International firm expands in Australia with significant team hire
Allen & Overy in has hired a team from Skadden which has announced its exit from the Australian market. The team is significant for A&O as a market-leading US securities practice.
Partner Mark Leeman, counsel Cecile Baume and associate Matthew Lim have advised on 6 out of the 10 largest IPOs in Australia and New Zealand since 2013.
Partners begin to leave KWM ahead of restructuring
A planned restructuring of King & Wood Mallesons in Europe and the Middle East has seen a number of partners leave already. Official records at England’s Companies House shows that 8 partners from the London-based office have already departed. Across the affected regions, 15 per cent of the 160 partners are expected to be cut due to the announced changes.
Chinese firm beats Apple’s IP claim on iPhone
In many parts of the world the name iPhone is synonymous with Apple Inc. but not so in China. Despite some success with its smartphones in the Chinese market, a court has ruled that the name is better known for handbags and other leather goods.
The Beijing Higher People’s Court decided that Xintong Tiandi Technology has the right to continue to sell its IPHONE branded products as it trademarked the name three years before Apple was awarded its trademark for electronic goods.
The BBC reports that Apple says it is disappointed by the decision and plans to request a retrial in the People’s Supreme Court.
Lawyer reveals pressure of defending terrorism suspect
The Belgian lawyer who was defending terrorism suspect Salah Abdeslam described his client as “as bright as an empty ashtray” according to French newspaper Liberation.
Lawyer Sven Mary made the comments to the paper in an exclusive interview in which he also talked of the pressure of representing the prime suspect for the Paris attacks which killed 130 people in November.
Mary said that he has been physically assaulted and verbally abused for defending Abdeslam.
