26 October 1998

Lords to examine builder's VAT dispute

Roger Pearson says an appeal to the Lords by builders Redrow could have serious implications for home-buyer incentive schemes. Tax lawyers and home builders will be closely watching the forthcoming House of Lords appeal involving the Redrow building group and HM Customs and Excise. The case, which should be heard before Christmas, centres on the […]

Book of the week

Legal Practice in the Digital Age by Charles Christian. At last a rival to Richard Susskind’s The Future of Law, although a quick look at the chapter titles reveals that Christian’s style is somewhat racier. While Susskind asks “What will be possible in law?” and pronounces on “The future of justice systems and the role […]

Bernard Caulfield on a landmark case for claims notification. Bernard Caulfield, who represented JRA with Christopher Symons QC, is a partner at Titmuss Sainer Dechert

The recent case of J Rothschild Assurance [JRA] v Collyear could have serious repercussions for insurers, particularly those underwriting the civil liabilities of life assurance companies. JRA is a well-known provider of pensions and life assurance products which started business in 1992. In late 1993, the Life Assurance Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation (Lautro) wrote to […]

Adoption ruling gives hope to fathers

Roger Pearson reports on a recent Appeal decision which shows that a mother’s needs are no longer sacred in family cases. At a time when the wishes and views of fathers are carrying far more weight in cases involving children, a new court decision adds strength to father power. The September Court of Appeal decision […]

Council in Chelsea flat appeal

Kensington and Chelsea council is taking its legal battle over alleged planning consent breaches relating to two Chelsea leasehold flats to the House of Lords. The council has been given leave to appeal against earlier court rulings which over-turned breach of condition notices served on flat owners, Lawrie Plantation Services (LPS). The notices were served […]

From the bus stop to the Bar

Patrick Elias QC has earned the highest ever praise from solicitors in three years of The Lawyer’s specialist Bar features. Matheu Swallow finds out why. It might seem strange for one of England’s most prestigious employment barristers to be so outspoken on such a delicate issue. But Patrick Elias QC is adamant. “Hoddle must go,” […]

Financing

Stephen Edlmann of Linklaters advised Royal & Sun Alliance on a £1.6bn syndicated loan. The Chase Manhattan Bank, advised by Clifford Chance, arranged the loan.

Insurers set for victory over industrial illness

Elizabeth Davidson says PI lawyers have vowed to fight for a register of employers’ insurers, despite fears of a government cop-out. INDUSTRIAL disease specialist Frances McCarthy’s clients are often dead by the time she is ready to embark on litigation on their behalf. Like all personal injury (PI) lawyers in her field, the long and […]

US blazes discrimination trail

Three recent rulings by the US Supreme Court on discrimination and harassment could point the way forward for the UK. Satvinder Juss urges lawyers to take notice. Satvinder Juss is a barrister and former human rights fellow of Harvard Law School.The US Supreme Court has issued rulings in the most highly charged area of employment […]

A full-time occupation

Stephen Bedeau believes practitioners have a tough job ahead of them to keep up with employment legislation. Stephen Bedeau is a barrister at Sovereign Chambers in Leeds and a part-time employment tribunal chairman. A change of name and a mass of legislative changes herald the dawn of a new era for employment tribunals. The change […]

Salfiti & Co sued over experts' pay

London firm Salfiti & Co has been issued with a summons for failure to pay an expert witness. This is the third action taken against the firm this year relating to the payment of expert witnesses or translators. In July the firm was ordered to pay a translator who acted on its behalf in a […]

All work and no fair play

The Fairness at Work proposals highlight much-needed changes to working life. Mattheu Swallow asks: Just how effective will they be? With a swathe of new, pending and proposed legislation on its way, employment law is changing rapidly. Before you have even had a chance to work out whether taking your client to Saturday’s football match […]