The Lord Chancellor defended the recent increases in civil court fees last week, saying that continued subsidy of the courts would “distort choices” when looking at different ways of resolving disputes. In a speech on the future of civil justice, made to guests of the Consumers Association, Lord Mackay said: “I believe that if the […]
When lawyers representing murder suspect Tracie Andrews wanted to find new witnesses for their case they called a press conference. Although unusual, the move is part of a noticeable trend. Instead of remaining aloof from the media frenzy surrounding high-profile trials, defence solicitors nowadays join the fray. Mark Stephens, of Stephens Innocent, is well-known for […]
The Big Six accountancy firms are beginning to actively recruit young graduate lawyers in anticipation of a regulation change that will allow multi-disciplinary partnerships. Trainee Solicitors Group education officer Nikki Pope said there was no statistical information yet available, but strong anecdotal evidence suggested some of the brightest students were being lured to accountancy firms. […]
The Solicitors’ Family Law Association is holding its first ever contested election for vice-chair. The candidates are Grant Howell, partner at Charles Russell and chairman of the SFLA training committee, and Rosemary Carter, partner at Cambridge firm Miller & Co and chair of the SFLA mediation committee. Current chair Nigel Shepherd said this was the […]
Berrymans and Lace Mawer have merged to create a national defence insurance law firm, to be called Berrymans Lace Mawer. With 250 fee earners, 80 of them partners, it is by far the largest insurance law firm in the country, and one of the 30 largest law firms overall. The motivation to create the practice […]
Mishcon de Reya’s biggest biller, banking partner Stephen Davis, is to come out of the firm’s equity along with commercial partner David Harvey. Anthony Julius, a Mishcons senior partner, said the two will have consultancy status at the firm. Davis, who is said to bill up to £1.5m a year, is to work two-and-a-half days […]
A former partner in short-lived City firm Malkin Janners has failed in the Court of Appeal with his claim for damages against 10 of his previous partners, seven years after the firm fell apart. However, Robert Hurst has not ruled out taking the case to the House of Lords, if his current attempts at negotiations […]
The pending Chancery Division battle between Johnny Rossall, one-time member of Gary Glitter’s original Glitter Band, and his former colleagues who still run the group, ended in the High Court. Rossall appeared before Mr Justice Jacob on 6 February 1997 and, after admitting he had breached a 1984 ban on him using the word ‘glitter’ […]
The director of the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors, Peter Ross, has promised that the OSS will give full consideration to the British Legal Association’s complaint about the perceived mishandling of the Regis computer project. The complaint refers to solicitor members of the Law Society’s management board from January 1995 onwards. Ross said: “The […]
With the expansion in commercial chancery work, and the heavy hitters from the commercial Bar appearing against the chancery heavyweights, the commercial chancery counsel may be gaining a foothold in both camps. At 3-4 South Square, there is more of an emphasis on liquidation and insolvency work: Michael Crystal QC has his fans as does […]
The Dutch Bar has staved off preliminary attempts by Big Six accountancy firms Arthur Andersen & Co and Price Waterhouse to establish multi-disciplinary practices in the Netherlands. The district court of Amsterdam found that the existing ban on fully merged accountancy and law practices “is not excessive” and does not conflict with European legislation on […]
City firm Denton Hall has beaten three other practices to go into bat as lawyer for the 1999 Cricket World Cup in England. Dentons, which also recently gained work on the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and for the Scottish Rugby Union, will be involved in all aspects of the cricket World Cup, ranging from […]