Working solution
Current changes to Chinese employment law look set to improve relationships between workers and their bosses – although the inevitable bones of contention remain. Andreas Lauffs and Jeffery Wilson report
Top Swiss firm in five-partner expulsion row
One of Switzerland’s largest firms, Pestalozzi Lachenal Patry, is locked in a dispute with a member of the group of five partners expelled last year over strategic and management differences. Tax partner Marcus Desax, now at Swiss rival Walder Wyss & Partners, initiated conciliation proceedings before the Zurich Bar Association on 9 January, claiming the […]
Citibank denies largest fraud in Swiss history
Citibank has instructed one of Switzerland’s best-known law firms to defend it in what has been dubbed the biggest alleged fraud in Swiss private banking history. Niederer Kraft & Frey will represent the bank later this year against a reclusive German millionaire who is suing for damages after attempts to reach a settlement failed. Peter […]
Home, Reit home
With housing portfolios all but excluded from German Reits legislation, the market could lose out on outside investment. Florian Schultz and Herbert Harrer report. Germany’s grand coalition has finally approved the long-awaited draft of the German Real Estate Investment Trusts (G-Reits) law. The new law is scheduled to come into force on 1 January 2007. […]
Equality control
The German Equal Treatment Act, champion of equal rights for all, looks set to send ripples through the EU, says Michael Magotsch. On 18 August 2006, the German Equal Treatment Act came into force. The aim of the act is to make discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, gender, religion and belief, disability, age or […]
South Korea opens door to outside firms – but only ajar
South Korea is on the verge of opening its legal services market as foreign law firms look set to open offices there as early as 2008. Last week (21 November) the South Korea Ministry of Justice published its draft Foreign Legal Consultant’s Bill. If passed foreign law firms could, for the first time, be allowed […]
South Korea set for foreign law firm revolution
South Korea is to publish a draft Foreign Legal Consultant’s Bill this week, which will allow foreign law firms to open in the country for the first time by mid-2008. The South Korean Ministry of Justice is about to publish a draft bill that singles out the legal market for liberalisation. If the bill is […]
Barnacle billing
Newcastle’s shipbuilding days may be a thing of the past, but the region’s emergence as a centre of excellence for maritime insurance promises a bright future. Eamon Moloney reports The industrial and commercial foundations of the North East were built on shipbuilding and the coal trade. Both of these industries are long dead, but for […]
Highway to Hull
Congestion and other problems in the South East have seen more companies basing their operations in Yorkshire and Humberside as the region becomes a focal point for logistics expertise. Dominic Ward reports While globalisation has made logistics of crucial importance to the UK economy, congestion in the South East has meant that Yorkshire and the […]
Pay checks
Money remittance is seen as a way of financing terrorism. But the Spanish government is introducing stringent measures to counter the problem. By José Antonio Bonilla As a consequence of the increased immigration flow into Spain, the money-remittance business has flourished in recent years. According to the Bank of Spain’s official data, O4.23bn (£2.87bn) was […]
Israel-Lebanon conflict sparks litigation quagmire
London lawyers are tied up dealing with litigation arising from the 34-day war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, over a month after fighting ended. The conflict produced a morass of trade and shipping disputes, mainly over the delays caused to cargo after ships were blockaded and prevented from reaching their Middle Eastern […]
Switzerland
Switzerland is traditionally viewed as an international hub for private banking. More than a third of worldwide private assets are estimated to be managed out of Swiss banks. Although the country’s appeal as a haven for wealthy individuals has been eroded in recent years as a reuslt of international pressure to combat money laundering, this […]