Attorneys from McKool Smith successfully represented Ottawa, Canada-based WiLAN Inc. in a series of closely watched patent infringement lawsuits that were resolved following jury selection on the eve of a scheduled February trial through settlement and license agreements with many of the world’s leading technology providers.

International law firm Faegre & Benson LLP has advised existing client FleetCor, a leading independent global provider of specialised payment products and services, on a 10-year, €300 million (£253 million) contract to support Shell’s Commercial Fleet fuel cards programme in Europe and Asia. The deal involves FleetCor teaming up with Logica, a leading business and technology service company, to deliver the service to Shell.

The Gloucestershire-based company, Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Ltd, has been convicted of corporate manslaughter in the first trial to test the new Corporate Manslaughter Act and to successfully convict a company without the need to also prosecute the company director, Mr Eaton. The company was sentenced on Thursday 17 February, and has been fined £385,000 payable over 10 years.  In his sentencing remarks Mr Justice Field who heard the case, commented that he was aware a fine of this size was likely to put the company into liquidation but that the fine he imposed must be fit for the level of gravity of the offence and send a clear message to the industry.

Shearman & Sterling represented the initial purchasers in connection with a private placement of $300 million aggregate principal amount of The GEO Group, Inc.’s (“GEO”) 6⅝% Senior Notes due 2021 pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S. Proceeds from the sale, along with additional borrowings under GEO’s credit facility, were used to fund GEO’s concurrent acquisition of BII Holding Corporation, the owner of B.I. Incorporated.

Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised Sea Trucks Group (“Sea Trucks”), the Nigerian oil and gas contractor, on its issuance of US$ 200 million secured pre-QPO guaranteed convertible bonds due 2015  The Bonds were offered to institutional investors and listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. In the event of a Qualified Public Offering (“QPO”) the Bonds will, subject to bondholders electing to take cash, be automatically converted into shares of the relevant QPO company.     Sea Trucks, is one of the largest and fastest growing oil and gas marine contractors in West Africa.

DLA Piper are advising The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank plc, HSBC Bank Australia Limited, Caixa d’Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona, The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. on their provision of debt finance to The GAME Group plc and its subsidiaries.