Global law firm announces new route into legal profession
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has announced that it is to launch a new apprenticeship scheme for paralegals based in its global legal services centre in the UK.
The firm is the latest to offer apprenticeships following the approval of the Apprenticeship Standards in Law last year. Kennedys and Irwin Mitchell are among the others that have responded to the opportunity.
Regulators have been keen to create new routes into the legal profession and the Freshfield’s program, which is in partnership with the University of Law, will enable students to learn while they earn.
For the law firm, the apprenticeship scheme is a new way to nurture talent and attract those who may otherwise be unable to afford the cost of law school.
HSF advised Propertylink on successful $503 million IPO
Herbert Smith Freehills recently advised Australian real estate investment firm Propertylink on its AU$503.5 million IPO of stapled securities to institutional and retail investors, along with an internal restructuring of the firm.
The HSF team was led by corporate partner Philip Podzebenko and included partners Philip Hart and Justin O’Farrell.
Gilbert + Tobin was also involved in the deal as legal counsel to the joint lead managers on the IPO (the Australian arms of Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan).
King & Wood Mallesons and
Allens acted as legal advisers to the co-investors in the Propertylink Australian Industrial Partnership which was part of the internal restructure.
A separate debt-facility agreement negotiated with Westpac was handled by the HSF financing team which team included partners Melita Cottrell and Philip McMahon, senior associate Adam Roberts and graduate Alice Li.
KWM lawyers named as ‘IP Stars’
Nine lawyers from King & Wood Mallesons’ Australian and Chinese practices have been named IP Stars by international industry guide Managing Intellectual Property.
The Australian lawyers named are Kim O’Connell, Matt Swinn, John Swinson, Katrina Rathie and Scott Bouvier; along with China’s Zhu Nongfan, Wang Maohua, Shi Yusheng and Fred Liao.
