The Legal 500

Bucharest, July 7, 2009 As of the beginning of 2009 the tax litigation portfolio of bpv GRIGORESCU, meas-ured by the value of claims, has increased by more than 20% that initially anticipated, to approximately EUR 15 million.

On August 4, 2009, MMA Vie SA closed its mandatory public tender offer for Harwanne Compagnie de participations industrielles et financières SA, a Swiss investment company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. This public tender offer was the first offer under the revised rules on public tender offers which had come into effect as from January 1, 2009 and which grant minority shareholders a standing in the administrative proceedings before the Takeover Board. The transaction represents a total value of CHF 183 million.

Miller Samuel are delighted to welcome Claire O'Neill as an Associate to the Litigation Department.

The firm is completely renewing its corporative identity, a new group thus arising, which comprises two brands, Lener and Asigno, with different activities, the name Legalia Abogados under which the firm had hereto operated therefore disappearing.

Transactions in Germany have recently declined as a result of the banking and financial crisis and the difficulties this crisis has caused to the funding of – particularly – major transactions. As most other law firms, GSK Stockmann + Kollegen currently faces some changes in the legal market due to this crisis including a dip in deal volumes and transaction speed, whereas transactions with relation to restructuring and insolvency law are getting more important.

Central European law firm Schoenherr is advising German car manufacturer Volkswagen on the Austrian and CEE aspects of the creation of an integrated automotive group with Porsche led by Volkswagen.

Sofia, 2 July 2009 - Bulgaria is a country with high potential for investment into and financing of renewable energy sources (RES) projects, but the support of the government and a better regulatory and legal framework are essential. That was the conclusion of the exclusive business roundtable “Investments and financing of renewable energy sources in Bulgaria”, which took place on 30 June in Sofia. Wolf Theiss, one of the leading law firms in Central and Eastern Europe, was host of the meeting organized in partnership with the Commercial section of the Austrian Embassy in Bulgaria.

Sofia, 18 June 2009 - WOLF THEISS, one of the leading law firms in Central and Eastern Europe, announces that after its submissions to the Government and institutions of Bulgaria and the European Commission, the Bulgarian Supreme Bar Council has registered Wolf Theiss as a fully constituted and regulated law firm in Bulgaria.

Sofia, 4 June 2009 - WOLF THEISS, one of the leading law firms in Central and Eastern Europe, announces that it has advised Equest Investments Balkans (EIB) on the sale of its Bulgarian automotive wholesaler and distributor, Avto Union Holding Limited to Eurohold Automotive Group.

Ljubljana, 27 July 2009 - WOLF THEISS, one of the leading law firms in Central and Eastern Europe, announced today that it has advised banks that arranged the issuance by Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB) of a EURO 1.5 billion bond which will be backed by the Slovenian state for a 3-year term.

on its purchase of OSSH in one of the largest privatisations in SEE. Prague, 3 June 2009 – WOLF THEISS, one of the leading law firms in Central and Eastern Europe, has advised Czech power company, ČEZ, on its EUR 102 million purchase of the Albanian power distributor OSSH.

International law firm Harneys recently advised the Brazil-based international mining company Vale on a US$942 million offering of mandatorily convertible notes made by its wholly-owned Cayman Islands subsidiary, Vale Capital II.  London-based partner Jonathan Culshaw provided Cayman Islands advice to Vale and Vale Capital II in respect of the notes issue

Lawyers from Carey Olsen’s corporate team have played a key role in an innovative transaction involving Germany1 Acquisition Limited, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), registered in Guernsey and listed on Euronext. Germany1 agreed to acquire all the shares of AEG Power Solutions B.V. for EUR 200 million in cash and 19,208,955 Germany1 shares, plus a further number of Germany1 shares depending upon the future performance of AEG.

At a seminar held by Carey Olsen, employment lawyers from the firm took the audience through the relevant points of law, and explored the issues surrounding communication in the workplace through an interactive case study.

Gernandt & Danielsson has advised Temporär Förvaltning i Stockholm AB (former Nordic Growth Market NGM Holding AB) on the acquisition.

As part of its corporate social responsibility programme, Andreas Neocleous & Co was one of the main sponsors of a musical concert by the leading Greek tenor Marios Frangoulis held in the Curium amphitheatre near Limassol on 4 August.

On July 15, 2009, the concert-hall Freedom welcomed the nominees of the yearly award ceremony “TOP-100 Best managers of Ukraine”, organized by “Economika” Publishing House.

Dmitriy Marichev, the Senior Associate and the Head of Restructuring and Mediation Practice of International Law Firm INTEGRITES, participated in the Round Table on Bankruptcy, Mergers and Acquisitions as the Tools of Anti-Crisis Management, held on July, 2, in Kyiv.

On June, 21 INTEGRITES’ football team participated at the European Business Association Summer Football Tournament at the “Novyi Druk” stadium in Kyiv.

Mourant recently sponsored the Cayman Islands Financial Services Association dinner. The event addressed perceptions of Cayman in the USA, as well as the challenges facing the financial services industry and some of the strategies to help tackle them.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune has established the first two Foundation structures in Jersey, on the first day the new law came into force in the Island.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune has been named Jersey Law Firm of the Year for the second year in succession in the Who’s Who Legal Awards

UKBA has announced new changes for sponsors and an updated set of sponsor guidance notes.

The reality of using London-style taxis for many wheelchair users is challenged as unsafe and discriminatory. John Halford of Bindmans LLP represents Mrs Lunt and the co-claimant, Allied Vehicles, which manufacture the E7. He said today: “Liverpool blithely expects Mrs Lunt and many others like her to take risks when travelling that no-one should be expected to run. That this case should need to be brought at all is remarkable. Worse still, to defend itself Liverpool is arguing for an interpretation of the DDA so narrow it would make the anti discrimination rights disabled people enjoy quite meaningless. We trust the Court will reject that and firmly indicate that wheelchair users can expect equality under the law like everyone else.”

Their lawyer, Ms Chez Cotton, Head of the Police Misconduct Department at leading London law firm Bindmans LLP said: "A free press is fundamental in a democratic society and the increasingly oppressive and intimidating way in which the police appear to be treating journalists reporting at protests is unacceptable and of great concern. My clients hope the Commissioner will swiftly give a full apology for this incident, and confirm that he and his officers understand and accept that they have no legal power or moral responsibility to prevent or restrict what journalists record and are fully committed to actively helping them carry out their reporting duties."

Debbie Purdy has won a landmark victory in the House of Lords, making new law on Art 8, ECHR the right to respect for private and family life. The DPP must issue a prosecution policy.

London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP has negotiated damages on behalf of a young man in his 30s, Anthony Venner, who despite being admitted to Eastbourne District General Hospital with classic symptoms of cauda equina syndrome, became a victim of bed shortages and lack of appropriate assessment, management and communication. There was a delay of 24 hours in performing surgery on him which, in the view of independent medical experts, should have been regarded as an emergency. As a result, Mr Venner has been left with a considable degree of disability and has had to give up his career.

Mobimo Holding AG today published the details of its exchange offer for all publicly held shares of LO Holding Lausanne-Ouchy S.A. Mobimo also disclosed that it acquired a stake of approximately 22% in LO Holding from JBF Finance SA.

Swiss Prime Site today published the details of its exchange offer for all publicly held shares of Jelmoli Holding AG. Swiss Prime Site also disclosed that the acquisition of a stake of approximately 30% in Jelmoli Holding AG from Pelham Investments AG has been closed.

Ogier is delighted to announce the appointment of Marina Kozlova as a member of its global Russia and CIS Practice.

Ogier has agreed to be a premier sponsor of the Channel Islands Stock Exchange's International Business Summit on 11th September 2009. It will be the first event of its type to be held in the Channel Islands and the inaugural event will be held in Guernsey with a view of alternating the venue with Jersey in future

Bedell Group is one of the sponsors of the Channel Islands Stock Exchange's International Business Summit on 11th September 2009. It will be the first event of its type to be held in the Channel Islands and the inaugural event will be held in Guernsey with a view of alternating the venue with Jersey in future.

Christopher Anderson and James Ovenden of Bedell Cristin Guernsey recently advised Genesis Capital on the launch of its second Guernsey private equity fund which had a successful first closing on Euro 40 million in June 2009.

Boult Wade Tennant is delighted to announce that with effect from 3 August 2009 Catherine Wolfe is joining the firm as a partner in the Trade Mark Group.

London, 9 July 2009 - Baker & McKenzie has advised leading private equity firm EQT on the restructuring of €969 million of debt of Sanitec. The restructuring closed on 8 July.

London , 24 July 2009 - Baker & McKenzie London has advised Arqiva on its acquisition of Global Radio's 63% share in the national commercial DAB multiplex Digital One, as well as many of Global Radio's local multiplex licences.

From June 1st, 2009, López Acosta, Rivero & Gustafson Abogados turns into RIVERO & GUSTAFSON ABOGADOS.

The energy team at CMS Cameron McKenna LLP have successfully advised RWE Dea on the purchase of a 70% stake in the Breagh gas field, a major Southern North Sea gas development, from six companies. On completion of the transaction, RWE Dea will take over the majority of the Breagh field, the largest gas discovery in the North Sea for 10 years.

On 8 July 2009 the European Commission published its final report into possible anti-competitive practices in the pharmaceuticals sector. The investigation was prompted by a perceived decline in new drugs reaching the market and possible delays in the market entry of generic drugs.

Offshore law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune has established the first two Foundation structures in Jersey, on the first day the new law came into force in the Island.

On July 4, 2009, PartnerRe Ltd., a NYSE-listed, Bermuda exempted company, entered into a number of definitive agreements relating to its acquisition of all the outstanding shares of PARIS RE Holdings Limited, a French-listed, Swiss-based diversified reinsurer, in a multi-step transaction. The multi-step transaction values PARIS RE at approximately USD 2 billion. Upon completion of the transaction, current PARIS RE shareholders will own approximately 31% of the combined company and current PartnerRe shareholders will own approximately 69% of the combined company.

A solicitor from the Goldalming office of London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP has gained the highest mark in the country in her professional legal exams.

Starting from July 6th 2009 the headquarters of the Yukov, Khrenov & Partners Law Office are situated in:

Two fiduciary lawyers have been called to the bar in Guernsey. The Deputy Bailiff has sworn in advocates Laila Arstall and Polly Lister, the pair from Carey Olsen having passed the Guernsey Bar exams.

In its acquisition of the Apollo Retail Space and Assortment Planning business from Information Resources, Inc

Including one ministry and two universities in public procurement dispute concerning subscription services

Hammarskiöld & Co represented Tetra Pak in its acquisition of the Mixer Business of Scanima A/S. The Mixer division is the global leading producer of industrial mixers for the food, pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries

Hammarskiöld & Co represented Chrysler LLC regarding Swedish legal issues relating to the transfer of Chrysler to the new company group Chrysler Group LLC, owned by Fiat, the U.S. Government, the Canadian Government and a foundation connected to the American United Auto Workers union. Hammarskiöld & Co also assisted Chrysler in connection with the dissolvement of the former joint ownership between Daimler and Chrysler.

ISS Facility Services AB has divested its landscaping business to Landscape Services Sweden AB, a company controlled by private equity house FSN Capital. The divested business has an annual turnover of approximately SEK 500 million and approximately 300 employees.

Stamatiou, a senior associate in our shipping department, has been appointed as a member of the Shipping Committee of the Cyprus Bar Association, which reviews and comments on proposed legislative instruments and government policies in the maritime field.