Project finance transactions in Europe in the energy field will be heavily influenced by the signing of the Energy Charter Treaty in December 1994. The treaty is an exciting and ambitious development in global energy policy arising from three years of negotiations between 50 countries. It will come into force as soon as 30 contracting […]
Before getting too excited about the opportunities for project finance that the privatisation of British Rail’s passenger services is likely to bring, it is worth looking at the nature of the beast that is taking shape. A successful bidder for a franchise to operate a passenger service will acquire a company (a train operating company […]
Joe Logan says the premium bond is a good bet despite not paying interest At first sight premium bonds may not appear to be an obvious tax-free savings scheme. But it is important to remember that with premium bonds capital is not at stake and will be repaid whenever wished. And all premium bond prizes […]
SCOTTISH solicitor Iain Taylor has been appointed chair of the British Law Association for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (Bella). Taylor, a partner at Glasgow firm Bishop and Robertson Chalmers, succeeds Michael Fysh QC who stepped down last year because of increasing work commitments at his 8 New Square chambers. Established in 1992, the organisation aims […]
Two Irish criminal practitioners are taking part in a course on the right of silence run by the chambers of Rock Tansey QC. PJ Barra McGrory and Seamus Treacy will be offering solicitors practical advice on how to handle sections 34-37 of the new Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. The course is being staged […]
EXAMPLES of unfair discrimination in the judicial appointments system are being considered by Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee. The committee will take evidence from individuals and groups representing women and ethnic minorities. Early evidence has come from Martin Bowley QC, a leading criminal barrister and immediate past treasurer of the Bar Council. Bowley, a campaigner […]
Richard Newell finds that competition is hotting up among banks and building societies for the offshore deposits market The market for offshore deposits has become much more competitive in the past two years. There is a reasonable amount of choice of gross-paying deposit accounts and as a recent survey showed, for those depositing u100,000 or […]
LONDON construction firm Freedmans has launched a joint venture law firm with Northern practice Aaron & Partners. Opened this month, the new firm, Aaron Freedmans, includes 17 partners and operates from the existing offices of both practices. Aaron & Partners’ Julian Aaron has been named senior partner, while Freedmans’ Christopher Bourgeois and Aaron & Partners’ […]
ALLEN & Overy partner Stephen Denyer has moved from his London base to head the firm’s Central and Eastern European practice in Warsaw. Denyer, who has controlled the practice from the UK for the past five years, officially takes over in Poland next month. Graham Donnell is returning from Warsaw to rejoin the London corporate […]
Graham Durnford Ford, the struck-off solicitor facing Serious Fraud Office charges of theft, will be represented by John Harding of Kingsley Napley after being awarded legal aid. It was understood that Ford would defend himself after dismissing his previous solicitors Magrath & Co several months ago. The trial of Ford and co-defendant William Digby Bew […]
Advisers in law firms and product providers will be looking anxiously at the loan trust provisions in the Finance Bill due this month. Loan-based schemes used for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes have virtually disappeared from the market following Budget proposals appearing to make trustees subject to income tax on the loan amount. Paul Hartford, of […]
TRAINEE recruitment is improving but more paralegals are also being taken on by large firms in an effort to keep costs down, Clifford Chance recruitment partner Chris Perrin says. Perrin, a director of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), says trainee numbers have risen in recent months as firms attract more work, but it is […]