The Law Society’s former deputy head of communications Jonathan Goldsmith has succeeded Hamish Adamson as international director. Adamson, who retired on 1 November, had worked with the Law Society for over 30 years. His role as information officer to the UK delegation to the Council of Bar and Law Societies of the European Union (CCBE) […]
REBEL silk Ronald Thwaites will call on the Bar Council to abandon its proposed new complaints system and to stop further attacks on the Bar from “sniping” critics. In a paper the council has agreed to circulate this week, he opposes plans for compensating “distressed” clients or lay involvement in the system. The paper sets […]
THIRTY-TWO serving or retired judges were named as freemasons last week in a study of the latest handbook produced by the organisation’s leaders. They were identified in an analysis of the 1995 Masonic Year Book carried out by the Labour Research trade unionists’ group. The research was published as leading members of the legal profession […]
Freemasons have long been an easy target for people whose lives have failed to meet their expectations and who look to conspiracy theories to explain their failures. And until recently freemasons would not refute such claims. Chris Mullin, MP for Sunderland South, also subscribes to the theory and has invited members of the legal profession […]
Sports lawyer Nick Trainer has been given “substantial” damages by The Sun for a story which suggested he had embarrassed England soccer coach Terry Venables. The article centred on the application by Trainer, Venables’ solicitor and a partner with John Bowden, Trainer & Co, to become an agent for soccer players. David Price, who acted […]
Three lawyers have left prominent London firm Mishcon de Reya to join Goodman Derrick. Media and defamation solicitor Brian Hepworth moved over to the firm as a partner last week. He took with him Steven Shotnes as an associate and assistant Jason McCue. Hepworth’s clients include Central Television and Express Newspapers. Hepworth was named last […]
FIVE solicitors from Slaughter and May spearheaded an international investigation which traced nearly £6 million allegedly defrauded from the Salvation Army. Partner Richard Clark headed the London-based team which tracked the funds through 13 countries and also recovered £3 million in interest and costs. The operation involved 43 law firms worldwide, and in England 20 […]
The University of Sheffield wishes to point out in the HEFCE Quality Assessment Exercise it received an “excellent” rating for law, not “satisfactory” as printed in The Lawyer 24 October.
Biggart Baillie & Gifford advised Britannia Life in connection with changes in the corporate structure of Britannia Building Society
The Singapore office of Norton Rose has acted in the establishment of a US$250 million investment fund jointly set up by the country’s government and two major European groups. The fund will invest in unlisted companies focusing on China, Indonesia and member nations of the Association of South East Asian Nations.
As many lawyers will be aware, employment trends have changed dramatically in the past couple of years; job security is no longer guaranteed and employers are increasingly recruiting staff on a contract basis. The flexibility which the short-term market offers is highly attractive to employers, enabling them to deal more effectively with unpredictable workloads and […]
MASONIC lawyers have spoken publicly for the first time about the forthcoming investigation into their activities by the Commons’ Home Affairs Select Committee. Senior practitioners from all branches of the profession have told The Lawyer their reasons for becoming freemasons and dismissed suspicion that their organisation is a sinister secret society. Their comments provide an […]