The SOlicitors Family Law Association (SFLA) has reported a marked increase in the number of couples filing for divorce on the grounds of adultery or unreasonable behaviour a trend it is blaming on uncertainty surrounding the introduction of the Family Law Act. The SFLA says government dithering over when to introduce part two of the […]
War on crime was the message. But the White Paper on crime and punishment of Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Forsyth had more than one battle in mind last month. Tucked in between the hard-line penal reforms was the blueprint for a radical overhaul of the criminal legal aid process in Scotland. Proposals for […]
SOLICITORS who acquire full rights of audience in Hong Kong should be eligible for appointment as Queen’s Counsel, a new consultation paper says. The green paper, released by the Hong Kong Attorney General earlier this month, suggests solicitors in the colony may be entitled to gain rights of audience in all courts under statutory provisions […]
EILEEN Pembridge has accused the Law Society leadership of resisting her private calls for John Young to step down from office two years ago after “numerous” sexual harassment allegations were made against him. Pembridge, a presidential candidate, says those who knew about the allegations and yet continued to back Young’s presidential candidacy are now in […]
SJ Berwin & Co partner Nicholas Shattock has been appointed as an executive director with Quintain Estates & Development. The appointment takes effect from 1 June. Shattock, a leading commercial property investment and development lawyer, has been a partner with the firm for the past five years. Quintain’s joint chief executive Christopher Wallis says Shattock’s […]
FAMILY law specialists are expecting the Lord Chancellor to support calls for no-fault divorce in his white paper due later this month. The paper is believed to approve submissions by the Solicitors Family Law Association and others recommending irretrievable breakdown is cited as the only cause of divorce. Former SFLA chair Richard Sax, on the […]
MINNEAPOLIS-based Commercial Law Affiliates, the world’s largest law firm network, claims to be the first lawyers’ association to develop a “peer review programme” as an alternative to using costly management consultants. Under the procedure, an organisation or individual is reviewed, examined or graded by members of their profession. The purpose is to provide a management […]
City firm Biddle & Co, advised by design consultancy The Partners, has shortened its name to Biddle, introduced a new blue and red look to all its stationery and promotional literature, as well refurbishing its reception and meeting rooms.
CONDITIONAL fees look set to be laid before Parliament soon after Easter despite a string of complaints about the draft rules by key advisers to the Lord Chancellor. Lord Mackay is taking another look at his controversial “no win no fee” proposals after the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct (Aclec) expressed […]
THE SUCCESSFUL appeal of a man who studied neurology in prison to prove he was innocent of a child’s murder highlighted the urgent need for changes in the system of expert witnesses, according to leading defence QC Michael Mansfield. Kevin Callan was freed by the Court of Appeal earlier this month after it accepted that […]
Preparations for the Law Society’s National Law Week (starting 22 May) are building up, with increasing numbers of local societies adding their names to the list of participants. Events include a stand by Manchester Law Society with a rota of solicitors giving free advice, a special legal advice centre for the Afro-Caribbean community run by […]
A MAJOR review of external legal services is under way at British Gas which will result in millions of pounds worth of legal work up for tender this summer. Some of the City’s top firms which already act for British Gas on a project-by-project basis are likely to be invited to participate, as well as […]