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The Alliance of European Lawyers has added a Polish member, Consultor Limited, which has signed a cooperation agreement and will be known as Alliance Consultor. The French member of the six-firm Alliance, Jeantet & Associés, already has a Warsaw office, but there has been disagreement over its merger with Consultor and it is operating as a separate office despite the cooperation agreement. A Jeantet lawyer in one of the Alliance joint offices says: "It is a bit ridiculous but we all hope the merger will take place some time in May or June." There are practical reasons for the delay, according to Gérard Mazet, partner in Jeantet's Paris office. "Basically we have got problems with premises and with a few conflicts of interest and so for the time being they will remain separate."

• UK firm Simmons & Simmons has appointed partner Huen Wong to the new role of China managing partner. This involves heading the Hong Kong and Shanghai offices and integrating them in preparation for the handover of Hong Kong to China at the end of June.

The Korean government has recognized that depositors’ interests must be safeguarded by the state. But improvements need to be made, argues Dong Won Ko of the Institute for Monetary & Economic Research, The Bank of Korea, Seoul

The European Commission has published its deliberations on antitrust and distribution in Europe, giving an opportunity for debate on the framework for a new policy for the next century. By Ivo Van Bael of Van Bael & Bellis, Brussels

The Court of First Instance recently delivered its judgment in WWF UK v Commission (T-105/95) in which it considered the Commission's decision to refuse the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) access to documents relating to its investigation into the Irish Mullaghmore project to build a visitors' centre in the Burren National Park in Ireland.

Costly asset management failures are dramatic evidence of the need for third party audits of advisers’ practices, says Marcia MacHarg of Debevoise & Plimpton, New York

UK security, fire protection and home improvement group Williams Holdings is making a US$1.3 billion bid for rival Chubb Security.

Interim Services, a Florida staffing company, is paying US$575 million for British recruitment and staffing business Michael Page Group. The acquisition is proof of the growing international importance of the temporary service industry. It will allow Interim Services to expand through Europe and east Asia.

The last 18 months have seen an explosion in the number and size of US firms with English law capability in their London offices. Other firms are steadfastly following their own strategy. Paul Lee reports

Roche Holding of Switzerland is buying US company Tastemaker for an estimated US$1 billion. The transaction is planned to boost Roche's flavours and fragrances division, Givaudan-Roure.