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US partners' compensation increased by 3.56% in 1996, and associates compensation was boosted by 4.4%, in an economy where inflation was only 2.7%. These are the most striking results of the latest annual survey of law firm economics published by law firm consultants Altman Weil Pensa.

Franz Nauschnigg, capital markets adviser to the Austrian minister of finance, talks to Graham Field

In July, New York's Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson and Simmons & Simmons of the UK created an International Securities Unit to handle both the English law and New York law aspects of securities issues. The unit, to be based in London, will be staffed by partners and other lawyers from both firms. It will handle the full range of both equity and bond issues in the US, UK and worldwide.

International Financial Law Review understands that Bureau Francis Lefebvre and Briones, Alonso & Martin, leading firms, particularly in the tax field, in France and Spain respectively, have agreed a merger of their Spanish operations. The two will link formally on October 1 1997. The move is likely to be seen as a defensive reaction to the J&A Garrigues/Arthur Andersen merger in Spain, which puts particular pressure on tax firms. A full report on this merger will appear in the October issue of the magazine.

French firm Thomas & Associés, with 50 lawyers, has announced it will merge with 220-lawyer firm Deloitte et Touche Juridique et Fiscal, part of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu International, on September 1.

Mid-sized Singapore firm Colin Ng & Partners is adding to its international links. The firm already has a foreign office in Shanghai, and is soon to add offices in both Jakarta, Indonesia and one in Beijing.

Deeth Williams Wall, Toronto

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has amended Rule 17f-5, relaxing the rules applying to US investment funds holding foreign assets outside the US. By Marcia MacHarg and Matthew Chambers of Debevoise & Plimpton, New York

Royal Caribbean Cruises has bought Celebrity Cruise Lines in an amicable takeover worth US$1.3 billion. This deal makes the company the second largest US- based cruise line.

The Dutch Supreme Court recently confirmed parties’ freedom to determine the choice of law in an assignment of receivables. In conjunction with new rules on SPVs, the result is a likely boom in Dutch securitization. By Piet-Hein de Jager of Loeff Claeys Verbeke, Amsterdam