AWB’s purchase of the diversified rural services business Landmark, from Wesfarmers, is highly significant for AWB and for the Australian agricultural sector. The AUD$825M acquisition positions AWB as the leading agribusiness in Australia and strengthens the competitive position of Australia’s agricultural produce in world markets. Not only was the transaction negotiated within a tight two […]

Mallesons Stephen Jaques has announced the appointment of two new partners, Wayne McMaster and Robert Cooper, to the firm’s intellectual property practice in Melbourne. Joining them at Mallesons will be senior associates Duncan Bucknell and Shyama Jayaswal, patents counsel Dr Carolyn Rolls and, senior patents legal executive Debra Barnes. In announcing the appointments, Tony D’Aloisio,

Shearman & Sterling is representing AngloGold in its proposed $1.1 billion acquisition of Ashanti Goldfields Co. According to The Daily Deal, the deal would create the world’s biggest gold producer with mines in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mali, Ghana, Guinea, Australia and North America, producing about 7.3 million ounces of gold annually. The merger

Denton Wilde Sapte has become the first international law firm to open an office in Dubai Internet City. The office, officially opening on 8 September, is the firm’s fifth in the Middle East and the 18th international office, re-emphasising the firm’s commitment to the region. The office will provide on-tap advice to technology, media and

Baker & McKenzie announced today that it advised Radisson Edwardian Hotels in its acquisition of the prestigious five star Intercontinental Mayfair Hotel, London, from Intercontinental Hotels Group. The acquisition has a value of £115 million. This acquisition brings Radisson Edwardian Hotels Group’s total number of four and five star hotels in London to eleven. The

National law firm Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP (K&L) announced that John F. Spinello, Jr. has joined K&L’s Newark, NJ office as Of Counsel. Prior to joining K&L, Mr. Spinello was Associate Deputy General Counsel for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where he worked closely with former Administrator Whitman and senior Bush administration officials. Mr.

Mexico's Grupo Fertinal will file a new $900 million suit against the local unit of Dutch insurer ING Groep N.V. (ING), as the dispute over a $300 insurance claim between the two companies continues to escalate. Fabio Covarrubias, chairman of the fertilizer producer, said the new suit against ING Comercial America seeks to force Mexico's

Miguel Estrada, a partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP’s Washington D.C. office, today withdrew his nomination to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. He will continue to pursue his litigation practice at the firm. Kenneth M. Doran, Managing Partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, stated, “Miguel is an

Barclays Bank PLC made an offer to purchase for cash any and all of the outstanding Class A, B, C and D Floating Rate Notes due 2004 issued by BarCLO Finance (1999) Ltd. The offer expired on 12 August 2003. Linklaters acted for Barclays Capital as dealer manager. The value of the deal was US$165

International law firm Bird & Bird will be opening its second office in Germany on the 1st of October. The launch of an office in Munich will place Bird & Bird in another major economic zone in Germany, following the establishment of an office in Düsseldorf in June last year. The core team will consist