NO win no fee critics may soon be joined by Take That singer Gary Barlow who is threatened with legal action by three German nationals who allege assault. The mother, her daughter and a family friend have hired Manchester firm Betesh Fox & Co on a conditional fee basis to launch a damages claim against […]
One of the busiest and most high-profile lawyers in the game is Manchester United’s Maurice Watkins. A partner in Manchester firm James Chapman & Co, Watkins became solicitor for the Reds 19 years ago, bringing his commercial and professional indemnity know-how. A hectic season has seen him handle the court and disciplinary hearings for Eric […]
‘TOP UK firms have reported healthy numbers of qualifying solicitors being retained after their articles this September. A survey of the country’s top 10 firms shows a strong level of retention among qualifying solicitors, indicating an increased workload and improved confidence among major practitioners. Firms contacted report that an average of only two trainees per […]
UK lawyers working in the international marketplace should not consider clients stupid because they are foreign, warned Warner Cranston partner Ian Fagelson. Speaking at a joint US/UK forum in Chicago, London-based Fagelson told delegates that if they wanted to be successful on the international legal scene they had to pay attention to basics such as […]
A NOTTINGHAM firm embroiled in a names-for-cash marketing controversy says lawyers from across the country are asking for more details of a venture the Law Society may now ban. Nelsons is paying Gateshead database marketing company Legal Marketing Direct for a list of 500 accident victims who expressed an interest in taking legal action. Under […]
THE FORMER partners of a now defunct London libel practice have initiated an urgent investigation after stacks of the firm’s confidential documents ended up in a building skip. The files were dumped among the rubbish as builders gutted the old Soho Square office of Wright Webb Syrett and were discovered and read by drinkers at […]
DESPITE an increase in the number of ethnic minority and female lawyers holding official posts in the American Bar Association the groups remain under-represented in elected positions and are not involved in the leadership of many of the ABA’s top units. A survey produced by the association’s commission on opportunities for minorities in the profession […]
MICHAEL Howard has signalled a clamp down on football “hooligans” which could see an extension of court powers to prevent troublemakers from travelling abroad. The Home Secretary has earmarked the existing legislation designed to prevent violence abroad for particular scrutiny as part of a general review of the problem of crowd violence. “I am looking […]
A FOREIGN Office grant of £26,000 will unite law students from East and West Europe at an international conference in Nottingham next month. The UK branch of the European Law Students Association is staging the organisation’s 28th International Council Meeting from 9 to 16 September. The conference will be the first attended by students from […]
Eversheds has set up a national licensing group to co-ordinate its liquor, gaming and public entertainment licensing work. The firm has licensing lawyers in 12 offices scattered around the country. “The national group will enable us to pool our national and regional expertise for the benefit of clients,” said Bristol-based licensing specialist Jeremy Phillips.
Penningtons partner Julian Hamilton Barns was in Beijing this weekend to talk to lawyers attending the 14th Biennial Law Asia Conference. He was due to promote London’s strength as a financial centre and advise on the benefits of a UK Stock Exchange launch for Chinese companies. In May Penningtons acted for the listing of the […]
A police officer has launched a £50,000 claim against the Metropolitan Police. Michael Chitty, of Redhill, Surrey, has issued a writ claiming damages for personal injuries and losses he said he suffered because of psychiatric affects resulting from the stress of his police duties between 1982 and 1992. He accuses the police of negligence and […]