I refer to the story published in The Lawyer on 11 October, on the alleged disappearance of a pamphlet published by Amnesty International. Firstly, we strongly object to the insinuation that this High Commission’s officials were behind the disappearance. Nothing could be more far fetched and baseless. Secondly, the very title of Amnesty’s pamphlet is […]
Speechly Bircham has been heavily involved in the merger between Arthur Andersen and much of BDO Binder Hamlyn. After the BDO Binder Hamlyn partnership ceased to practice on 1 October, the regional offices that were not part of the move entered new alliances with other firms. Speechlys advised seven of the regional firms. One links […]
CAMPAIGNING group Justice is demanding radical reforms to the workings of the criminal Court of Appeal. Changes to the leave stage, the role of the single judge and clarification of the grounds of appeal are among many proposals outlined in its report, ‘Remedying miscarriages of Justice’. Justice also sets out its blueprint for the new […]
EUROPEAN Commission vice-president Sir Leon Brittan QC will be the first speaker to address the newly formed Brussels Young Solicitors’ Group (YSG). Formed at an inaugural meeting last week, the group has already signed 50 members and more are expected to join. The group is being co-ordinated by an organising committee, including Taylor Joynson Garrett’s […]
Wirral law firm Percy Hughes & Roberts has completed a major refurbishment of its offices to coincide with its 75th anniversary celebrations. Former solicitor and celebrity Willie Rushton attended a reception to mark the occasion. Senior partner Peter Johnson says: “We wanted to take this opportunity of a landmark in our history to refurbish our […]
The Bar Council and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are aiming to reduce delays by co-operating under a set of service standards for the first time. The two bodies hope to ensure that prosecuting counsel receive papers early and act on them promptly, cutting down wasted time. In a joint statement, Barbara Mills QC, Director of […]
PLANS to allow courts to draw an adverse inference from an accused person’s silence will require five new cautions and much more work from lawyers, the Law Society claims. Roger Ede, secretary of the society’s criminal law committee, says the single caution proposed by the Government under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill is […]
Lawyers from the UK’s ethnic minorities will be offered advice and information at a conference to be held on 5 November. The African, Caribbean and Asian Lawyers’ Group is holding its annual conference at the Law Society. The event is open to students and lawyers and will cover subjects including articles, pupillage, outdoor clerking, paralegal […]
Norwich Union’s new head of legal will be Graham Jones who will take up the post in December. Jones, currently head of group legal services at Royal Insurance, has been appointed as group legal manager and secretary. Prior to his spell with Royal Insurance, which he joined at the start of 1993, he was senior […]
SHEFFIELD-based Irwin Mitchell is to strengthen its corporate practice by merging with local firm Kershaw Tudor. The firms say the merger has been under consideration for some time and has no bearing on the fact that Nabarro Nathanson is due to move into the city this month. Howard Culley, Irwin Mitchell’s managing partner, says an […]
NON-MEMBERS of the Law Society’s Accident Line panel of lawyers will effectively be barred from taking on conditional fee cases, it has emerged. Vital insurance cover, to be launched by the society when the new regulations have cleared their final parliamentary hurdle, will only be available to Accident Line members taking personal injury cases. New […]
LONDON firm Gordon Dadds is to make an application for costs on behalf of its client Tony Berry, former chairman of Blue Arrow, against the Department of Trade and Industry following the DTI’s decision to drop the disqualification proceedings last week. The DTI has said that each side should bear its own costs, says the […]