Scottish law firm Tods Murray WS is expanding by moving to adjacent offices in Edinburgh’s Queen Street. The move now brings the firm’s office space to almost 24,000 sq ft, comprising four interconnecting buildings. Charles Abram, chair of the firm’s managing board, says the move will put the entire firm under one roof.
BANKRUPTCY proceedings against the 11 equity partners of collapsed Liverpool firm Deacon Goldrein Green, were adjourned last week until 17 January. Proceedings were issued by practice loans business NSW and supported by Frizzells Banking Services. The hearing of a winding up petition against the firm, also issued by NWS and Frizzells, was also adjourned to […]
THE BAR aims to promote a “new partnership” with solicitors, introduce a university-style pupillage clearing house, and encourage use of modern management techniques during the course of next year. It also hopes to put in place a “speedy and affordable” complaints procedure, modelled on the Solicitors Complaints Bureau, by 1996. Peter Goldsmith QC, the Bar […]
EDWARD Lewis partner Michael Breen has successfully negotiated a 1995 racing contract for Formula One driver Damon Hill. Hill signed a one-year deal with his current team, Williams Grand Prix Engineering, after Breen started negotiations during a flying visit to the Australian Grand Prix last month. Breen, who has represented Hill since his days as […]
As the party season approaches, computer lawyers have been rehearsing their chat-up lines in front of the mirror and practising their dance routines. But this year we sad people have something new to talk about at Christmas parties – the High Court’s decision in St Albans City and District Council v ICL on the limitation […]
FORMER head of legal Martyn McCarthy has set up his own consultancy following the outsourcing of the legal team at Blackhorse Financial Services. The aim is to offer quality and management advice to private practice firms as well as carrying out legal work for companies. But McCarthy says that there has been resistance from some […]
Civil Court reformer Lord Woolf has reached the London leg of his nationwide seminar programme. Four regional seminars which cover his proposals for the future of civil litigation were well attended. The final two seminars will be on 27 January (on access to justice for individual litigants) and 3 February (on commercial litigation). They will […]
The London branch of the Trainee Solicitors’ Group has met with Young Solicitors’ Group chair Andy Unger to discuss quality of life in the legal profession. The meeting, held at Wilde Sapte’s new Fleet Place offices earlier this month, included input on control over hours, more flexible approaches for fee-earners, use of technology, and team […]
IN-HOUSE army lawyer Lt Col Stephen Vowles has been successful in his bid for rights of audience. The Law Society has given the army officer a block exemption from the society’s training programme and exam on the strength of his considerable court martial experience. Vowles, who last year prosecuted a murder case in Germany, is […]
THE NUMBER of trainees entering high street practices is diminishing as student debt forces graduates to look to City firms for financial support during the year of their Legal Practice Course (LPC). And the College of Law warns the reduction in high street trainee numbers may mean members of the public will find it increasingly […]
A joint scheme organised between the Liverpool Law Society and voluntary organisation Access to Law has won the Law Society’s first Equal Opportunities Award. The award, which was co-sponsored by The Times, was set up this year to promote good equal opportunities in firms, local law societies and other organisations which employ solicitors. The winning […]
THE TRAINEE Solicitors’ Group is supporting a proposal to hold admission ceremonies in regional centres as well as at Chancery Lane. The proposal – first raised by Law Society vice-president John Young – has recently been researched by the society. Its head of legal education Nick Saunders says a “prototype ceremony” will be held in […]