Many litigators argue that access to justice is hampered in London’s courts because litigation in London is just too expensive. Lord Justice Jackson will publish a report later this year outlining exactly how he feels this situation can be improved. In the meantime litigation funders are coming up with innovative ways to help those with […]
Immigration and human rights boutique Gherson’s commercial litigation team, headed by partner Neil Micklethwaite, is joining the London office of Brown Rudnick. Roger Gherson, now the only partner at Gherson, will remain at the firm and focus on immigration, nationality, asylum and human rights. He founded the firm in 1988. Micklethwaite, who joined forces with […]
The London litigation market is often lamented as being the most expensive in the world. Yet with innovative solutions being offered by the alternative funding market, is it really a difficult place to get access to justice? The eagerly awaited judgment in the Stone & Rolls (in liquidation) v Moore Stephens litigation will have far […]
Mishcon de Reya is to revamp its private client practice to bring its flagship family practice into the fold. Managing partner Kevin Gold said the new practice area would bring contentious trust lawyers together with those in probate, residential conveyancing and immigration. “Ultimately family law will also be in the private client practice,” he told The […]
The interim head of legal at Durham County Council has left to set up a dedicated public law group at Dickinson Dees. Linda Walker oversaw the council’s legal function throughout its conversion into a unitary authority, which was completed in April. Durham was the only one of the nine new unitary councils not to have […]
Local authority lawyers are embracing private practice methods as the sector faces increasing pressure to modernise But change is proving difficult to put into practice, according to speakers at The Lawyer Local Government Legal Services Reform Conference in Westminster on Wednesday 17 June. A range of different approaches to reform were represented at the event, […]
Monckton Chambers has set the bar for other sets to beat after unveiling a 30 per cent jump in turnover to £17.2m at the 2008-09 year-end. Senior clerk David Hockney said all core practice areas have seen an upturn, with procurement work witnessing the largest growth at 99 per cent and commercial work up by […]
Ashurst’s corporate practice missed budget by around 20 per cent for the last financial year, dropping to around £60m. This represents a total fall of 40 per cent on the £100.3m the practice group generated in the 2007-08 financial year. A London-based Ashurst partner said: “Private equity has clearly been very quiet and this is a major […]
Mayer Brown is in advanced talks with teams from several firms in London to significantly bulk up its capital markets and corporate practice groups in the City The US firm, which was recently hit with the loss of former co-vice-chair Paul Maher, is understood to be in talks with groups of partners from up to four firms as it seeks to […]
National firm to outsource litigation work to South Africa as offshoring revolution gathers pace Pinsent Masons is gearing up to make significant cost savings by outsourcing work to South Africa, becoming the first firm to offshore the work of qualified lawyers. Pinsents is outsourcing litigation work to lawyers working for business services company Exigent in […]
The Premier League continues to attract foreign investors in need of expert legal advice. When US tycoon Malcolm Glazer launched his bid to buy Manchester United in 2005, it quickly became clear to lawyers on both sides that this was no ordinary takeover deal. Allen & Overy (A&O), the firm acting for the Glazers, was […]
Did you know that as a citizen of the EU it is almost impossible for you to challenge decisions made by community institutions in the European Court of Justice (ECJ)? This right is available to individuals and environmental organisations challenging decisions in the UK and much of the EU, but not the European Community. Carol […]