per partner, the standard method for measuring law firm results, rose to £1.1 million ($1.96 million) on average – up from £1m ($1.79m) last year.
The firm also confirmed that staff costs fell 11 per cent to £384m ($687m), which had about 450 partners globally. In February 2009. The firm fired 250 lawyers and 200 staff in a £46m ($82m) restructuring.
“We have made strategic choices to secure future growth, and in doing so have built resilience into our business, enhances our global reach and diversified out practice area mix,” Wim Dejonghe, managing partner of the firm, said.
Equity partners received individual profits ranging from 661,000 pounds ($1.18 million) to £1.65m ($2.9m). This was combined with the fact that as overall firm profit fell less than 1 per cent to £428.8m ($768.8m), the average number of partners declined by 39.
At Allen & Overy, other income was derived from sub-letting space in the firm’s London headquarters, which generated £2m. Finance director Ian Dinwiddie said the firm had been “particularly successful in [letting] spare space to American law firms”.
The firm occupies around 550,000 sq ft of the 700,000 sq ft building at One Bishops’ Square on the fringes of the City. Paul Hastings, Proskauer Rose and Akin Gump occupy most of the rest of the space.
The results come as Allen & Overy announced it would open in Indonesia through an association with Daniel Ginting Law Firm. The one-partner office will target Islamic finance, capital markets and project finance opportunities. A&O joins a handful of international firms, including Baker & McKenzie, Herbert Smith and Norton Rose, that have a presence in Jakarta through local associations.
Clayton Utz advised Wattyl as bidding war raged
03/07/10 11:55
CLAYTON Utz is advising Australia's biggest paints business Wattyl Limited on its proposed acquisition by major American coatings manufacturer The Valspar Corporation.
Clayton Utz national M&A practice head John Elliott is leading the firm's team advising Wattyl in its negotiations with Valspar.
But things have not been completely smooth sailing for the lawyers involved. A takeover war was set to erupt this week as Dutch giant Akzo Nobel looked set to make a rival bid.
Institutional investors on 28 June bought up Wattyl shares on expectation that Akzo Novel and even US paint manufacturer rival PPG were poised to trump the $142 million offer from the US-based Valspar Corporation.
Wattyl’s board, meanwhile, decided to recommend the Valspar bid.
Shares in Wattyl soared after the company exited a trading halt, climing 28.57 per cent to close at $1.62. It was the biggest trading day for Wattyl since March last year.
Wattyl chairman John Ingram said the deal with Valspar would enable shareholders to realise cash for their shares at a major premium to recent trading levels.
Commenting on the deal, Clayton Utz’s Elliott said: "It continues a trend of ‘agreed’ deals that have been occurring in recent times. This demonstrates the relative certainty (of a recommendation) that Boards can achieve in approaching prospective targets with a willingness to pay a significant premium."
Under the proposed scheme of arrangement, Wattyl shareholders will receive A$1.67 per fully paid share, valuing the transaction at approximately A$142 million.
Subject to obtaining the necessary approvals, Valspar should move to
outright control of Wattyl by late September.
Clayton Utz national M&A practice head John Elliott is leading the firm's team advising Wattyl in its negotiations with Valspar.
But things have not been completely smooth sailing for the lawyers involved. A takeover war was set to erupt this week as Dutch giant Akzo Nobel looked set to make a rival bid.
Institutional investors on 28 June bought up Wattyl shares on expectation that Akzo Novel and even US paint manufacturer rival PPG were poised to trump the $142 million offer from the US-based Valspar Corporation.
Wattyl’s board, meanwhile, decided to recommend the Valspar bid.
Shares in Wattyl soared after the company exited a trading halt, climing 28.57 per cent to close at $1.62. It was the biggest trading day for Wattyl since March last year.
Wattyl chairman John Ingram said the deal with Valspar would enable shareholders to realise cash for their shares at a major premium to recent trading levels.
Commenting on the deal, Clayton Utz’s Elliott said: "It continues a trend of ‘agreed’ deals that have been occurring in recent times. This demonstrates the relative certainty (of a recommendation) that Boards can achieve in approaching prospective targets with a willingness to pay a significant premium."
Under the proposed scheme of arrangement, Wattyl shareholders will receive A$1.67 per fully paid share, valuing the transaction at approximately A$142 million.
Subject to obtaining the necessary approvals, Valspar should move to
outright control of Wattyl by late September.
Bakers takes G+T partner as new head
03/07/10 11:54
BAKER & McKenzie’s Australian office has claimed a former Gilbert + Tobin partner and chief operating officer as its new national managing partner.
As Mark Chapple, the firm’s current national managing partner, steps down from the top ranks on 2 August, Christopher Freeland will take the post.
Freeland, who has spent time in Beijing advising one of China’s leading law firms, King & Wood, holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Monash University, as well as a Masters of Business Administration.
John Conroy, Baker & McKenzie’s chairman of the executive committee, said of the new appointment: “We are very pleased that [Freeland] is brining his considerable talents to join out Australian tea. For nearly 50 years, the Australian offices have been, and continue to be, very successful in driving growth and innovation within our firm.”
Bruce Hambrett, chairman of Baker & McKenzie’s Australian offices, gave a nod to Chapple for his work in leading the firm nationally over the past four years.
Chapple, meanwhile, will remain a partner at the firm.
As Mark Chapple, the firm’s current national managing partner, steps down from the top ranks on 2 August, Christopher Freeland will take the post.
Freeland, who has spent time in Beijing advising one of China’s leading law firms, King & Wood, holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Monash University, as well as a Masters of Business Administration.
John Conroy, Baker & McKenzie’s chairman of the executive committee, said of the new appointment: “We are very pleased that [Freeland] is brining his considerable talents to join out Australian tea. For nearly 50 years, the Australian offices have been, and continue to be, very successful in driving growth and innovation within our firm.”
Bruce Hambrett, chairman of Baker & McKenzie’s Australian offices, gave a nod to Chapple for his work in leading the firm nationally over the past four years.
Chapple, meanwhile, will remain a partner at the firm.
How to Market Yourself as a Lawyer
30/06/10 23:11
'In How to Market Yourself as a Lawyer, the webinar examines specific ways to use speaking engagements, social media web sites, press releases, and published articles as a way to market yourself and attract more clients. Take the 60 minutes to view this webinar (on your computer, mobile phone, iPod or printed out) to understand how to do a better job marketing yourself through each of these media, what is working best for other lawyers so far this year, and the best ways to grow your practice in the upcoming year.
Upon ordering, we will email you a link to download the webinar for viewing on your computer, mobile media device (iPod/iPhone, Blackberry), or printed out. The downloaded files will include the PowerPoint presentation, audio narration and jpeg images of the slides (for watching on your mobile media device).
The webinar is led by an expert at helping lawyers market themselves, Erik Pelton, and focuses on:
- Everything you need to know in 60 minutes about the best ways to market yourself as a lawyer and attract more clients in the upcoming year
- Surefire methods for taking advantage of the most up-to-date marketing opportunities offered by social media web sites, press releases, speaking engagements, industry/trade web sites and publications, and other media outlets to effectively market yourself as a lawyer
- Specific suggestions for lawyers on the best social media web sites, speaking engagement venues and legal publishers that will help you reach potential clients
- Answers to the ten questions most asked by lawyers about how to successfully market themselves and attract new clients, and how this is different than in years past
- Case studies of other lawyers that are having tremendous success getting more business, what marketing efforts are working best for them, and important lessons learned
Praise for ExecSense Webinars:
“Thorough, informative and interesting...an efficient, effective means of gaining in depth insight…”- Greg Nowak, Partner, Pepper Hamilton
“Well organized, well articulated, and easy to follow. The ExecSense webinar I attended was the best virtual learning experience I've had in quite some time.” – Brian K. Moore, HR Communications, Humana
“...critical to successfully operating in today's fast-moving market.” – Ira Bogner, Partner, Proskauer Rose'
Upon ordering, we will email you a link to download the webinar for viewing on your computer, mobile media device (iPod/iPhone, Blackberry), or printed out. The downloaded files will include the PowerPoint presentation, audio narration and jpeg images of the slides (for watching on your mobile media device).
The webinar is led by an expert at helping lawyers market themselves, Erik Pelton, and focuses on:
- Everything you need to know in 60 minutes about the best ways to market yourself as a lawyer and attract more clients in the upcoming year
- Surefire methods for taking advantage of the most up-to-date marketing opportunities offered by social media web sites, press releases, speaking engagements, industry/trade web sites and publications, and other media outlets to effectively market yourself as a lawyer
- Specific suggestions for lawyers on the best social media web sites, speaking engagement venues and legal publishers that will help you reach potential clients
- Answers to the ten questions most asked by lawyers about how to successfully market themselves and attract new clients, and how this is different than in years past
- Case studies of other lawyers that are having tremendous success getting more business, what marketing efforts are working best for them, and important lessons learned
Praise for ExecSense Webinars:
“Thorough, informative and interesting...an efficient, effective means of gaining in depth insight…”- Greg Nowak, Partner, Pepper Hamilton
“Well organized, well articulated, and easy to follow. The ExecSense webinar I attended was the best virtual learning experience I've had in quite some time.” – Brian K. Moore, HR Communications, Humana
“...critical to successfully operating in today's fast-moving market.” – Ira Bogner, Partner, Proskauer Rose'
How to Innovate and Grow Your Business
30/06/10 22:47
| This article is about getting creative and pushing your thoughts outside the box so to speak in order to innovate + grow all facets of your business empire. Innovation is what sets you aside from the competition. It makes you the one and only choice in the market place. Innovation should be used in all facets of your business from increasing sales, to improving service, from payment methods to customer retention measures to products and services, to your website and everything inbetween. As a business owner, you are the ideas person. You have to be continuously innovating and improving your business. Making the experience continuously better for your clientelle. Innovating and seeing results from your ideas is without doubt the most rewarding part of business. Its your baby. Your creation. And its not that hard as I will explain after this quick interuption... |
Thank God You are Leaving
30/06/10 22:46
| Two powerful words that make a business great: |
