The Court of Appeal has appointed its first batch of pupil barristers and trainee assistants to fill its controversial new “judicial assistant” posts. Of the six that started work last week only two are solicitors and only one, Graeme Johnston, is from a City firm, Herbert Smith. The other four are appointed from the Bar. […]
The Law Society and the Bar Council have offered their backing for amendments to the Police Bill tabled by the Labour Party which are designed to preserve legal privilege. The move follows a flurry of lobbying from the legal profession. The proposed amendment, drafted with help from the Law Society, states that surveillance of normal […]
A recent review of the Legal Practice Course (LPC) concluded that it required greater flexibility to meet the needs of different types of practice more closely. But will the inevitable changes to the LPC set out in the review and now approved by the Law Society meet the needs of all practices when recruiting suitable […]
A BARRISTER who accused her former set of racial discrimination has won leave to have her case heard by the Court of Appeal. Joy Okoye’s case against Staple Inn Chambers was struck out by circuit judge Quentin Edwards QC last September when he described her claims against the chambers variously as frivolous and out of […]
Judith Mayhew, Wilde Sapte’s director of training, has been elected unopposed to the leadership of the City Corporation, one of the world’s richest local authorities. Deputy chair of the corporation’s policy and resources committee for the past four years, she succeeds Michael Cassidy, senior partner of City law firm Maxwell Batley, as its chair. This […]
Penningtons has recruited Richard Price, a partner with Wedlake Saint for 27 years, to head the family law department at its Newbury office, as an associate. Price’s “cross-office team” consists of a senior assistant at Newbury and a junior assistant based in Basingstoke. There are plans to recruit one more assistant. Julian Chadwick, managing partner […]
Philip English, who was ordered to be detained at Her Majesty’s Pleasure after his conviction at Teesside Crown Court in February 1995 for murder, has won leave to challenge his conviction in the House of Lords. His appeal raises questions relating to the proof necessary for the conviction for murder of a secondary party to […]
The Law Society Council will this week vote on a proposal by former president Martin Mears to go to City solicitors rather than barristers when seeking legal opinion on policy options. During Mears’ term of office many of his policy initiatives – setting a minimum conveyancing fee, restricting entry to the profession – were scuppered […]
Long-standing Wolverhampton firms Manby & Steward and Woolley Beavon have merged. Two of Woolley Beavon’s three partners will join seven other partners at the merged firm which will retain the name Manby & Steward. Woolley Beavon’s third partner, John Robbins, who has recently retired, will act as a consultant. It is Manby & Steward’s first […]
A man from Strood in Kent, who was severely injured when a heavy gate fell on him at work, is suing his former employers. John Kindness, 49, received nine fractured ribs and further fractures to his collar bone, sternum, left ankle and other injuries in the accident on 7 August 1993, according to his writ. […]
With several well-known names from the financial sector appearing in court and hitting the headlines, this area of litigation is proving lucrative for lawyers on both sides of the profession. Inevitably, there is a certain amount of overlap with the commercial Bar. This list of barristers is not exhaustive, but it is based on the […]
Baker & McKenzie’s London office has poached Marwan Al-Turki from fellow US firm Mayer Brown & Platt to head its financial regulatory practice. Al-Turki joined Baker & Mckenzie in December from Mayer’s London office. He said that Baker & McKenzie’s European connections had enticed him away from his former firm. “The attraction is that Baker […]