A BELLIGERENT Law Society Council has cocked a snook at Martin Mears’ electoral mandate by voting through a quality accreditation scheme for firms despite his stiff opposition. Mears described the voluntary scheme variously as “banal, bureaucratic and absurd” and said it would be an expensive burden for smaller firms, the bedrock of his electoral support. […]
MEDIUM-SIZED UK firms and US practices are using £400,000 salaries as bargaining chips to entice top-flight UK solicitors on board. Legal recruitment advisers Taylor Root have placed advertisements in the legal press offering six-figure pay packets of up to £400,000 to lawyers specialising in sectors that include banking, private client, and telecomms. Legal sources claim […]
THE SOCIETY of Black Lawyers is embroiled in a legal dispute with a senior ex-staff member who was dismissed. Former administrator Sonia Grant is set to take the Brixton-based organisation to an industrial tribunal claiming unfair dismissal. Makbool Javaid, society chair, claims Grant was dismissed following a number of complaints about how the body’s headquarters […]
A CONDITIONAL fees insurance scheme has been launched by a private firm several weeks ahead of the Law Society’s own less wide-ranging insurance package. The premiums offered by Litigation Protection are significantly higher than the Accident Line Protect scheme to be launched by the society in mid-August. But insurance will be available through all solicitors […]
THE SERIOUS Fraud Office tried to cover up its “bungled” attempt to prosecute Roger Levitt after being misled by its leading counsel David Cocks QC on the details of a plea bargain, according to MPs grilling SFO director George Staple. Facing a second session with the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee, Staple came under […]
Elliott & Company has denied merger rumours linking it with City practice DJ Freeman. Senior partner Geoffrey Lord says the claims probably originated out of a social meeting between himself and Freeman’s head of insurance David Kendall, but he insists there is no truth behind them. But he says if Freemans, “a very highly thought-of […]
Stephen Sidkin takes a look at the CBI proposals for reforming EC competition law Last month saw the publication of another set of proposals by the Confederation of British Industry for the reform of the scope and administration of Article 85 EC Treaty. The CBI’s latest proposals, ‘Loosening the strait-jacket’, are based on the idea […]
Neasa MacErlean reports on the many strains which can develop when different professions are working together The highest profile multi-disciplinary practice in the UK is in deep trouble. Its continued existence has been in doubt for two years, and it loses most of its major cases – County NatWest, Guinness II and III, to name […]
Roger Pearson reports on a libel case where pre-emptive action helped reduce the damages awarded to a minimum For the Sikh community, here in the UK and overseas, a recent libel action represents one of the most important pieces of High Court litigation for many years. However, it is a case of significance not only […]
Neasa MacErlean reports on how accountants are moving towards legal services and asks whether they will be successful According to David Temporal, of management consultants Hod-gart Temporal, it is only a matter of time before several of the large accountancy firms decide to provide full-blooded legal services. “They will make significant steps in this direction […]
Solicitor Howard Culley has joined the management team at Premiership soccer club Sheffield Wednesday. Culley, managing partner of Irwin Mitchell, is a lifelong supporter of the club and has been its legal adviser for 10 years. David Richards, club chair, says: “Howard’s background enhances the board.” Culley is also governor of Sheffield Hallam University, secretary […]