PRIVACY
Majority of tech GCs say their firms are unprepared for new global privacy regulations, survey finds
Only 31% of GCs say their organisations are prepared for CCPA and other privacy laws
Legal news by sector
Technology/telecommunications
OFFICE LAUNCH
Freshfields hires five partners from quartet of US rivals to launch Silicon Valley office
Magic circle UK firm hails 'dream team' as it targets lucrative West Coast tech sector
Tax
ETHICS
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Freshfields sets up German ethics committee in response to cum-ex scandal
Magic circle firm appoints former federal court judge to lead committee and publishes ethics code
Regulatory
COMMENTARY
Kenya's Competition Tribunal shows its independence in Telkom-Airtel merger ruling
Joyce Karanja argues the tribunal's first judgment shows it will not hesitate to vary or overturn decisions of the Competition Authority
OFFICE OPENING
Brexit drives Brussels firm Van Bael & Bellis to launch in London
Top trade and competition practice to open Chancery Lane office in September
Litigation/dispute resolution
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Expert panel revises South Africa arbitration rules to boost regional status
The Arbitration Foundation of South Africa takes 'bold step' to create 'truly international set of rules'
LITIGATION
HFW teams up with KPMG and Augusta Ventures to offer Covid-19 disputes service
Non-exclusive relationship seeks to capitalise on expected surge in pandemic-related litigation
Intellectual property/trademark
IP
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WIPO appoints Singapore Intellectual Property Office chief as new director general
Daren Tang will replace Australia's Francis Gurry, who has been in the top job since 2008
IP
IP rights gain traction in China as it supplants US as the world's most active WIPO patent filer
America loses top spot for the first time in almost half a century; expert points to 'dramatic' improvement in China enforcement regime
Insurance
COMMENTARY
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The FCA's bid to resolve pandemic insurance coverage uncertainty
Benjamin Lyon and Katie Power analyse the steps being taken by the FCA to seek guidance from the courts on Covid-19 cover
Energy
TEAM HIRE
Dentons hires quartet from Baker McKenzie to grow Berlin energy practice
Partners Thomas Dörmer and Tim Heitling latest additions to firm's European energy team
REGULATION
Top Saudi lawyer defends legal robustness of troubled oil kingdom
Khoshaim & Associates managing partner hails measures to open up the Middle East's largest economy as it faces a deep recession
Employment
CORONAVIRUS
McCann FitzGerald and William Fry cut pay as Covid-19 reverses Brexit optimism in Ireland
Dr David Cowan reports on how the Irish legal profession is responding to coronavirus
Corporate/commercial
M&A LEAGUE TABLES
Covid-19 sees US M&A activity suffer bigger decline than during financial crisis
Wachtell Lipton and Kirkland & Ellis cling on to top league table positions despite slowdown
M&A LEAGUE TABLES
Global M&A slowest since financial crisis as deal appetite slumps amid Covid-19 pandemic
Latham & Watkins replaces Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz at top of global M&A advisory league table for first half of 2020
Banking/finance
PARTNER HIRES
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Two top Hong Kong partners join new firms and make tracks for London
Herbert Smith Freehills and Linklaters bolster London teams with hires from Allen & Overy and Kirkland & Ellis respectively
PARTNER HIRE
Latham & Watkins hires restructuring partner from Willkie Farr & Gallagher in Paris
Arrival of Alexandra Bigot follows on from insolvency lateral hires in London and New York