Sub One Ltd (t/a Subway) v Revenue and Customs Commissioners. [2012] UKUT 34 (TCC). Arnold J. 3 October 2012 The Value Added Tax (VAT) Act 1994 Sch.8 Pt II Group 1 Note (3)(b) had to be objectively construed as a matter of EU law and to the extent that it decided differently the Court of […]
Lawyers have become a docile lot. The corporatisation of law firms and the increasingly regimented nature of partnership has produced ranks of professionals who tend to do what they’re told. As Joshua Freedman argues (see City Analysis), one reason why Norton Rose has been able to pull off a series of mergers is because the […]
As firms’ focus moves to Dubai, Simmons says Abu Dhabi base is secure Simmons & Simmons is standing by the strength of its Abu Dhabi office and says it has no plans to go the way of Hogan Lovells and shut its Abu Dhabi base. But there are widespread expectations on the ground in the […]
After Farrers’ media scandal pain, RPC regroups for a fresh assault on web work Prior to the phone-hacking scandal RPC appeared to play second fiddle to Farrer & Co when it came to newspaper defendant work. Yet the firm has picked up a raft of clients in the media world since the sector was rocked, […]
German gargantu-firm Hengeler Mueller still trails the field in diversity stakes Despite being one of the rare European firms to have a female co-managing partner – Daniela Favoccia – Hengeler Mueller has a dismal diversity record. In 2011 the firm had just three female partners out of a total of 86, putting it in 98th […]
The Houston lift-off for Norton Rose Fulbright will create a huge firm on paper, but some worry about the effect on transatlantic referrals 2012 has seen merger talks fail over differences in culture and firm structures even if practice fits have seemed positive – Field Fisher Waterhouse and Osborne Clarke being a prime example. But […]
Reforming judicial review procedures will not lead to a better system but will punish those who need it most There are five reasons why the proposed reform of judicial review procedures is misguided. First, it is based on a false premise. The stated object of the exercise is to “speed up development and boost economic […]
US moves forward on Magnitsky case, with Canada next. When will the UK act? Friday 16 November marked a milestone for human rights, with the US House of Representatives voting overwhelmingly to pass the Magnitsky Act, the clearest sign yet that the US government is finally bowing to pressure to name and shame those implicated […]
Lawyers gathered in London last week to hear why Luxembourg offers such big potential for investors. In association with Wildgen Sandwiched between Belgium, France and Germany, Luxembourg has developed a reputation as a leading international financial centre, with its stable political system and strong economy proving fertile ground for financial industries such as investment funds, […]
Dundas & Wilson has had a torrid few years. What can the new management do to turn the firm around? A firm’s merger ambitions say a lot about its self-esteem. Take Dundas & Wilson. After the Andersen Legal network collapsed in 2002, member firm Dundas once again faced being just a big fish in a […]
Gregory Shields is CEO of personal injury and conveyancing firm Forster Dean. He has spent his whole legal career at the Liverpool-based organisation, training as a solicitor there before leading a management buyout in 2007. What are the key elements of your role? As chief exec I set the tone. I work on our […]
Recent religious belief versus discrimination cases show a softening towards the rights of those with strong faith The interaction between religious belief and discrimination law has, of late, become a hot topic. Until recently, the attitude of the UK courts had been to reject arguments that an individual’s religious belief entitles him to treat another […]