24 June 1996

Ahead in the regions

According to a number of practitioners, the regional PI and medical negligence Bar is “as good as anyone can find and solicitors sometimes come from London for high quality counsel”. The advantage for instructing solicitors is that the local Bar is “just around the corner”. Lawyers are looking for counsel who specialise rather than dabble […]

Vote for me and the profession

This week is a watershed for the Law Society. Solicitors have just received their ballot papers for the election of office holders. Last year a president was elected by just 18 per cent of the profession – it would be a tragedy if the decision was made again by so few people. It has not […]

Defence lawyer takes a bow on the box

A BBC producer who shadowed a hard-working criminal solicitor for a documentary has admitted the experience was a real “eye opener”. London solicitor June Venters, of Venters & Co, will feature next month in a documentary series highlighting the work of women professionals who work in the criminal justice system. Producer Tracy Cook said her […]

Copper market faces claim deluge by investors

City lawyers are predicting an explosion of US-style litigation following turmoil in the UK copper market where Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation lost £1 billion. Sumitomo said the massive losses were chalked up following unauthorised dealings by rogue trader Yasuo Hamanaka. Sources told The Lawyer that several big US investors are considering whether to take legal action […]

Long live the revolution

With reference to Tony Girling & Co’s manifesto, why is it a matter for regret that we should have a contested election for our top officers? It is a matter for self-congratulation that, for the second year running, the democratic process is seen to affect this election. Would that every council seat was similarly contested. […]

What price a shattered life?

The Law Commission recently issued its consultation paper, Damages for Personal Injury: Non-Pecuniary Loss, which promises to be as important for the assessment of personal injury damages as the commission’s report on structured settlements. That report recommends that the multipliers for future pecuniary loss, such as loss of earnings and the cost of care, should […]

Property

Freshfields acted for Scottish Provident which recently let Avon House in Waterside Park Bracknell to CW Lease UK, part of ING Group. CW was advised by Fox Williams.

In brief: Get rid of your aggression with road race

Firms are being encouraged to enter teams for this year’s Great Legal Challenge, sponsored by The Lawyer, which takes place on 10 July. The 3.5 mile road race, part of the annual ‘Chase Corporate Challenge’, will be held in London’s Battersea Park at 6.45 pm. Last year’s race was won be Norton Rose. A trophy […]

In brief: City supremo signs up with Field Fisher

Leading City figure Ian Hay Davison has joined Field Fisher Waterhouse this week as a non-executive member of the strategy board. Hailed as the man who built up leading accountancy firm Arthur Andersen, Davison is a former deputy chair and chief executive of Lloyd’s of London and former chair of the Hong Kong Securities Review […]

Debt work on the cheap

Debt collection has become a money-spinner for law firms but many have seen it simply as a way to make a fast buck. One seasoned observer says: “A lot of firms with no experience have seen it as a way to get turnover up. A lot of small firms who did not know what they […]

IT in business talk

Helen Sage reports A one-day conference in London to assess the business benefits of electronic communication for lawyers will be held on 27 June. ‘Developing legal practice using electronic communications’ lists IT consultants Delia Venables and Neil Cameron, and Law Society IT adviser Christina Archbold as speakers. The talk is accredited by the Law Society’s […]

Cap on negligent valuations may cut lender litigation

Litigation experts are predicting fewer claims by lenders who seek damages for negligent property valuations made during the economic boom of the late Eighties after a House of Lords ruling last week. Lawyers had been expecting a deluge of claims following a Court of Appeal case earlier this year. The court had ruled that lenders […]