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Not so long ago, project finance work for lawyers in Washington, DC didn’t offer much in the way of cutting edge transactions. But with development agencies setting the pace with more – and more complex – projects, there’s plenty of exciting work around for leading firms. Tom Nicholson reports

Client sues Clifford Chance over conflict

Arthur Levitt, the longest serving chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, DC, is to step down in mid-February. While his term of office does not officially expire until 2003, it is common for holders of the post to leave government when a new president takes over.

Davis Polk advises on $1.3 billion stock offering

With the economy in a healthy state, the Irish government is looking to develop the country’s infrastructure. The expected goldrush of private public partnership schemes will give a new boost to local firms. But the rich pickings are already attracting the attention of big international firms. Sara Ver-Bruggen reports from Dublin

Linklaters and Clifford Chance are advising on the $1.3 billion restructuring of Malaysia's TRI and Celcom, the country's largest cellular phone operator. Linklaters is advising Celcom, the fully-owned operating subsidiary of TRI.

The French construction materials group Lafarge has paid $4.5 billion for UK company Blue Circle, to form the world's largest cement producer.

"We looked at a lot of different people—bigger, smaller—but this is like Goldilocks: the porridge is just right."

Tweny-six lawyers have quit Brazilian firm Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice to set up a new mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and banking boutique. The former Machado Meyer lawyers have set up Souza, Crescon Avedissian, Barrieu e Flesch in São Paulo, and are certain they can fill a niche in Brazil's legal market. Alongside the five former Machado Meyer partners — Cristiane Naomi Kaneko Flesch, Luis Antonio Semeghini de Souza, Marcos Rafael Flesch, Maria Cristina Cescon Avedissian and Roberto Barrieu — the new firm will comprise 21 former Machado Meyer associates, seven trainees and three staff.

Alessandro Varrenti White & Case has become the latest international firm to open up offices in Italy. The US firm has set up shop in Rome and Milan through a merger with Italian firm Varrenti e Associati. The combined firm will advise under the hefty title, Studio Legale White & Case Varrenti e Associati. It will have 20 lawyers and three equity partners. Alessandro Varrenti, name partner of the original Italian entity, becomes a White & Case partner, and is joined by two other partners from White & Case's international network. Ken Lee arrives from the firm's Mexico office, while Anthony Giustini is moving over from Paris.