Conveyancers are constantly being told that they must adopt a commercial attitude to their work and must no longer look upon conveyancing as their bread and butter. Most solicitors are happy to do this but Practice Rule 6 inhibits solicitors from being properly commercial. The word “conflict” rears its ugly head and solicitors who would […]
Most people in the legal profession recognise that the UK is facing its gravest constitutional crisis to date – the lack of an independent judiciary. However, very few mention it. I will not be so polite. The Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay, is a government minister and his interests as a member of the Cabinet endanger […]
Wragge & Co advised Recognition Systems on the company’s stockmarket flotation announced on 21 May. On flotation
SJ Berwin acted for MSB International in connection with its placing and admission to the London Stock Exchange to raise £50 million. Osborne Clarke acted for Beeson Gregory
LONG-established South Yorkshire firms Keeble Hawson and Rodgers & Howe are to merge this month, creating what they say will be the third largest law firm in Sheffield. The new firm will be called Keeble Hawson. Senior partner Tony Gregory said the merger would broaden the range of expertise the firms could provide. He said […]
Civil rights are being sacrificed for crime control, a leading UK white collar crime lawyer has claimed. Peters & Peters senior partner Monty Raphael, chairing an IBA session on commercial fraud, said there was “more and more emphasis on repression,” in efforts to control crime. Acknowledging that “a price must be paid to confront lawlessness,” […]
A new system of graduated fees for Crown Court advocacy work looks likely to be introduced this summer, despite opposition from the Law Society. The scheme, which will introduce common fees for barristers and solicitor advocates for legal aid cases in the Crown Courts, was initiated by the Bar Council. The Bar argues the system […]
A BID by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to prize fee income information out of Scottish law firms has been thwarted by the Law Society of Scotland after a battle in the high court. The society moved against the MMC after it discovered that the commission was about to send out questionnaires to Scottish firms […]
Corporate and property tax solicitor Ed Jenkins has joined Manchester-based commercial law firm Addleshaw Sons & Latham as a partner. His particular expertise is in mergers and acquisitions and in devising tax-saving strategies for people selling their businesses. Jenkins is also widely experienced in venture capital, having acted for managers and venture capitalists.
A NICHE family law firm which hired a counsellor to help divorcing couples says the move is reducing clients’ fees. Midlands firm Benussi & Co claims the time couples spend discussing the emotional problems of divorce with solicitors greatly increases their final bill. The firm is one of the few UK firms to offer a […]
The Law Society’s criminal law committee has had a “tremendously good response” to calls for solicitors to serve on the committee, which advises the Law Society on criminal law issues. It has received 60 applications for four vacancies, all from “terribly able” solicitors. It is now drawing up a shortlist of candidates to interview and […]
Manchester firm Vaudreys has been appointed to handle commercial litigation work for Refuge Assurance. The Wilmslow-based company began outsourcing legal work earlier this year when it offered Vaudreys its commercial property work. Now Vaudreys is recruiting two extra staff to cover the extra commercial litigation it has taken on. Refuge will retain its in-house legal […]