Tony Woodcock, commercial litigation partner, Stephenson Harwood The rarity of successful criminal insider dealing prosecutions has resulted in some criticism of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for its handling of the case of Richard Ralph. Ralph had confessed to the FSA that he had bought shares in a company of which he was the chairman […]
Concerns have been raised about the implications of a root and branch review of litigation costs, with leading litigators calling for further examination of the litigation model. In November the Master of the Rolls Sir Anthony Clarke appointed Lord Justice Rupert Jackson to conduct a year-long review into legal costs (TheLawyer.com, 10 November 2008). Hourly […]
Blackstone Chambers silk James Eadie QC has been appointed First Treasury Counsel and will lead for the Government in all major litigation. Eadie has become the first-ever ;silk ;to ;be appointed First Treasury Counsel – a position usually given to junior barristers. He will take over from Philip Sales QC of 11KBW. Sales took silk […]
Thames Valley firm Morgan Cole has taken over Bristol-based insurance boutique CIP Solicitors, which has four partners and 75 staff. The acquisition will strengthen Morgan Cole’s insurance capacity to around 30 per cent of the firm’s turnover and quadruple the size of its Bristol office. CIP partner Richard Ottley said: “Our clients are predominantly insurers […]
Canterbury-headquartered firm Furley Page has opened in London in a bid to capitalise on the insurance market. The London office, which is housed in the Lloyd’s building, will be headed and primarily staffed by Furley Page consultant Gary Marshall, although lawyers from other locations are also set to make use of the office. Senior partner […]
DLA Piper kept busy as slump continues to hit UK businesses” />DLA Piper bagged roles on three high-profile administrations as businesses across the UK continued to succumb in the pre-Christmas period. A team led by partners Michael Fiddy and Jonathan Leitch advised tea and coffee chain Whittard of Chelsea in the run-up to being placed […]
Addleshaw Goddard and Muckle led the legal involvement in the administration and subsequent rescue of menswear retailer Officers Club. Addleshaw Goddard partner Andrew Smith was instructed by administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in late December when the company fell victim to the economic slowdown. PwC put the retail chain up for sale and its chief executive and […]
Addleshaw Goddard and Muckle led the legal involvement in the administration and subsequent rescue of menswear retailer Officers Club. Addleshaw Goddard partner Andrew Smith was instructed by administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in late December when the company fell victim to the economic slowdown. PwC put the retail chain up for sale and its chief executive and […]
Linklaters has been named as adviser to Deloitte on the administration of luxury goods maker Waterford Wedgwood. Insolvency ;partner Rebecca Jarvis is leading the team advising Waterford Wedgwood’s UK administrators Neville Kahn, Angus Martin, Nick Dargan and Dominic Wong. Irish receiver David Carson is being advised by A&L Goodbody partner Mark Traynor. Linklaters has close […]
The administrators for ailing retail chain Adams Childrenswear have appointed Hammonds as legal counsel. The administrators for ailing retail chain Adams Childrenswear ;have appointed Hammonds as legal counsel. The company was put into administration on 31 December and has already closed 111 of its 271 UK stores, resulting in around 850 job losses. Administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) […]
It’s been a long time coming, but the Northern Rock trial, which kicks off this week (13 January), is sure to be well worth the wait – if for no other reason than the sheer spectacle it promises to provide. The virtually unprecedented prospect of two lords fighting it out for their clients promises to […]
Mid-market firms are working their clearing bank contacts. It’s just like old times for insolvency professionals – the expected flow of mandates has undoubtedly begun. At the top end Linklaters (Lehman Brothers, Waterford Wedgwood) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Woolworths) have made the most, but the rest of the headline work on high street names has […]