Summer’s lease

It seemed like an open invitation to the weather gods – and to the goddess Tempestates in particular – to rain on its parade when Anglo-Italian firm Giambrone & Law announced that its “late summer party” would be on a terrace overlooking Hyde Park. To compound the provocation, it was also the day of the Tube strike so Volcanus, the Underground worker, wasn’t likely to be too happy either. But as name partner Gabriele Giambrone put it: “As a Sicilian I bring my own bottled sunshine with me.” And it was true. Moreover, the packed throng of Italians, Spanish, Russians and Americans underlined London as the place to do business.

“I’m dual qualified and I’ve come to London to offer private client services at a time when the big firms have moved out of that area,” explained the bright, young and enthusiastic Gabriele. With his head office opposite the Law Courts and a multi-jurisdictional team of 25, he is focused on that burgeoning market of second-home owners who need tax, real estate and dispute resolution advice across Europe. “There’s a lot of work but no one is focused on it as we are,” said Gabriele (who, somewhat surprisingly, also boasts a degree from Aberdeen University).

The party, though, was all about new starts and young business with globalised law at the heart. Yes, Londinium was our oyster that night (even though an Oyster card couldn’t actually get us home).

Stone in shoo

My wretched little piece about Shoosmiths in Milton Keynes in July continues to haunt me, not least because it has given carte blanche for every law firm with an MK postcode to beat a path to my e-mail address. So thank you very much emw law for your kind invitation to your party on Thursday to mark the opening of your new headquarters in Milton Keynes by hosting a Ready, Steady, Cook event. Unfortunately I will be doing other things, including, like Sisyphus, writing next week’s column.

Sporting chance

With the Rugby World Cup under way, here’s a rugby story not featuring Jonny Wilkinson’s injuries. At its Sport Rugby World Champions charity luncheon recently, Hextalls, the sport law firm, raised £16,000 for a range of worthwhile causes, including the Brain & Spine Foundation. Good try.

Jeux sans frontières

I am no Francophobe, but when French law stories surface the attachment remains unopened. Nonetheless, with Paris now the capital of world rugby, it seemed the right time to find out what Parisian lawyers actually do (apart, obviously, from long lunches and liaisons dangereuses).

So I started with a little probing at Gide Loyrette Nouel and, I must admit, I got a bit of a shock. Suddenly a different, more exotic world opened out. I found myself in North Africa, where Gide seems to have cornered the markets from its offices in Algiers, Tunis and, above all, Casablanca. I imagined myself in the kasbah with Bogart. Then I was whisked away to Gide’s meeting with BNP Paribas regarding the privatisation of Sahara Bank (apparently the first bank privatisation in Libya).

Yes, the frontiers are coming down. No wonder an Italian with a law degree from Scotland is opening in London to sell Spanish houses to rich Russians.

edward.fennell@yahoo.co.uk

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