SJ movers and shakers

Former major crimes chief joins Baker Botts as partner

International firm Baker Botts has announced the hiring of Lynn Neils, a former chief of the major crimes unit in the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, as a new partner.

Neils graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 1989, where she was a member of its American Criminal Law Review. She spent a number of years in private practice before joining the US Attorney's Office.

Neils's career also saw her act as senior counsel at Johnson & Johnson before leaving in 2009 to join Mayer Brown. In 2012, she joined Covington & Burling as a partner.

Penningtons Manches advises sale of expert witness provider

Penningtons Manches has advised on the sale of Bush & Company Rehabilitation Ltd, a provider of expert witness, immediate needs assessment, and case management services, to consumer marketing business NAHL Group Plc.

NAHL has agreed to acquire all the issued share capital of Bush for a total cash consideration of £28.3m on the basis the business has free cash of at least £3.3m upon completion.

Bush's clients include injured people, solicitors, and insurance companies acting in catastrophic and serious injury cases. It specialises in undertaking assessments spinal cord injuries, acquired brain injuries, amputation, orthopaedic injuries, and visual impairment.

A multi-disciplinary Penningtons team, led by corporate partner Will Axtell, and supported by associate Nicola Sole, advised the shareholders on the transaction.

Ogier bags new commercial litigation partner

Ogier has announced the appointment of commercial litigation barrister Brian Lacy to its British Virgin Islands (BVI) team. Lacy joins the firm as a partner, increasing its global partnership to 51.

Partner Ray Wearmouth said: 'Brian's wealth of experience makes him a very strong addition to our busy and growing BVI and global dispute resolution teams. Brian's arrival further compliments the business that partner Andrew Wanambwa has been building since he joined Ogier.'

DLA Piper helps Stonegate become fourth largest pub operator

DLA Piper has advised TCG Pub Group on the Stonegate Pub Company's acquisition of the group.

The deal will see Stonegate add some of TCG's best-known sites to its portfolio, which include London landmarks such as the Tattershall Castle, a floating pub on the Thames, and the St James Tavern in Soho. The deal will increase Stonegate's estate to 665 pubs, including 37 new freeholds from the TCG estate.

Tim Lake, a corporate partner at DLA Piper, said: 'This deal is a landmark transaction in the industry. It simultaneously establishes Stonegate Pub Company as the fourth largest managed pub operator and is indicative of the ongoing consolidation of the drinks market.'

The team, led by partner Lake, included partner John Jeffrey, associates Suzanne Doogan and Simon Wright, legal director Madeline Jenkins, and associates Sophie Murtough and Emma Peveril.

Morton Fraser awarded Scottish government contract

The Scottish government has reappointed Morton Fraser to provide its debt recovery services.

Holyrood awarded the firm the first contract from its expanded legal services framework, which went live in August.

The top 10 Scottish firm's public sector team, one of the largest in the country with over 80 specialists and more than 100 clients, has been the government's debt recovery partner for the last three years.

The new contract, worth £175,000 per annum, will see Morton Fraser provide legal services to the Scottish government and a number of public sector bodies for two years with the option to extend for a further two.

Maggie Moodie, a partner and public sector lead at Morton Fraser, said: 'Having one of the largest public sector teams in Scotland means we have the ability to manage very large volumes of work while delivering top quality services. We're committed to providing best value and clarity of advice to our public sector clients, supporting them through secondments, training, and other value added initiatives.'

The firm has made significant investments in its public sector team over the past 12 months, including the appointment of Rory Alexander - the former head of the City of Edinburgh Council's legal team - to lead its local government team, and David Walker to lead its education team.

39 Essex Chambers silk joins in-house team

Peter Village QC has joined the 66-strong team of Commercial Estates Group (CEG) as in-house counsel, advising on strategic planning issues.

Village joins on a part-time basis to allow him to continue in private practice at 39 Essex Chambers. The planning and environmental law silk has worked with CEG for almost 15 years through his private practice and was instrumental in securing planning permission on a number of CEG's sites.

Jon Kenny, a director at CEG, said: 'Peter's unparalleled experience in residential, commercial, and mixed-use development will ensure he can help to guide bespoke strategies across our portfolio as well as providing advice when we are looking at new investments.'

Coodes launches commercial disputes service

Leading South West firm Coodes has launched a commercial disputes and insolvency team to enhance its services to businesses.

The new department is comprised of three lawyers led by Coodes partner Verona Cocks. The firm aims to double the team's size within the next two years as part of strategy to grow its commercial work.

The firm has seen a 20 per cent growth in commercial work over the last year, and is now focused on increasing the number of regional, national, and international commercial clients that rely on it for legal advice.

Cocks, based in Cornwall, joined the firm just under a year ago following stints at Matthew Arnold & Baldwin, Weightmans, and Cobbetts.