Rolls-Royce has named Lord Gold, the City lawyer investigating the cash-for-access scandal in the Tory party, to investigate its compliance practices after the company last month revealed possible corruption in China and Indonesia.

Rolls-Royce has named Lord Gold, the City lawyer investigating the cash-for-access scandal in the Tory party, to investigate its compliance practices after the company last month revealed possible corruption in China and Indonesia.

A new legal giant emerges today as London-based Herbert Smith and Australian group Freehills start formally trading under the same banner.

The Takeover Panel has moved a step closer to drastically overhauling its code as it seeks to remove the "tactical advantage" for hostile bidders targeting UK companies.

De La Rue might have a licence to print money – but it is having a hard time making it and last night the crisis-wracked banknote printer's shares plumbed fresh depths amid fears of that one of its biggest customers is preparing to cash in its chips.

MGPA, the Macquarie Group-backed Australian fund, is understood to have abandoned plans to purchase Broadgate, the City office scheme owned by Ftse 100 property giant British Land.

Fuller, Smith & Turner, the pubs group with a major presence in the City, has heralded an upsurge in drinking activity in London's financial district.

Vanni Treves, the chairman of the scandal-ridden Equitable Life mutual insurance society, is steeling himself for a fresh clash with rebel policyholders.