With hedge fund managers under scrutiny and regulation inevitable, the industry needs to practise effective self-regulation. Lord_Myners Not for the first time is it reported that Brook Street and St James’s are reverberating to the sound of expensive luggage being packed. Hedge fund managers are retreating to the more congenial surroundings of Zurich and elsewhere to carry out […]
In light of the Financial Ombudsman Service’s annual review, Michael Isaacs examines the dubious practices employed by some claims management companies The latest annual review from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) into personal finance disputes has confirmed what many banks have been experiencing for some time – namely, that a very high proportion of claims (26 per […]
Lovells and Norton Rose have won lead roles advising the Government of Bahrain on the creation and listing of a $750m (£457.96m) sovereign sukuk. Norton Rose Dubai partner Karl Rogers advised Bahrain. The sovereign bond will list on the London Stock Exchange. The firm has a longstanding relationship with the Bahrain government, advising on its sukuk issuances […]
Addleshaw Goddard has been reappointed by Bradford Council to advise on phase three of the £400m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project. The deal is being led by partner Richard Fleetwood in Manchester and involves the refurbishment of 15 secondary schools and information and communication technology work. DLA Piper partner Nick Helm is advising […]
Macfarlanes and Norton Rose have been called in to advise on the potential merger of Lloyd’s insurers Brit Insurance and Chaucer Holdings. John Dodsworth Brit Insurance, represented by Macfarlanes, has made an all-share offer for Chaucer, valuing the company at around £221m. Chaucer has instructed Norton Rose as it considers the bid. Macfarlanes corporate partner John […]
I suspect even little green men in galaxies far, far away now know about Digital Britain. Ultimately, it is all about exploration. Vanessa Barnett As Lord Carter told us in his introduction to his report this month: “On 26 August 1768, when Captain James Cook set sail for Australia, it took two years and […]
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, […]