Lawyer Monthly - January 2022 Edition

LAWYER MOVES On 8 December, national law firm Irwin Mitchell announced the expansion of its Planning and Environment Team with the recruitment of two new lawyers. The recruits are senior associate Tracy Lovejoy in the firm’s Birmingham office and associate Victoria Tague in Manchester. The appointments take the specialist Planning and Environment (P&E) team to nine. P&E sits within Irwin Mitchell’s Property Division which numbers 27 partners and 146 qualified lawyers. Tracy Lovejoy joins from Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors in Shropshire, where she has been employed since April 2019 and as an Associate Lawyer (Planning) and head of the firm’s Planning Department. She boasts a good deal of experience on all aspects of planning and environmental law, including advising on the section 106 agreements and CIL liabilities for a 600-unit residential development, among other major agreements. Victoria Tague was previously an associate in DLA Piper UK’s Manchester Planning team, wherein she acted for a wide range of clients in respect of both development proposals and real estate and corporate transactions. She has also assisted with high-profile planning matters and worked on a wide range of complex legal agreements. Claire Petricca-Riding, Irwin Mitchell’s Head of Planning and Environment lauded the appointments of Lovejoy and Tague. “Both Planning and Environment are fast-moving disciplines where our clients need up to date and strategic legal advice to keep ahead of the game,” she said in a statement. “Our team works as a national practice, advising clients all over the UK. We are delighted to have re-enforced our presence in the North and Midlands with these two new appointments." IrwinMitchell’s Planning and Environment Department Gains TwoMembers Magic circle firm Linklaters has rehired two veteran lawyers as it seeks to expand its foothold in Asia. Betty Yap rejoins the firm as a partner in its corporate practice, where she will be global co-head of the financial sponsor group. She joins from the Chinese practice of the New York-headquartered Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where she has worked since 2016. Prior to this, she spent 12 years at Linklaters, including five years spent as managing partner in its China practice. Betty Yap, until recently managing partner for the China practice of New York-based Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, is joining Linklaters as a partner in its corporate practice, according to a press release. She will continue to be based in Hong Kong and will be global co-head of the financial sponsor group. The second rehire is Carl Fernandes, who rejoins Linklaters as a partner in the firm’s financial regulation practice, relinquishing his current role as partner at Latham & Watkins LLP, though he will continue to be based in London before his eventual relocation to Asia. Fernandes previously worked at Linklaters in both Hong Kong and London. The recent dealmaking boom has prompted Linklaters to hire a number of partners, with Xiaoxi Lin joining its corporate practice in March while Alessandro Nolet joined the banking team. Both are based in Hong Kong. March also saw Linklaters name William Liu as its regional managing partner for the next four years. Linklaters Boosts Asia Presence With TwoDealmaking Rehires 10 WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM | JAN 2022