Reputable firms may be breaking the law on money laundering reports Mike Yuille Has the Law Society got it wrong when it comes to what part of a solicitor’s business is caught by the money laundering regulations? If it has, then many solicitors are already committing a criminal offence by not fully complying. Some lawyers […]
The House of Lords is about to rule on whether Home Secretary Michael Howard had acted unlawfully in bringing in the new flat-rate tariffs in place of the current Criminal Injury Compensation Scheme. Howard has advised cabinet colleagues that he will have to bring in emergency legislation if the appeal fails. The Court of Appeal […]
Fennell Betson reports Law firms could handle all their computing under one operating system on a single server – that was the claim made at a demonstration to 100 law firms at a recent London seminar. Unusually, the seminar involved three suppliers: Microsoft, Pilgrim Systems and Sequent Computers, combining to show that the operating software, […]
Standard fees in criminal cases are set to be extended to QCs. The fixed-fee system will also be broadened to include Crown Court cases lasting up to 10 days. The Lord Chancellor is currently in tough negotiations with the Law Society and the Bar Council and new regulations are expected to be announced in the […]
Former McKenna & Co solicitor Eileen Herlihy is due to claim unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination at an industrial tribunal hearing scheduled for this week. The case is listed to be heard at the Whittington House tribunal court in London. McKenna & Co says it is vigorously contesting the case and is ready to go […]
Supplier ACE has clinched a number of chambers orders from sets in London. Enterprise Chambers at 9 Old Square in Lincoln’s Inn, has installed an Infinity system there and at its Leeds premises. In the Temple, the chambers of Lord Irvine of Lairg QC at 11 King’s Bench Walk took an eight-screen system replacing an […]
THREE partners are among the casualties of a job cutting programme announced by City firm Boodle Hatfield. The step was taken after a vote among its equity partners – one of whom is a victim of the job losses. But managing Partner Edward Sutherland insists the departure of the three partners, along with six other […]
GLOUCESTER firm Davies and Partners opens the area’s first commercial dispute resolution centre this month. The centre will be staffed by an in-house team of two case administrators, four mediators and two arbitrators. And the practice believes the one-stop shop service it intends to provide for clients will be unique. Partner Nigel Tillot, charged with […]
The Solicitors Benevolent Association will hold a champagne reception and dinner to celebrate the appointment of Christopher Walford, of Allen & Overy, as Lord Mayor. Walford is the first solicitor to hold the post in more than 40 years. The Primrose Party will be held at the Egyptian Room, Mansion House, on Tuesday 7 March. […]
A NEW survey carried out by the Trainee Solicitors’ Group shows job security, student debt and quality of training are the three issues most prominent in the minds of young lawyers. Findings of the study, to be released at the TSG annual conference next month, show law students are averaging debts of up to u10,000 […]
THE news that the European Court may be about to rule that VAT is irrecoverable on legal and other professional fees for some City transactions shows how blind the Government really is to national interest when there is revenue to be raised. Having negotiated the UK out of all the socially “cost-crippling” aspects at Maastricht […]
As usual, Scotland has been used as an experimental station for Government schemes. Thus solicitor advocates are further advanced north of the border. So advanced that they now have their own nickname – “adsols”. Some adsols have not yet completed the necessary training. Those that have are known as “complete adsols” – especially at the […]