Conflict between the Government and the courts continues unabated with the latest in a string of rulings overturning the decisions of ministers coming on 21 June. The controversial Court of Appeal ruling centred on rules introduced in February by Social Security Secretary Peter Lilley which banned payment of benefits to those seeking asylum in the […]
Former fraud squad detective Rowan Bosworth Davies, now a senior consultant with Titmuss Sainer Dechert, is to host a three-day conference on financial crime. Executives from some of UK’s largest companies are being invited to attend the gathering where Bosworth Davies will explain how fraud works and what can be done to combat the problem. […]
American lawyers may cast an envious eye over the legal traditions of the UK, but they would not be so keen on the country’s stricter laws on advertising. Ever since the Supreme Court lifted the ban on lawyer advertisements in 1977, US law’s honeymoon with advertising has shown no signs of ending and the American […]
LORD Woolf has told devisers of a strictly time-tabled trial, in which barristers were subject to a “guillotine”, that it is likely to be cited in his forthcoming proposals to speed up justice. The unusual trial at the Official Referee’s Divisions of the High Court began in November last year when Judge Bowsher QC had […]
Leeds firm McCormicks has accepted an invitation to join an anti-counterfeiting group. The group operates as a forum for discussion and as a pressure group on matters relating to counterfeiting. Members include law firms, trading standards officers and companies with a strong interest in brand issues. Clifford Chance, Eversheds, Freshfields, BP, Cartier and Sony are […]
The Legal Aid Board has acknowledged that the franchising of legal aid is too bureaucratic and needs reform. Speaking at the Legal Action Group conference on legal aid franchising last week, Sir Tim Chessells, chair of the LAB, admitted the current system was imperfect and outlined the board’s plans. He acknowledged criticism that the system […]
The owners of industrial units in Croydon which were destroyed in a £1 million blaze have launched a High Court damages claim. Multibright is suing John Mason International, of Liverpool. It claims the September 1993 fire started in two skips filled with crates and pallets which were the responsibility of John Mason. Writ was issued […]
A MANCHESTER firm whose senior partner is seeking election to the Law Society Council on a pro Martin Mears ticket has been forced to pay compensation to a former secretary following the threat of winding up proceedings. Joan Durkin, of Bolton, won her claim of constructive dismissal against her former firm Latimer Lee, of Prestwich, […]
Alison Laferla reports Reading solicitors Rowberry Morris says the benefits of IT are fully appreciated by clients. Richard Leathem, head of litigation, has used the email system Link to send client instructions to chambers in London and received a fully documented reply in 18 minutes. He said the process could take weeks using the postal […]
Reviewing Lord Chancellor’s appointment of a judge R v Lord Chancellor, ex parte Maxwell (1996). DC (Henry LJ and Sachs J) 19/6/96. Summary: Challenging by judicial review the Lord Chancellor’s refusal to request the trial judge who had presided over the trial of earlier counts in a severed indictment to preside over the trial of […]
The appointment of judges will remain unfair and secretive if the recommendations of the Conservative dominated Home Affairs Committee are followed. So say women and black lawyers after the publication of a Home Affairs Committee report which recommends that judges should continue to be appointed by secret soundings of senior barristers. The committee also says […]
Middle East law firm Fox & Gibbons has sent London partner Christopher Dixon to Istanbul to help establish its first Turkish office. The firm said in the Turkish press that Dixon would be resident partner but now says Dixon, who has completed two stints at the firm’s Dubai office, has “gone out for a period […]