Next week's news
The Queens Speech. Queen Elizabeth, whose family have had a few legal problems of their own in the past few years, will outline the Governments plans for the legal profession. Lawyers can expect a annus horribilis.
Judge attacks 'unnecessary' over-use of expert witnesses
A top judge has lashed out at the increasing practice of pushing the cost of court action by calling experts in to give unnecessary evidence. The attack came from Mr Justice Dyson, head of the High Court’s Technology and Construction Court, which deals with contract disputes – primarily from the building and construction industry. At […]
In brief: Ex-Vallance Lickfold partners fined £5,000
Three partners at London firm Vallance Lickfold have been found guilty of using client money and failing to pay counsel fees by a Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal in London. Andrew Cameron, now a solicitor at London’s Swepstone Walsh, and Alan Herd and Neil MacDonald were fined u5,000 and ordered to pay costs of u9,609.
UK firms in Singapore shift tactic to weather Asian crisis
UK City firms in Singapore are adopting divergent strategies in response to the Asian downturn which continues to eat into profits. Linklaters is trying to sub-let half of its office space at 9 Raffles Place, after a reassessment of its boom-time expansion plans. Meanwhile City rivals Freshfields and Lovell White Durrant are expanding. Tony Grundy, […]
Police probe City firms' links to organised crime
Next week's news
The Queens Speech. Queen Elizabeth, whose family have had a few legal problems of their own in the past few years, will outline the Governments plans for the legal profession. Lawyers can expect a annus horribilis.
Judge attacks 'unnecessary' over-use of expert witnesses
A top judge has lashed out at the increasing practice of pushing the cost of court action by calling experts in to give unnecessary evidence. The attack came from Mr Justice Dyson, head of the High Court’s Technology and Construction Court, which deals with contract disputes – primarily from the building and construction industry. At […]
In brief: Ex-Vallance Lickfold partners fined £5,000
Three partners at London firm Vallance Lickfold have been found guilty of using client money and failing to pay counsel fees by a Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal in London. Andrew Cameron, now a solicitor at London’s Swepstone Walsh, and Alan Herd and Neil MacDonald were fined u5,000 and ordered to pay costs of u9,609.
UK firms in Singapore shift tactic to weather Asian crisis
UK City firms in Singapore are adopting divergent strategies in response to the Asian downturn which continues to eat into profits. Linklaters is trying to sub-let half of its office space at 9 Raffles Place, after a reassessment of its boom-time expansion plans. Meanwhile City rivals Freshfields and Lovell White Durrant are expanding. Tony Grundy, […]
How to brief an expert witness expertly
Steve Caine is a senior associate with Buchler Philips Lindquist Avey, forensic and investigative accountants. The independence of the expert is the key to success in the courtroom, and good solicitors know it is their responsibility as much as the expert’s to maintain the expert’s proper role. Steve Caine outlines how best to brief an […]
Ashurst bets on Europe with Luxembourg launch
Ashurst has been given the go-ahead to open in Luxembourg after receiving approval from the local bar association. The new office, focusing on finance and funds, will open in October this year, with corporate partner Isabelle Lentz at the helm. Lentz is currently the head of Ashurst’s Luxembourg desk in London, which was set up […]
Deloitte secures long-awaited ABS licence ahead of UK expansion
Deloitte has received its alternative business structure (ABS) licence, becoming the last of the Big Four to set up a legal arm in the UK. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) confirmed that it has granted Deloitte the right to operate as a multi-disciplinary practice. The licence came into effect on the 15 June. The new move will […]
Slaughters advises Santander on FCA ring-fencing scheme
After successfully advising client Barclays on the UK Government’s banking ring-fencing scheme, Slaughter and May has led for Santander as its becomes the fourth major bank to be accepted. The bank was accepted into the scheme following a High Court hearing on 12 June and has committed to transferring all relevant accounts into the ring-fenced […]
Linklaters and Bakers lead on €1bn Cerberus deal
Linklaters and Baker McKenzie have led in the €1.2 billion sale of the world’s largest air cargo handler, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), to New York based private equity company Cerberus Capital Management. Linklaters corporate partners Ben Rodham and Christopher Boycott acted for Cerberus, which from 2015 has been owned by Platinum Equity. They were supported by finance partners Daniel […]
Latham mulls associate pay hike as talent war heats up
Latham & Watkins looks set to become to the latest firm to boost its associate pay scale as the battle over young legal talent intensifies. Lawyers at the firm are understood to have met yesterday to discuss the salary proposals which, if the firm elects to increase pay, could see associates paid between $190,000 and $340,000. […]
Barclays summons firms to ‘panel day’ ahead of final decision
Barclays has invited 22 firms to a panel day in July, ahead of the final announcement of its last ever formal panel review.