Deutsche Bank news

Described as an English badge, the select few UK firms considered part of the so-called ‘magic circle’, have the found that the term isn’t quite the stamp of approval in Hong Kong as it is in London. Stephen Mulrenan finds out why.

By defying the worldwide destruction of private wealth, Asia's super-rich are flying in the face of a global trend. Jeremy Torr reports.

After much gamesmanship, hostilities finally broke out between the US-led coalition and the Iraqi regime on March 20. Despite the build up, the commencement of military action seemed to take everyone by surprise. Australian Attorney-General Daryl Williams might include himself in that list.

The recent New Zealand High Court case involving Guinness Peat Group Plc and Perry Corporation raises some important issues in relation to equity swaps and will have important implications for anyone who wishes to make derivative-style investments in New Zealand.

ALB asked Australian firms to identify the key deals they had acted on in each country around the region. Here are some of the results

Gilbert + Tobin has acted on Fletcher Building Ltd's (Fletchers) acquisition of Tasman Building Products Pty in a deal worth A$230m. The firm hopes this work will act as a spring board for further work in Australia.

Mallesons has suffered a double blow over the Lane Cove Tunnel project. Teams from its Sydney office group had an interest in two of the unsuccessful consortia bidding for the A$1.1bn project...

Baker & McKenzie has hired its third tax partner in just over a year, aimed at strengthening the firm's corporate tax capabilities.

Freehills and Allens Arthur Robinson have advised on an innovative $750m European raising for Westfield Trust - claimed as a first for an Australian listed property trust.

The property industry is the first casualty in any recession, but investment in this sector may be about to surge following the careful development of pooled investment funds.

Baker & McKenzie has hired its third tax partner in just over a year, aimed at strengthening the firm's corporate tax capabilities.

Blake Dawson Waldron has acted as Australian legal adviser on the largest ever trans-Tasman deal - ANZs A$4.9bn acquisition of The National Bank of New Zealand from Lloyds TSB and related A$3.6bn capital raising.

Competition is fierce among New Zealand law firms and there is talk of a shake out. But the local firms are finding new ways to increase their market share - and are more than holding their own

The New Zealand Court of Appeal decision of 4 November 2003 involving Guinness Peat Group Plc (GPG) and Perry Corporation (Perry) raised important issues in relation to equity swaps and the disclosure obligations of substantial security holders under the Securities Markets Act 1988.

What were the top deals of 2003? ALB set itself the difficult task of singling out the 10 most innovative, groundbreaking and significant deals of the year in the Asia-Pacific region. And here's what we came up with ...

Australian Legal Business takes a look at the top deals of 2003 - and the lawyers who helped to make them happen

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Davis Polk & Wardwell have both had roles to play on an SEC-registered Schedule B offering by The Korea Development Bank.

The $1bn float of lead and zinc producer Zinifex - which debuted on the ASX on Monday to a lukewarm response - is the culmination of two and a half years work for Minter Ellison.

Clifford Chance has advised the joint lead managers on a 144A bond offering by The Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank).

Allens Arthur Robinson has represented the issuer in the initial public offering of the Tishman Speyer Office Fund.