Penny Christie is a litigation partner at Bird & Bird. One of the stated objectives of the rule on exchange of witness statements (RSC Order 38 Rule 2A) is “the avoidance of a trial”, and as a procedural device to speed up compromise settlements, it works well. Whether it helps with the fair and open […]
John Malpas reports Ronald Walker QC and Vincent Moran, of 12 Kings Bench Walk, held a briefing on valuer’s liability last week. They were joined on the platform by Helen Dudley, of Cameron Markby Hewitt.
John Peter Mansfield, litigation clerk with Charles Smith & Co, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, banned from working for any further solicitors without written consent of the Law Society. Allegations substantiated he was given a suspended nine-month prison sentence and ordered to pay £330 costs after conviction at Luton Crown Court in July 1995 of procuring execution of […]
Alison Laferlia reports THE Data Protection Registrar has called for a thorough review of the UK Data Protection Act in the light of a recent EU data protection directive. The call came in the registrar’s annual report, which also touched on the impact of new technologies on privacy. Presenting the report to Parliament, the registrar, […]
Barbara Richards, 23, a supermarket sales assistant who injured her back when she fell while working at the Poundstretcher store in Tonbridge is suing the company. The accident happened in March 1993 as she walked on a concrete access ramp at the back of the store. She claims that as a result of the injury […]
Alison Laferla reports ONE of the UK’s leading IT legal advisers has warned firms their computer systems may fail if they do not adapt their software to handle dates with the year 2000 in them. Robert Bond, head of the IT and media law department at city firm Hobson Audley Hopkins & Wood, has called […]
ASPIRING barrister Khaled Nasir has been plucked from the Bar by law firm S J Berwin & Co. Nasir, 27, is the third barrister to have been recruited by the firm’s growing advocacy practice. He had been squatting at 2-3 Gray’s Inn Square, the chambers headed by Anthony Scrivener QC. Richard Slowe, head of the […]
Alison Laferla reports A survey has revealed that video conferencing is probably the ideal communication method for today’s lawyers. The research, carried out by Truemist, organiser of the Solicitors’ and Legal Office Exhibition, showed lawyers valued phone conversations and face-to-face contact above other methods. Of the 1,089 respondents, 55 per cent used the phone as […]
Nabarro Nathanson has taken advantage of the departure of its marketing director, Kevin Wheeler, to announce a “reappraisal” of its marketing strategy. After two years developing the marketing strategy at Nabarros, Wheeler is leaving to embark on a project at venture capital firm Sinven. Since his appointment at Nabarros, Wheeler has led a number of […]
Rotherham firm Oxley & Coward has recruited Tim Toomey to head the litigation department as part of its drive to become one of the area’s major law firms. Toomey, who joins from Sheffield firm Taylor & Emmett, previously spent six years at Eversheds. As a partner he intends a considerable expansion of his department. He […]
Hammond Suddards is plugging the gap left by February’s defection of Andrew Knight to Manches & Co by recruiting City high-flyer Gwen Griffiths, who joins from Stephenson Harwood. Griffiths will take on Knight’s former role as head of banking and will work closely with other City lawyers recruited recently by Hammonds. They include derivatives specialist […]
A LEADING City solicitor-advocate has called for the setting up of pupillage-style, in-house advocacy training schemes to make it easier for solicitors to win rights of audience. Richard Slowe, head of SJ Berwin’s advocacy practice, is drawing up plans to apply for the rules governing the awarding of higher court advocacy rights for solicitors to […]