Morning Briefing: Global M&A report highlights positive trends

Clifford Chance releases preview of global M&A report
Deals in 2014 have reached levels not seen since 2007 according to a preview of Clifford Chance’s Global M&A Trends report. The Asia-Pacific region continues to grow while the US market has enjoyed a strong period of M&A activity with total deal values up. Technology features prominently in the report and there’s an increasing emphasis on cyber security and data privacy seen at the due-diligence stage of deals. There has also been an increase in cross-border deals. Many of these trends are set to see further expansion in 2015.
 
Piper Alderman team to join Squire Patton Boggs
Amanda Banton and her team of 11 lawyers are to join the Sydney office of Squire Patton Boggs from Piper Alderman. She is recognised as a leading restructuring, insolvency and litigation lawyer and has a history of significant successes. Banton and her team will join Squires in January taking the firm’s total headcount in Australia to 17 partners.
 
Japanese lawyers march against secrecy law
Japanese lawyers marched in Osaka on Monday to protest at the country’s forthcoming secrecy law. About 200 protesters wore leopard print to signify determination and carried banners calling for the controversial law to be scrapped. The law is due to come into force from today (Wednesday) and will allow the government to designate some information as state secrets without it being public knowledge; tough jail sentences will be given to officials who leak such information and journalists who encourage them. Lawyers say the law undermines the public’s right to know.
 
English lawyers say legal privilege must be protected
Legal chiefs and academics in the UK have demanded new laws to stop police and security services from spying on meetings between lawyers and their clients. The Bar Council and the Law Society have for years argued that codes to protect legal professional privilege from state surveillance and acquisition of communications data are weak and ineffectual. Yesterday, together with the Faculty of Advocates, they issued a declaration to pursue the goal of tougher legislation.