Leading global law firm Baker & McKenzie has advised communications infrastructure and media services company Arqiva on its successful tender to provide the smart metering communications service in Scotland and Northern England. The UK Government is committed to providing smart metering technology to every home. It estimates that smart metering will deliver around £7 billion in benefits to homes and businesses nationwide, and is an integral part of Britain's digital and energy-efficient future.

Bird & Bird is pleased to announce that it has been advising the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on the procurement of a series of major contracts on behalf of industry worth £2.2bn as part of DECC's Smart Metering Implementation Programme.

Wragge & Co's Retail team concluded a high-profile agreement between high street retailer Argos, a long-standing client of Wragge & Co, and eBay. This trial will give consumers the option to buy goods from a selection of at least 50 small and large retailers on eBay and opt to have them delivered to one of 150 nominated Argos stores. It will provide a convenient and reliable click and collection' option for eBay customers.

Skadden is representing Crown Castle International Corp. in its conversion to a REIT. The company offers significant wireless communications coverage to 98 of the top 100 U.S. markets and to substantially all of the Australian population.

Davis Polk is advising J.P. Morgan, as financial adviser to BlackBerry Limited, in connection with its agreement with Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited which contemplates a consortium led by Fairfax acquiring all of Blackberry in a transaction that would value Blackberry at $4.7 billion. Fairfax currently owns approximately 10% of BlackBerry’s common shares. The transaction, which is subject to conditions, permits Blackberry to undertake a go-shop process to determine if there are alternatives superior to the transaction with Fairfax.

Simmons & Simmons has advised Telefónica UK on its appointment as the Communications Services Provider for the Central and South regions under the Smart Meter Implementation Programme. The objective of the Programme is to install smart meters in every home and premises in Great Britain by 1 January 2021 to enable people to manage their energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions.

Jones Day served as chief negotiator on behalf of the Dallas Symphony Association, Inc. in its collective bargaining negotiations with the Dallas-Fort Worth Professional Musicians Association, Local Union 72-147 of the American Federation of Musicians for a successor agreement. The parties reached an agreement on a new two-year contract affective September 1, 2013.

For additional information about this matter, please contact: Stanley Weiner, Joanne R. Bush

Client(s): Dallas Symphony Association, Inc.
Practice(s): Labor & Employment

Davis Polk advised Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited (IHFL) in connection with its amalgamation with Indiabulls Financial Services Limited and listing of IHFL’s Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The amalgamation was effected pursuant to a scheme of arrangement approved by the High Court of Delhi. The GDRs were issued in reliance on Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Latham & Watkins LLP advised the U.S. Soccer Federation and  National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) on the formation of the league and has continued to provide ongoing advice related to league governance, operations, tax matters and intellectual property.  The Portland Thorns FC and Western New York Flash met in the Championship Game of the inaugural National Women's Soccer League on August 31, 2013, which the Portland Thorns FC  won 2-0.

Allen & Overy has advised CPI International Minerals Co. Ltd., (CPIIM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Power Investment Corporation, on the conclusion of the mining convention for CPIIM's world-scale alumina project in the Republic of Guinea.