4 November 1996

How to sustain the equality lie

There is a well-known belief in the fraternity of spin doctors, media consultants, publicity gurus and other twisters and turners of fact that if you tell a half-truth or downright lie, the more often you say it, the more people will believe it. The bigger the untruth, the greater the sincerity with which it must […]

Flotations

Blake Lapthorn acted for Carisbrooke Shipping in connection with the admission of its shares to the Alternative Investment Market and a placing and open offer which raised £2 million.

The Lawyer Inquiry: Kate Martin

Kate Martin was born in Hull on 20 June 1968. She now lives in Sale, Cheshire and is a solicitor specialising in employment law at Davies Wallis Foyster. What was your first job? Stable lad(ess). What was your first ever salary as a lawyer? £10,500. What would you have done if you hadn’t become a […]

Flotations

Berwin Leighton advised The Maiden Group on its flotation on the stock market by way of a placing of new shares undertaken by Deutsche Morgan Grenfell. Maiden is a market leader in the UK outdoor advertising industry. Freshfields acted for Deutsche Morgan Grenfell.

In brief: Combined role for National Grid's Smith

The National Grid Company has announced the appointment of Fiona Smith to the new role of company secretary and general counsel. The roles of company secretary and group legal adviser will be combined for the first time. Smith, 37, replaces Richard Drew, company secretary since the formation of National Grid Company, who will step down […]

Year off for robed partner

Westminster councillor and Freeman Box partner Robert Davis has been elected Lord Mayor of Westminster. Davis, who has served on the council for 14 years, is a conveyancing lawyer at the London firm. He will enjoy a one-year sabbatical from his legal work to allow him time to concentrate on his role representing one of […]

Rail management on track thanks to firm

City law firm Theodore Goddard advised management in its victory over the bidding war for Freightliner, British Rail’s container freight business. The buy-out was overseen by James Ballingall, head of the firm’s railway group. Theodore Goddard has advised a number of parties bidding for parts of British Rail as it goes through the Government’s privatisation […]

Mears asks Bogan to stand down Richard Wachman

Law Society president Martin Mears has made a dramatic eleventh-hour plea to presidential challenger Tony Bogan to reconsider his decision to stand for election. Mears told Bogan, a former political ally, he risked splitting the reformist vote and “allowing the Old Guard back to power via the back door”. Next month’s presidential election will be […]

Nabarros picks up pieces after Facia crash

Up to a dozen lawyers from City firm Nabarro Nathanson are advising the receivers to Facia, the crashed retail business empire of entrepreneur Stephen Hinchliffe. The team is led by Nabarros’ head of insolvency Michael Prior, backed by London partners Ann Wright, Gavin Rabinowitz and Michael Hales. In Hinchliffe’s Sheffield operating base, Nabarros is supported […]

AIJA sets agenda

Secrecy in Swiss banking and confronting the problems of corruption are the opening topics for debate at the annual congress of the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) in Montreux, Switzerland, this August. Other planned seminar topics will centre around sponsorship and sports law with sessions on trade mark licensing, broadcasting rights, restrictions on circulation […]

In brief: PFI expert to join Alsop Wilkinson

International commercial law firm Alsop Wilkinson has appointed Peter Rout as a new partner. Rout, 30, will bring the firm experience in contentious and non-contentious matters, including dealings with the Government’s Private Finance Initiatives. Rout, who will leave Alfred McAlpine Construction, will be based at Alsop Wilkinson’s Manchester office.

Judge oversteps mark in child abuse case

A COUNCIL has successfully challenged a Crown Court judge who ordered a child cruelty victim to undergo psychiatric examination to help in the sentencing of her parents. Newham Council applied for Judge Timothy King’s order to be judicially reviewed after the judge claimed the council’s director of social services was in contempt of court for […]