17 November 1997

Rouse & Co benefits from Dallas Brett dissolution

Seven-partner Oxford commercial practice Dallas Brett is dissolving, with its three intellectual property partners, Anna Booy, Ben Goodger and senior partner Hugh Brett, leaving for Rouse & Co International. At the time of going to press, managing partner and leading South East corporate finance lawyer Jonathan Loake was believed to be still considering his position. […]

In brief: Pinsents' recruit aims to develop practice

Construction law partner Jonathan Hawkswell has left Dibb Lupton Alsop’s Sheffield office to join Pinsent Curtis in Leeds. He will be charged with developing Pinsents’ construction practice. Hawkswell said: “There is the experience and resource here to represent clients in resolving their disputes commercially and effectively.”

In brief: Lord Chancellor warned on premiums

Premier legal expenses insurer Abbey Legal Protection has warned the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, that the poor must receive help to pay for their premiums. It says either a continuing legal aid scheme will have to help poorer litigants or the solicitors must include the cost in their fees – and be prepared to write […]

Orchard's IT practice blossoms

EX-Freshfields partner Paul Taylor is to head a new information technology and intellectual property department at expanding City firm Orchard. Taylor joined the firm on 3 November after four months “unofficial” gardening leave from Freshfields where he was a founder member of its IT/IP practice. And The Lawyer understands Orchard is gearing up to hire […]

Scots set up London Property centre

Scottish solicitors are looking for a conspicuous location in London’s West End for their first English property shop, which is due to open in summer 1998. The London Property Shop (LPS) will be modelled on the successful Edinburgh Solicitors’ Property Centre (ESPC), which acts as a property display centre and has captured more than 90 […]

New head for Dentons in Moscow

Denton Hall has taken on American in-house lawyer Pat Seferovich as head of its Moscow office. Seferovich, who will replace Larry George, comes from US oil company Occidental. He has spent the past five years in Moscow as vice-president of the company’s Russian subsidiary involved in oil and gas projects in the CIS. Malcolm Groom, […]

Hong Kong to restrict access of UK barristers to its courts

UK barristers could lose their privileged access to the courts of Hong Kong under plans unveiled by the Hong Kong government two weeks ago. Elise Leung, Secretary of Justice, announced that foreign lawyers will have to sit an examination before they can practise as barristers in the city. At present, barristers from the UK and […]

In brief: LCD consultation papers on the Internet

The Lord Chancellor’s Department has issued two consultation papers on proposed procedures for clinical negligence papers and multi-party actions which build on the plans unveiled by the Lord Woolf inquiry. They are available on the LCD’s Web site at: http://www.open.gov.uk/lcd/index.htm. The deadline for comments is 31 December.

Dutch-Belgian firm DSH opens Dusseldorf office

Dutch-Belgian firm DSH Derks Star Busmann Hanotiau has become the third international firm – after Shearman & Sterling and Clifford Chance – to establish a permanent base in Dusseldorf. From the start of next year, Ton Heebing, a dual Dutch-German-qualified partner in the firm’s Arnheim office, will be stationed in the city on a full-time […]

Andersens continues search as it admits failure of link-up

Arthur Andersen has pledged to continue the search for a top City law firm merger partner following a public admission of the failure of talks with Simmons & Simmons. The Lawyer first revealed speculation that Simmons was in talks with Andersens in May but neither side would confirm it until last week, when Simmons announced […]

Covingtons tightens its links with Paris practice

Partners from US firm Covington & Burling and French firm August & Debouzy are gathering in Paris this week to launch a new co-operation agreement. The exclusive referral arrangement between the two firms, approved by the Paris Bar last year, gives the firms access to each others’ offices. Covingtons has offices in Brussels and London, […]

In brief: Field Fisher wins Camerons' patent head

Field Fisher Waterhouse has poached Cameron McKenna’s head of patent litigation Peter Jennings. He said he had joined Field Fisher’s IP/IT department because he “saw it as a better opportunity than where I was.”