Sole practitioner firms continue to grow despite increasingly difficult times for lawyers out on their own. The Law Society’s 1996 Statistical Report reveals that while in the past decade mergers and business growth have seen a 29 per cent rise in the number of firms with 11 or more partners, growth in the legal profession […]
Racial discrimination claims against employers are increasingly being settled by trade unions and Racial Equality Councils, according to the Commission for Racial Equality’s annual review. The number of people approaching the CRE for legal help in 1996 has not increased on the 1995 figure, indicating that other organisations are resolving discrimination complaints. Chris Myant of […]
In a double blow for Birmingham firm Edge & Ellison, five of its key Birmingham corporate lawyers, including high-flying Midlands partner Chris Rawstron, the head of its Birmingham corporate department, and partner Russell Orme, are defecting to Dibb Lupton Alsop while London corporate finance partner David Mandell has moved to SJ Berwin. Dibb Lupton Alsop’s […]
Courts in the UAE have implemented legislation barring the use of expatriate lawyers as advocates. The restrictions in the Lawyers Law, passed in 1991, only came into force on December 1996. The restrictions are aimed primarily at lawyers from other Arabic-speaking regions. “It is to encourage the development of domestic lawyers – which is good […]
Clifford Chance partner Tony Willis has been appointed chair of the newly formed Solicitors Pro Bono Group. Executive committee members are David Mackie of Allen & Overy, Nancy Nagle of Montague Harris, Paul Newdick of Clyde & Co, Andrew Phillips of Bates Wells & Braithwaite, Maggie Rae of Mishcon de Reya, Robin Smith of Dibb […]
Polish legal experts are continuing to forsake the state sector for the offices of foreign- owned law firms in Warsaw. Jacek Jonak, the former deputy chairman of the Polish Securities Commission, has been recruited by the Warsaw office of Allen & Overy as a senior associate specialising in capital markets. Jonak leaves public service, where […]
Lawyers and advice agencies are outraged at the lack of consultation over new court fees which come into force this week, saying they are “unjustifiably large” and will limit access to justice. The new Supreme Court, Family and County Court fees come into force tomorrow after limited consultation and no public debate. The speed at […]
A Rochester man who suffered brain damage in a freak accident while helping to lower a boat into the water at Hoo on the River Medway is suing for damages. Brian Metherell, 59, was helping to lower a 29-ton Hood Class yacht down a slipway in September 1993 when the accident happened. His writ says […]
Simmons & Simmons managing director Alun Morris gave a pep-talk to the firm’s banking department last week after it was hit by the departure of five lawyers, two of whom were lured away by US firms offering double current salaries. The departures of two partners and three assistants (one newly-qualified) is bound to damage morale […]
The battle between US and UK firms in the global project finance market is hotting up as US firm White & Case is named as top project finance law firm worldwide by number of deals for the period January to October 1996. Seven US and six UK firms are included in the annual table, which […]
Chubb Insurance Company of Europe has set up a new dedicated claims unit. The financial risk claims unit, based in Chubb’s London office, is headed by corporate lawyer Julian Enoizi. It handles claims such as professional indemnity, bankers’ blanket bond/fidelity and pension trustee liability clients.
Jury actions now pending in the High Court Queen’s Bench Division for this year include: Hauber v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis (not before 13 January); Aitken v Newspaper Publishing (not before 27 January); Livingstone v Donaldsons (not before 27 January).