The conditional fee arrangement (CFA) model is at risk of collapse due to the high level of litigation relating to after-the-event (ATE) insurance premiums. A Civil Justice Council (CJC) report has found that the cost of launching legal challenges to ATE costs and success fees often exceeds the cost of the original litigation, creating a […]
Denton Wilde Sapte has been giving lessons to global media network Al Jazeera on improving its image in the press. A team including Doha-based client partner Safwan Moubaydeen, four London-based technology, media and telecoms and employment partners and the firm’s PR manager provided a week of seminars at the network’s Qatari headquarters. Al Jazeera requested […]
Three councils in Birmingham and London have opened their panels to other local authorities in a bid to slash costs. Birmingham City Council is in the process of reviewing its panel and has invited 17 other councils in the Midlands to make use of the list when it is completed. The London Borough of Bromley […]
Bird & Bird’s newly formed association with Singapore firm Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva (ATMD) has been established as a precursor to a full-blown merger. Bird ;& ;Bird’s ;newly formed association with Singapore firm Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva (ATMD) has been established as a precursor to a full-blown merger. The alliance, which is due to […]
Westminster-based RadcliffesLeBrasseur has recruited an architect to its construction practice. Don Hands has joined the firm as a consultant architect and will provide an interface between the firm’s architect clients and the practice. Radcliffes ;head ;of construction Gordon Hall said: “Architects can be shy of lawyers because they think the experience could be expensive in […]
With deals in markedly short supply, these are challenging times for private equity transaction lawyers – but their clients have more need of their skills than ever, says Jonathan Wood. Most private equity firms openly accept that it will be some time before meaningful levels of deal activity return. Comments made at the sector’s recent […]
The collapse of BHP’s bid for Rio Tinto leaves big firms’ big billers at a loose end. BHP Billiton’s long-running battle to take over rival miner Rio Tinto finally ended last month, leaving both companies counting the cost of the failed merger – and ruing the eye-watering legal bills. Since BHP first expressed an interest […]
The proposed regulation of third-party litigation funders has come under fire for failing to bring full transparency to the sector. A draft code of conduct seen by The Lawyer stipulates that the assets of members of the proposed Third Party Litigation Funders Association should exceed liabilities, and that the ultimate parent company be a regulated […]
Davenport Lyons’ client list gets the sex factor” />London media firm Davenport Lyons is bulking up its client list with porn companies as part of a push into copyright litigation. Dispute resolution partners David Gore and Roger Billins, along with IP partner Brian Miller, have set up a group to advise copyright owners on internet […]
With record deals, fitness videos and even a festival tent, Ministry of Sound has become more than just a nightclub. Tom Phillips meets head of legal Victoria Davies The glow sticks may have been consigned to the museum of irony, but the music and lifestyle are still as popular as ever. The house music scene […]
On the same day that Damian Green’s arrest made front page headlines, the newspapers were reporting the acquittal of one of their own – journalist Sally Murrer. Quoted in some articles that drew parallels between Green’s arrest and her own prosecution, Sally was in a unique position to comment and sympathise with the MP, having […]
Baker & McKenzie has won a mandate to help set up a $5bn (£3.4bn) eco-friendly private equity fund run by former Man Group chief executive Stanley Fink. Earth Capital Partners will manage three funds, investing in projects and companies with a sustainable focus, dealing with climate change, water shortages and energy security. Bakers London head […]