29 April 1996

In brief: Dibbs unveils new local government unit

Dibb Lupton Broomhead has set up a new local government unit under the leadership of commercial group partner Tony Randle. The unit already advises local authority clients including Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and West Sussex county councils, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and the London Borough of Croydon. It has launched a regular newsletter called Futures […]

ADVICE FOR Him

The fashion department at FHM (For Him Magazine) has a number of guidelines for looking your best. Suits: for spring/summer ’96, sharp tailoring will be one of the most important looks from designers such as Paul Smith. Single-breasted suits with peak lapels are hot, in vivid colours and checks. Double-breasted jackets are definitely a fashion […]

In brief: East Anglian firm picks up contracts

An Ipswich law firm has won two five-year contracts to carry out conveyancing and commercial contract work for Westminster Council. Gotelee & Goldsmith, already acting for six local authorities, beat tenders from firms around the country. The successful team was led by partners Brian Morron, Mary Dolley, Howard Nichols and consultant Charles Twiss. The firm […]

Financing

Manches & Co acted for Saur (UK) in securing a £50 million loan from a syndicate of banks led by National Westminster Bank. Clifford Chance represented the National Westminister syndicate.

Financing

Allen & Overy advised on both sides of the £400 million facility for Racal Electronics. The firm advised the borrower and acted for NatWest and BZW as arrangers.

In brief: Report issues intellectual property warning

Only about two in five UK biotechnology companies would be able to prove successfully in a US courtroom that they had invented their technology at the time they claim, according to a report by Nabarro Nathanson. The report, conducted jointly with the Confederation of British Industry and launched last week, examined how UK biotechnology companies […]

Publicity head for chambers

GEORGE Carmen QC’s New Court Chambers has appointed Louise Seaton (pictured right) to handle its marketing. Seaton is the first marketing appointment at the chambers and will promote individual barristers as well as the set as a whole. The former Butterworths product marketing manager has been put in charge of advertising and the distribution of […]

Young Irish barristers take hats off to wigs

A SUCCESSFUL campaign to preserve the wig-wearing tradition in the Irish courts was spearheaded by the younger members of the profession, according to the Irish Bar Council’s director general. The attitude of the more junior barristers has provided a surprising twist in the long road to the liberalisation of court dress in the Republic of […]

Berwin Leighton waves NY farewell

BERWIN Leighton’s 13-year experiment in running a US office has ended with the news that one of its American lawyers is being investigated over allegedly misappropriated office funds. The firm, which opened in New York in the boom years for UK investment and was staffed by US lawyers practising American law, announced the closure last […]

Rabbatts to front local authority

THIS YEAR’S weekend school of the Law Society’s Local Government Group will cover areas ranging from environment to education. The event, to be held at the University of Wales in Swansea from 28 to 31 March, will also deal with IT planning for local authority legal departments, plain English, and powers of local government. As […]

In brief: Course for redundant professionals

City University is holding a course for professionals who were made redundant during the recession. ‘Fresh options: a self-assessment programme for professionals’, running for four days between 15 March and 15 April, is designed for “highly qualified and experienced people” who want to move back into the workforce. The university says all the participants will […]

Divorce defeat is lawyers' victory

FAMILY lawyers have welcomed last week’s Government defeat in the Lords over pension splitting in divorce settlements. The measure, withdrawn from committee stage and deferred to a consultation paper, would offer both parties a guaranteed income on their retirement to the end of their lives. Ministers opposed pension splitting, claiming it could cost the taxpayer […]