本文由微信公众号Legalnews授权无讼阅读发布
无讼阅读在每周日晚推出“全球法律英语新闻一周精选”栏目，集中呈现全球法律新闻、地道法律英语和专业法律知识，愿关注全球法律市场动态、热爱法律英语学习的你能有所收获。
1. 忠旺23.3亿美元收购美国铝轧制产品生产商
忠旺23.3亿美元收购美国铝轧制产品生产商Aleris交易中，英国富而德律师事务所、美国法朗克律师事务所和美国宝维斯律师事务所担任牵头法律顾问。中国企业忠旺以23.3亿美元收购美国铝轧制产品生产商Aleris，这是最大一笔中国企业收购美国金属公司的交易。该笔收购通过忠旺国际集团有限公司旗下产业投资公司美国忠旺来进行，而忠旺国际旗下的中国忠旺则是全球第二大铝挤压产品制造商。忠旺方面，富而德的公司和并购合伙人Timothy Wilkins和Peter Lyons 在纽约牵头提供法律意见，同时在香港有一个资本市场合伙人Teresa Ko 带领的团队。Aleris的法律顾问则是美国所法朗克，并购合伙人Randi Lally和Benjamin Falk律师参与该交易。而作为从2010年以来就持有和管理Aleris的股东，投资公司Oaktree Capital Management则聘用了宝维斯。中国境内，北京的金诚同达律师事务所作为忠旺的法律顾问，牵头律师为合伙人杨晨、彭俊、彭凌燕。
（图片来源：industryweek.com）
Freshfields, Fried Frank and Paul Weiss lead as Zhongwang buys Aleris for $2bn
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson and Paul Weiss have all won lead roles?on the $2.33bn acquisition of US metals producer Aleris by Chinese entrepreneur Zhongwang.
The deal marks the?highest price ever paid by a Chinese firm for a US metals company. Zhongwang USA is the investment firm of Liu Zhongtian, founder of the world’s second largest producer of aluminium extrusion, China Zhongwang.
Freshfields corporate and M&A partners Timothy Wilkins and Peter Lyons led Zhongwang’s legal advice in New York. The firm also fielded a team in Hong Kong, led by capital markets partner Teresa Ko.
Aleris turned to Fried Frank, with M&A partner Randi Lally and associate Benjamin Falk working on the deal. Paul Weiss advised Oaktree Capital Management, an investment firm which has owned and managed Aleris since 2010.
Beijing firm Jincheng Tongda & Neal advised?Zhongwang in China, with partners Yang Chen, Peng Jun and Peng Lingyan heading the team. (The Lawyer)
2. 德国拜耳向孟山都的收购报价提高到650亿美元
拜耳在5月份最开始的报价是122美元每股，但被孟山都拒绝，认为低估了价值。现在拜耳提高报价到127.50美元每股，总计金额达到650亿美元。拜耳表示和孟山都的谈判有所进展，但警告称不能保证交易一定会成功。
Bayer offers $65bn to win control of Monsanto
Germany's Bayer has raised its offer for Monsanto to $65bn (￡49bn), or $127.50 a share, in a bid to create a global seeds and pesticides giant.
Bayer said it was in advanced talks?with Monsanto, but warned there was no guarantee a deal would result.
Its initial offer of $122 a share in May was rejected by the US firm for being "financially inadequate". (BBC)
3. 联合国贸法委驳回Progas Energy对巴基斯坦提出的5.75亿美元索赔
安理打败昆毅，Progas Energy对巴基斯坦提出的约5.75亿美元能源索赔被驳回。联合国贸法委（UNCITRAL）驳回了Progas Energy对巴基斯坦提出的争议金额约5.75亿美元的两个并行的投资协议索赔，参与该争议的律所包括英国安理国际律师事务所、美国昆毅律师事务所和英国Withers律师事务所。Progas Energy称由于巴基斯坦针对液化石油气（LPG）定价的监管措施，使得其在破产后不得不拍卖位于卡拉奇昆新港的液化石油气进口终端。这一法律争端持续了5年，而由王室法律顾问Yves Fortier、Charles Brower法官和王室法律顾问J Christopher Thomas主持的伦敦仲裁庭，在2015年进行了10天的庭审后，最终驳回了Progas Energy的申请。近几年，安理在六个独立的案件中均代理巴基斯坦一方，该所目前也正在其他争议中代理巴基斯坦，包括一个土耳其发电船公司Karkey Karadeniz在巴基斯坦扣押其船舶之后提起的超过20亿美元的索赔，以及澳大利亚矿业公司Tethyan Copper对于巴基斯坦俾路支省一个矿山开采权提起的数十亿美元索赔等。昆毅则代理Progas一方，而近些年这家诉讼强所参与的案件还包括：美国投资者在2014年墨西哥查封并关闭了六家赌场之后提起的1亿美元索赔；在英国法院对万事达提起的第一起美国式重大集团诉讼等。
A&O defeats Quinn as $575m Progas energy claim against Pakistan thrown out
Allen & Overy(A&O),Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and?Withers?have advised as the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) threw out two parallel investment treaty claims worth about $575m against Pakistan made by Progas Energy.
In a legal wrangle that lasted five years, Progas alleged that regulatory measures around liquid petroleum gas (LPG) pricing in the country forced the auction of its LPG import terminal at Port Qasim in Karachi after it became insolvent.
The London-seated tribunal presided by chair Yves Fortier QC, Judge Charles Brower and J Christopher Thomas QC dismissed the case after spending 10 days presiding over hearings in 2015. (Legal Business)
4.澳大利亚两IP律所组成联合体上市
澳大利亚两个IP律所组成的联合体成为第三个在澳洲证券交易所上市的律所。Qantm Intellectual Property是由Davies Collison Cave和英国史密夫斐尔律师事务所分离出的Freehills Patent Attorneys这两家IP所组成的联合所。上周三该联合所在澳洲证券交易所上市，首次发行价为每股2.2澳元，募集资金上限为3.31亿澳元，市盈率达到16.5倍。反观第一家上市律所Slater & Gordon，近年来表现非常不佳，财务陷入困境，股价一路狂跌。国外律所的激进融资策略和上市之路，成败得失恐怕还有待时间验证。
Australian IP consortium becomes third firm listed on ASX
A consortium of two intellectual property law firms has dared to defy its predecessors and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Stocks lifted as much as 13.5 per cent in afternoon deals when Qantm Intellectual Property floated on the ASX this week. Comprised of IP firms Davies Collison Cave and Herbert Smith Freehills spin-off Freehills Patent Attorneys, Qantm made its debut on Wednesday with a market cap of A$331m at A$2.2 per share, representing a valuation 16.5 times greater than earnings per share. Qantm chief executive Leon Allen has described the listing as an ‘exciting milestone’ for the businesses that will deliver ‘increased financial flexibility to pursue selective and complementary acquisitions and to retain and attract high-quality people.’ (Australasian Lawyer; Australian Financial Review)
5. 美国芝加哥大律所被骗案中，第四名被告认罪
美国芝加哥大律所Vedder Price被骗700万美元案件中，第四名被告最终认罪。Patricia Lapinski是该所的前办公室主任，在该所工作了超过30年，直到2013年被解雇。检方称Patricia Lapinski和Deborah Acuna姐妹俩设立了一个壳公司DAS Designs，利用该公司向这家律所“供应”高价的办公设备，然后在没有提供任何货物或服务的情况下向律所出账单，骗取钱款。在2002至2013年间，该壳公司从律所收到了640万美元。Lapinski在去年认罪之后被判处了6年监禁。另外两名获刑人员为同谋的地板公司经理James Bauer和家具修理公司老板David Leisen。而第四名也是最后一名被告Acuna，也在上周认罪，被判处10个月监禁、18个月缓刑，并被判令支付17.5万美元赔偿金。
Fourth person pleads guilty in BigLaw firm scam
A sister of a former employee of BigLaw firm Vedder Price has pleaded guilty to her part in a fake invoice scheme that allegedly cost the Chicago-headquartered firm $7 million.
The Daily Herald and Am Law Daily report that Deborah Acuna, the fourth and final defendant, pleaded guilty last week. She was sentenced to 10 months in Cook County jail in Illinois, 18 months of probation and ordered to pay $175,000 in restitution.
Ms Acuna’s sister, Patricia Lapinski, was a former office manager at Vedder Price and worked for the company for over 30 years until she was fired in 2013. Prosecutors alleged the pair created a shell company called DAS Designs that overcharged the law firm for office furniture and later billed it without providing any goods or services, with the company receiving $6.4 million between 2002 and 2013. Ms Lapinski was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty last year.
Also charged were James Bauer, a flooring company manager, and David Leisen, a furniture repair company owner, who prosecutors claimed conspired with the sisters to create fake invoices. As part of the scheme, Mr Bauer and Mr Leisen were paid nearly $1 million for services and goods they never provided. Both men have pleaded guilty, with Mr Bauer receiving two years' conditional discharge and Mr Leisen being sentenced to six months in jail and 24 months of probation. (Global Legal Post)
6. 40%的高级律师后悔选择法律职业
根据本周发布的The Lawyer Salary Survey调查显示，每10个高级律师中就有4个不会选择再当律师。在被调查的所有律师中，高级律师是最后悔选择律师职业的“阶层”，只有37%的高级律师表示如果再给一次机会仍然会选择当律师。而对于合伙人来说，则只有29%的合伙人表示后悔选择当律师（之前是39%），而50%合伙人都表示会再次选择当律师。实习律师是对其职业选择最开心的，只有17%表示不会再选择律师职业，而59%表示会再次选择当律师。
40 per cent of senior associates regret legal career
Four out of 10 senior associates would not choose to become a lawyer again, new research from The Lawyer Salary Survey, released today (September 5), has revealed.
Senior associates are the lawyers who regret their career choice most, with only about 37 per cent saying they would take the same path given a second chance.
However, being made up gives a significant satisfaction boost, with half of partners saying they would become a lawyer again, and the percentage who regret the decision dropping from 39 per cent to 29 per cent.
Trainees are the most happy about their career choice, with?59 per cent saying they would choose to be a lawyer again and just 17 per cent saying they wouldn’t. (The Lawyer)
（图片来源：The Lawyer）
7. 在英国：律所越大，合伙人越年轻
调查显示，英国的律所越大，其合伙人越趋向年轻化。新调查显示，平均来看，英国的律所越大，其合伙人越趋向年轻化，而这对中等律所来说则意味着人才招募的机会。根据管理咨询公司Edward Drummond的调查，英国前10大律所中，年龄在50岁或以下的合伙人占到72%，而英国律所整体水平则是60%。调查同时还显示，前10大律所合伙人的平均年龄为46.7岁，比全国平均的48.4岁要年轻几乎2岁。Edward Drummond把这一现象归因于顶尖律所激进的精英管理性质，有杰出才华者容易被早提拔，而更老的合伙人会因给年轻合伙人留出空间或所带来收入减缓而让位。而对中等律所来说，大律所合伙人更短的职业周期则为其提供了雇用这些退下来的资深合伙人的机会，这样这些退下来的老合伙人也不必直接选择退休。
Law firm partners get younger the bigger the firm
New research reveals that partners at UK law firms tend to be younger, on average, the bigger the firm for which they work, presenting a recruitment opportunity for mid-tier firms.
According to research by management consultancy Edward Drummond, 72 per cent of partners at the UK’s top 10 law firms are aged 50 or under – whilst this is only the case for 60 per cent at UK law firms overall. It also shows that on average, partners at top 10 law firms are almost two years younger than the national sector average – 46.7 years compared to 48.4 years.
Edward Drummond attributes this to the aggressively meritocratic nature of leading law firms, where top talent tends to be promoted earlier and older partners tend to be moved aside more pro-actively to make room for younger partners or as their income generation slows. (Global Legal Post)
8. 新加坡将采取措施解决年轻律师“过剩”问题
新加坡的法律行业正在挣扎着消化不断增长的过剩法律毕业生。新加坡首席大法官Sundaresh Menon组建了一个14人的委员会，来就如何解决这一城市国家过剩法律毕业生问题进行头脑风暴。由于过多的法律毕业生进入当地工作市场，而又没有足够的实习岗位来吸收这些毕业生，因此据报道很多想成为律师的年轻人在完成学业后在其他职业找工作。去年，新加坡有550名新人竞争大约490个实习合同，而拿到实习岗位后能够留下来成为律师的也只有大约一半，同时获得律师执照的人数也比五年前翻了一番，达到509人。
Singapore to crack down on 'oversupply' of young lawyers
Singapore's legal industry is struggling to accommodate its growing glut of law graduates.
Chief Justice of Singapore Sundaresh Menon has formed a 14-member committee to brainstorm solutions to the city state’s oversupply of law graduates. With too many grads hitting the local job market and not enough training positions available to absorb them, many young would-be lawyers are reportedly finding work in other sectors after completing their degrees. Last year, 550 new lawyers competed for around 490 training contracts in Singapore, and the number of new lawyers admitted to the Singapore Bar was double that of five years ago, at 509. For those able to score a training position, the battle is only half won – retention rates for trainees at some firms are as low as 30 to 50 per cent, according to Mr Menon. (Global Legal Post)
9. 中国和美国正式批准巴黎气候协定
作为世界上第一个全面气候协定，巴黎协定只有在至少碳排放合计超过全球一半的55个国家批准后才生效，而中国和美国的签署是其中重大一步，因为这两个国家的碳排放就占到全球碳排放量的大约40%。
US, China join Paris climate pact
US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday formally committed their nations to the Paris Agreement, a pact seeking to reduce carbon emissions and halt climate change. The world's first comprehensive climate pact, the Paris Agreement will only come into force after it is ratified by at least 55 nations comprising more than half of the world's carbon emissions. The US and China signings are a big step forward for the Paris Agreement, as the two nations are responsible for roughly 40% of the world's total carbon emissions. Leaving to the particular signatories how, the agreement seeks to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius. (Jurist)
微信公众号：Legalnews
实习编辑/梁泽宇