24 May 1999

John Phipson

As the first lawyer at Linklaters to doff his bowler hat, John Phipson knows how to let his hair down. Chris Dignan meets the family man. Linklaters’ recently retired corporate partner John Phipson acts less like a stuffy lawyer and more like the legal world’s answer to James Bond, managing to combine his obvious magnetism […]

Change of climate

Rumours that the Bar is in crisis are spreading like wildfire. Matheu Swallow looks beyond the gloomy forecasts. By Matheu Swallow Crisis, what crisis? That, at least, is the public response of many barristers practising at the commercial bar. However, statistics from the Commercial Court, gloomy prophecies from the solicitor’s side of the profession and […]

Is the commercial bar at crisis point ?

The rise of solicitor-advocates, the increasing use of mediation – do they pose a real threat to commercial barristers? Susan Ward and Mark Hapgood QC discuss the future. Susan Ward is chairman of the Bar Association for Commerce, Finance and Industry. One of the earliest writers on economics, Adam Smith, wrote: “Consumption is the sole […]

Jan Levinson on sportsmen's personal injury compensation

Jan Levinson is a partner in the commercial disputes resolution unit at the Manchester office of Hammond Suddards. Seven-figure sums compensating personal injury claimants are rare – especially when the individual retains the ability to continue his chosen trade. However, Gordon Watson – a professional footballer at Bradford City, now in the Premier League – […]

Profession faces united front at LCD

In his first interview since his appointment, Keith Vaz talks to Ryan Dunleavy about legal reforms and New Labour values. The legal profession faces a united New Labour front at the Lord Chancellor’s Department with the appointment of Keith Vaz. Vaz – who has been both a barrister and a solicitor – is a party […]

Digest

A Cameron McKenna team, led by property partner Edward Benzecry, acted for The Wellcome Trust on its purchase of 28 properties from the Northern Foods Pension Fund. Andrew M Jackson represented Northern Foods in the consideration, which is estimated to be worth u60m.

Shearmans and Brown & Wood poach from Clifford Chance…

Clifford Chance is the latest City firm to lose fee earners to US firms. Brown & Wood has snapped up capital markets specialist Michael Doran as a partner in its London office, while Shearman & Sterling has lured arbitration and litigation lawyers Christopher Colbridge and Rajinder Bassi. Shearman & Sterling is extending its international arbitration […]

IR's solicitors found guilty of racism

The Inland Revenue’s Solicitor’s Office has been accused of “institutionalised racism” by an employment tribunal. The tribunal’s damning indictment came as it found the department guilty of racially discriminating against black barrister Marlene Morgan. It was ordered to pay u6,681 for lost earnings and emotional distress. Morgan, who claims she has been unfairly treated since […]

Herbert Smith silk in bias row

A Herbert Smith partner, sitting as a deputy judge, has come under fire for refusing to step down from a case in which he is accused of having a conflict of interest. Lawrence Collins, one of the few solicitor silks, ruled there was no conflict of interest in hearing a property case in the Chancery […]

Pinsents looks to new partner to boost employment practice

Pinsent Curtis has lured a new employment partner to its Birmingham office in a “push forward” aimed at making it one of the biggest employment departments in the country. Ashley Norman, lead employment lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office, will move across town on 10 June to join employment partner Colin Goodier. The move will […]

In brief: The Legal Aid Board

The Legal Aid Board expects that up to 200 immigration firms will fail to meet franchising standards before contracts begin in January 2000. A report by the LAB last week found serious abuse among immigration firms and predicted that of the 950-odd currently practising, only 750 will survive franchising. To fill the shortfall, the LAB […]

Dibbs beats Addleshaws in gross income survey…

DIBB Lupton Alsop has topped a survey of the highest grossing firms in Manchester. Dibbs, which was second last year, displaces last year’s top firm Addleshaw Booth & Co, which is refusing to reveal its Manchester figures for the first time in three years. Dibbs is now in first place with an 18.5 per cent […]