Legal Week reports: Slaughters to remain Shell’s top dog: "Group general counsel Beat Hess oversees the department globally, which has more than 600 lawyers."  

22 July 04

Shell looks set to retain Slaughter and May as its primary legal adviser in the oil giant’s global legal panel review.

The FTSE 100 oil giant has already compiled a shortlist of around 20 advisers following internal discussions and will hold an informal tender process with firms over the coming weeks, with cost playing a major factor. The review started in April and is due to conclude at the end of September.

Shell, which has an annual legal budget of more than $100m (£54m), plans to cut the number of UK firms it uses for international work to around five with the intention of building closer links with a smaller number of firms.

The company will also continue to instruct local firms for foreign advice.

It is understood, however, that Slaughters’ prized position as the company’s lead corporate counsel is extremely unlikely to change as a result of the review.

Other firms Shell uses include Simmons & Simmons for litigation and some M&A work, Baker & McKenzie for competition work and Allen & Overy for finance work.

Legal services co-ordinator Clive Grant and UK head of legal Richard Wiseman are leading the review, which will be approved by Shell’s head office in The Hague before it is finalised.

Group general counsel Beat Hess oversees the department globally, which has more than 600 lawyers.

Author: Legal Week

Source: Legal Week

http://www.legalweek.com/ViewItem.asp?id=20741