EDUCATION negligence cases may become as prolific as medical negligence claims, according to Teacher Stern Selby partner Jack Rabinowicz. Rabinowicz, an education law specialist at the London firm, has 50 education cases on his books, most of which followed a ruling made by the House of Lords which opened Local Educational Authorities (LEAs) to the […]
THE LAW Society has earned itself a rebuke for “pre-empting” by several days the Lord Chancellor’s announcement of new legal aid rates for law firms. Officials at the Lord Chancellor’s Department were caught off guard last week when the Law Society announced the results of the latest legal aid pay negotiations several days early. Lord […]
North east law firm Wilkinson Maughan has been appointed legal adviser to the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Six local firms, which have not been named, tendered for the work. The 24-partner firm, based in Newcastle, also has an office in the City. Wilkinson Maughan partner Michael Spriggs said: “We are delighted by the appointment.”
CITY firm Denton Hall is to introduce a profit-related bonus scheme for senior solicitors not yet at partnership level. The bonus pool is to be taken from the performance of the firm against its profit targets and then adjusted to each of the 40 senior solicitors according to their own performance. The initiative is part […]
London firm Sharp Pritchard was appointed main contractor for two contracts to carry out conveyancing and contract formation work for Westminster City Council, both lasting for five years. Ipswich-based Gotelee & Goldsmith was appointed as reserve contractor. Sharpe Pritchard, which acts for several local authorities, currently holds Westminster’s contract for contract formation work and has […]
CRIMINAL lawyers have come out in support of Lord Chief Justice Taylor after his attack on the Home Office’s “barrage” of criminal justice legislation. Anthony Burton, senior partner at London-based Simon Muirhead Burton, mirrored Lord Taylor’s sentiments when he said: “We reject the knee- jerk piecemeal draconian changes brought about by a party political panic.” […]
The Secretary of state for social security has appointed Maples Teesdale to provide property related legal services for the DSS portfolio in south east England from 1 April. The term of the contract is three years and may be extended to five years without further tender.
Taylor Joynson Garrett (TJG) is profiting from the recent merger of two US firms. Graham & James merged with Seattle-based firm Riddell Williams Bullitt & Walkinshaw in January. Riddell Williams will become Graham & James’ Pacific northwest office, making Graham & James the first major firm to provide offices from Los Angeles to Seattle and […]
A TASK Force of young solicitors and freelance practitioners has launched a model clause in a bid to stop partners suing their staff for negligence. The clause includes an indemnity by the employer against all liabilities and claims which might be made against a member of staff and pledges the firm will not attempt to […]
PROMINENT US mediator David Shapiro has moved to the UK to lead a new European mediation and dispute resolution practice based in London. The European office of US-based JAMS/Endispute, JAMS Endispute Europe, opened last week in the offices of City firm SJ Berwin & Co. JAMS stands for the Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services, which […]
A major conference at the end of this will month begin with a murder and end with a debate on the state of legal education. The Association of Law Teachers is kicking off its 31st annual conference with a pre-conference social event – a murder mystery dinner called Murder on the Ocean – at the […]
CITY law firm Stephenson Harwood has appointed a new chief executive for the first time in seven years. John Pike, a partner at Stephenson Harwood since 1985, will be taking over from William Corbett on 1 May. Corbett will return to practising tax law full time. Pike joined the firm in 1983 and has specialised […]