Conveyancing solicitors should see the Hambro/Shoosmiths alliance both as a threat to the very existence of the high street solicitor network and as a great opportunity for the profession. Obviously other large organisations will follow Hambro and I have no doubt that within five years the public will become used to a “one-stop” moving service. […]
A leading defamation specialist, Keith Mathieson, has left Oswald Hickson Collier to build up the media practice at Davies Arnold Cooper. He joins the commercial litigation department as a partner and has brought his assistant solicitor Kirsty Watt with him. Mathieson advises mainly on libel, copyright, passing off, confidentiality and contempt of court. He is […]
Nearly twice as many commercial solicitors read The Lawyer than any other specialist legal magazine, journal or newspaper, according to an independent survey. The survey of 1,500 solicitors practising in City, West End, regional and national law firms was carried out by the commercial barristers’ chambers 11 Stone Buildings as part of a marketing exercise. […]
Juries in fraud cases do not bring about justice, according to the next director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Rosalind Wright. “If you really want to see justice done, I don’t think juries in fraud are the way to achieve it.” she told The Lawyer in one of the most outspoken criticisms so far […]
Herbert Smith acted for Yorkshire Water on its pioneering capital reorganisation designed to return around £150m to shareholders. Other companies are expected to follow its lead.
SJ Berwin advised venture capital trust Murray VCT2 on its £35m share offer by subscription. Ashurst Morris Crisp acted for issue sponsor Merrill Lynch.
Travers Smith Braithwaite advised Barnes Trust Television on a £12m financing of its £9m purchase of Pearson Television’s Teddington studios business. It advised Barnes on a bank loan and Gresham Trust on taking an equity stake in Barnes. Edmonds Bowen & Co advised Barnes on the purchase
Rickerby Watterson acted for automotive engineering company Howle Holdings on its £1m listing by placing on the London Stock Exchange.
Bevan Ashford advised gemstone explorer Cambridge Mineral Resources on its £3.5m listing on AIM.
I read your editorial in the 11 March issue with great interest. In it you urge high street lawyers to take “a long, hard look at their practices”. I would respectfully suggest that a good starting point for most high street lawyers might be for them to drastically alter how they communicate with their clients. […]
A north London firm, Hickman Rose, has succeeded in its action to stop the Legal Aid Board’s (LAB) plan to suspend the use of non-solicitor representatives on the City of London duty solicitor scheme. The practice had applied in June 1996 for a judicial review of a decision by the London regional duty solicitor’s committee […]
The Office of Fair Trading has warned solicitors to “cut the jargon” and draft contracts that are fairer to consumers after winning improved mobile phone contracts from seven companies. The director general of fair trading, John Bridgeman, had threatened to take legal action against the seven with what he regarded as unfair mobile phone leasing […]