Monthly Archives: October 2008

Thelen Will Vote on Dissolution

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

It is has been recommended by its Partnership Counsel that Thelen LLP vote to dissolve the firm after 84 years. If in the majority, the firm will close its doors by or on December 1st. In the latter of 2006, Thelen merged with firm Millstein Felder & Steiner. But this merger did not save all. Three name partners, Peter Brown, Richard Raysman and Jeffrey Steiner, as well as more than 100 other attorneys have left the firm this year. Since the proposed merger between Thelen and Nixon Peabody failed, it would appear that attorneys were beginning to really sense the firm’s downfall. Partner Ellen Bastier, and Chairman Stephen O’Neal left.

 

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Cityscape Dubai 2008

Written by Robert Kinney
Thursday, October 16, 2008

 

Robert here, continuing yesterday’s post. I am sure you lost sleep in anticipation…

We believe that the level of participation at the recent Dubai conferences can be viewed as a barometer of market optimism. If the barometer is working, then there is some cause for hope. Over 70,000 people from 150 countries were in attendance at Cityscape Dubai 2008 last week and over 1500 participants from 150 countries showcased projects. This represented record participation by both local and international developers and is a substantial sign of confidence in the UAE’s economy and real-state market, notwithstanding the global financial crisis.

More >>

Tags:  Dubai

Super Return Middle East

Written by Robert Kinney
Wednesday, October 15, 2008

 

Robert here …

I just arrived back home yesterday after a very productive, interesting, and also fun month-long work trip in Dubai. I was very tempted to extend the trip one more week after being invited to attend the Super Return private equity conference, but unfortunately I had prior business commitments in the US.

In two weeks Robert and I will be in Tokyo for a week and I will be staying in Asia for another month long trip, so the posts will revert back to an Asia focus for a while. As Robert and I mentioned in a recent AmLaw article, “Where Do I Send My Resume”, by Brian Baxter, firms have become much more selective when considering laterals in busy overseas markets, but we continue to make placements in HK / China, Japan, Singapore, Russia and the UAE, and our substantial time spent on the ground in these markets is critical to our success, especially considering the global economic crisis.

More >>

Tags:  Hong Kong

Allen & Overy Takes a Big Hit

Friday, October 10, 2008

Latham & Watkins has made a seven lawyer lateral hire from Allen & Overy. The group is composed of partners in Hong Kong. The following are leaving Allen & Overy for Latham: regional corporate head Micheal Liu, Simon Berry, Jane Ng, Stan Chow, William Woo, Kenneth Chan and Cathy Yeung.

 

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

 

Tags:  Allen & Overy LLP | Hong Kong

K&L Gates Adds Two to Austin

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

K&L Gates has announced the addition of attorneys Mary Schaerdel Dietz and Roderick (Rick) B. Williams. Both join the Austin office as partners. Dietz, previously at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, is a commercial litigator. Williams, formerally with Vinson & Elkins LLP, joins the intellectual property litigation team.

 

Source:  www.lawfuel.com

 

Tags:  K&L Gates | Austin

Thelen’s China Practice Jumps Ship

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Pillsbury has recently scored Thelen’s China practice! This news came after rumors that Thelen’s attempts to merge with Nixon Peabody were to no avail. The lateral team is led by partners, Louis Bevilacqua, Mary Utterback, Joseph Tiano Jr. and the former head of Thelen’s Shanghai office, Thomas Shoesmith. Shoesmith is now in charge of Pillsbury’s Shanghai office.

Source: www.nylawyer.com

Tags:  Shanghai

The Dubai Life

Written by Robert Kinney
Tuesday, October 7, 2008

 

Robert here. I am writing to you from the Emirates Towers in Dubai, in between meetings with law firm clients (today those firms happen to be Baker Botts, Curtis Mallet and Vinson & Elkins). Last week, we did not venture past the Burj Al, the most famous and symbolic building in Dubai, but a place that you would likely go to only rarely, if at all, if you lateral to Dubai. Today, I am going to give a very basic and broad overview of life in Dubai for a US associate at a major law firm. I am writing off the cuff here, so to speak, being a bit swamped. I will just focus on information and save you this time from my attempts at humor and entertainment. As always, please feel free in the comments area to ask for further information or clarification on any subject. In the near future we will deliver a post that is more focused on life inside the Dubai firms, including practice area focuses and general office culture.

More >>

Tags:  Dubai