CORPORATIONS should face legal action for manslaughter, says a report which aims to prevent cases like the King’s Cross fire and Piper Alpha disaster after which no prosecutions were brought. The Law Commission says inquiries into recent disasters found corporate bodies seriously at fault but no successful prosecutions for manslaughter were brought against them. Currently, […]
Denton Hall’s introduction of a profit-related bonus scheme for senior solicitors not at partnership level is one which will capture the attention of all assistant solicitors. In effect, it is akin to a salaried partnership package with less liability. There is no doubt that firms have to come up with some sort of package to […]
Richard William Hill, admitted 1979, practised as Hill & Co, London SW17, struck off. Allegations substantiated he used client funds for his own purposes and those of other clients, drew client money contrary to accounting rules, and failed to keep properly written accounts. Hill previously appeared before tribunal in August 1984 and April 1995 when […]
CANADIAN top 10 law firm Goodman Phillips & Vineberg has won two contracts on behalf of foreign governments in two months. The Republic of Chile recently asked the firm to assist in drafting a new bilateral free trade agreement with the government of Canada. This follows Goodman Phillips winning a contract in January to draft […]
BARRISTERS will have the chance to do more pre-trial preparation work if new rules allowing greater contact with witnesses in the civil field are approved. The Bar Council is to consider the proposed rule change, which will allow counsel to draw up proofs of evidence with witnesses, at its meeting on Saturday. The proposals are […]
COOPERS & Lybrand has hired ex-Theodore Goddard partner Robin Preston to look at developing its legal capability. However, it has denied rumours that it is in talks or has had talks with the City practice about a possible merger. A spokesman from the accountancy firm said there was “absolutely no truth” in the merger rumours […]
Israel, like Central and Eastern Europe, South Africa and certain Far Eastern countries such as Vietnam, is now well recognised by UK solicitors as an emerging market. The country is becoming the financial and technological centre of the Middle East and consequently there is enormous potential for UK lawyers to supply complex legal advice. But […]
DECISIONS on charges for driving offences should be easier after guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service. The new guidance, called a charging standard, will help police and prosecutors make the right choice on multi-charge driving offences. Before a case can proceed, the guidance requires a prosecutor to be satisfied there is sufficient evidence for […]
The market for Australian legal services in London has been facing up to a period of structural change, with a gradual reduction in the overall volume of Australian work in the city. This reduction has prompted Australian firms to scale back the size of their London branches and has also resulted in a change in […]
A LAW Society council member who described the handling of harassment allegations against former vice-president John Young as “deplorable” has been forced to make a climbdown. Former president Mark Sheldon secured the retraction from his council colleague John Franks during a debate last Thursday on the measures needed to stamp out harassment in the profession. […]
City firm Denton Hall’s Hong Kong office has a new partner heading its project finance practice – Richard Lawrence. Lawrence, a US attorney, will also be responsible for the Hong Kong branch of the firm’s China practice. He previously worked in Hong Kong with San Francisco-based practice Morrison & Foerster after experience in Hong Kong […]
It should have come as no surprise that The Lawyer’s 1995 award for financial services law firm of the year was won by a Scottish firm, Murray Beith Murray, of Edinburgh. One of the principal criteria on which the judges’ decision was made was that financial services should be fully integrated with the firm’s legal […]