3 November 1997

UK firm helps Malawi govt avoid constitutional crisis

UK firm Lawrence Graham was called upon to help rescue the fledgling African democracy of Malawi from a constitutional crisis, in a case heard in the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal. Partner Andrew Dobson, accompanied by Patrick Elias QC of 11 King’s Bench Walk, were admitted to the local bar to represent the Malawi government […]

Dibbs takes top spot in blue chip charts

Dibb Lupton Alsop has for the first time acquired more UK Stock Exchange listed clients than Freshfields, according to the The Company Guide, published by Hemmington Scott. Dibbs also had the fastest growing clients and the clients with the fastest increasing earnings for the second quarter running. The firm made a net gain of three […]

bomb-hit law firms get back to normal

Addleshaw Booth & Co has finally completed the repairs to its Manchester office, which was severely damaged in last June’s IRA bomb. The office’s return to normal coincides with the Govern-ment’s announcement that it will award a grant to Manchester City Council to assist with the costs of clearing up the city’s bomb damage. Addleshaw’s […]

In brief: Law should protect children, says QC

Allan Levy QC has called for the English legal system to protect, not prosecute, child prostitutes. Speaking last week in London at The Children Society’s conference on child prostitution in the UK, Levy said: “The approach towards the children should aim for protection, not prosecution. In so far as the criminal law clashes with the […]

Nabarros loses threesome

Nabarro Nathanson has lost three of its nine construction partners in the past few weeks, including the head of the department, Martin Bridgewater, in the wake of a massive reorganisation of the firm. Bridgewater has stepped down as a partner and head of the construction group but remains with the firm on a consultancy basis. […]

Mergers. Trying to make a marriage work

Paul Lee, senior partner of Addleshaw Booth & Co, takes every available opportunity since announcing the engagement of Addleshaw Sons & Latham to Leeds firm Booth & Co to thumb his nose at the merger of Dibb Lupton Broomhead and Alsop Wilkinson. “That was no marriage,” he snorts. “Surely no one fell for that nonsense.” […]

LCD throws rights of audience into doubt

Local government solicitors were plunged into confusion after the long-awaited decision on rights of audience for employed solicitors appeared to throw into doubt their existing rights to appear as advocates in child care proceedings. The press release issued by the Lord Chancellor’s Department announcing the decision to partially lift the restriction on higher court audience […]

Oman forces foreign firms to link up with domestic lawyers>

Foreign firms in Oman are to lose their independent status under a new law which will force them into joint ownership with local lawyers. A decree issued in December by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos limits the duration of licences of foreign legal consultancy offices to three years after the date the law comes into effect, […]

SFLA splits with its PR consultancy

THE SOLICITORS Family Law Association (SFLA) has discarded its press and parliamentary adviser, Fishburn Hedges. But the group has insisted that its decision not to renew its two-year contract with the agency and revert to handling its media and parliamentary relations internally is not a sign of dissatisfaction with Fishburn Hedges’ performance. SFLA chair Nigel […]

New pensions watchdog to set up law firm panel

The new pensions regulator, Opra, chaired by former Law Society secretary general John Hayes, has appointed a panel of 22 law firms to provide legal back-up for complex investigations. Hayes said the Pensions Act 1995, which set up the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) in the wake of the Robert Maxwell pension scandal, “may raise […]

HSSK software to be discontinued

Development of the High Street Starter Kit (HSSK) software – one of Law Society president Tony Girling’s flagship schemes – is to be discontinued because of a “clear loss of confidence” in the project. Law Society council members voted overwhelmingly last week to cut their losses and ditch the software, whose brief history was dogged […]

Newcastle firm faces writ over rent arrears

High-profile Newcastle firm Russell Young Solicitors, which specialises in personal injury work, faces a High Court writ over alleged rent arrears and service charges of over £83,000. The Union Group, London landlord of the practice, has issued the writ in respect of money it claims is owed on the fifth, sixth and seventh floors of […]