PRIVATE practice lawyers, lured by the myth of shorter hours in-house, were warned that “sunlight is something of a luxury” in the banking sector. A panel of four employed banking lawyers, speaking at a careers seminar, confirmed that drive, stamina and commitment were just as important when working in-house. Lawyers from industry had their say, […]
Norfolk Law firm Leathes Prior has opened an additional office in Norwich. The office will house the practice’s personal injury and matrimonial departments and will be run by partners Tim Cary, Rosalind Thickett and Ian Denning. Partner Jonathon Chad says the move was caused by an enlargement of the practice in two years. “We have […]
CITY law firm Simmons & Simmons has been dropped as principal legal adviser to Hull-based Cattle’s (Holdings). The financial services group has replaced the top 10 firm with Leeds commercial practice Walker Morris. Patrick Doherty, head of the company’s legal department, declines to comment on the appointment but it is understood that cost and accessibility […]
John Browne reports
London firm Lane & Partners has spent £150,000 on a new case and practice management system. The 12-partner practice installed an Arista system from IT suppliers Axxia Systems after a beauty parade which included Miles 33 and Pilgrim. Director of finance Alastair Mitchell said the firm had used a Miles 33 system for the previous […]
Legal recruitment consultants Daniels Bates has joined forces with Harrison Willis to form a new company, Daniels Bates Legal. The merger means the new company will have offices in London, Guildford, Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds and Manchester. “Many of our clients are developing a countrywide presence either through setting up regional offices or by joining […]
ICI’s retiring Barry O’Meara is to act as a consultant to City firm Rowe & Mawe. O’Meara, deputy group solicitor, whose career in the group legal department spans a period of some 30 years, will not be replaced. ICI’s group solicitor, Victor White, says Bob Peters was appointed as joint deputy about two years ago […]
THE LAW Society is this week expected to call for “substantial modifications” to the Legal Aid Board’s (LAB) reforms of the green form system. Measures to help combat fraud were officially backed by Lord Chancellor Lord Mackay last week. But the society’s courts and legal services committee will demand that changes are made to the […]
Fennell Betson and Michael Kavanagh report The Solicitors for Financial Advice (Sifa) has formally launched its Sifa network for firms interested in developing financial services. “There has been considerable interest in the concept,” says Sifa’s Ian Muirhead. But he does not expect the network to start until after a meeting of the advisory firms panel […]
THREE construction lawyers from Turner Kenneth Brown are defecting to City firm Taylor Joynson Garrett. The three include partners Peter Smith and Giles Dixon, TKB’s construction department head, who join TJG as partners in January. An assistant is also leaving. TJG managing partner Richard Pertwee says: “They bring entirely complementary contacts and experience to our […]
CITY firm Norton Rose faces a u7.5 million High Court claim after the failure of a scheme for industrial development in enterprise zones. It is being sued by the Midland Bank who are trustees for around 2,700 investors in the scheme. A writ issued on behalf of the bank by Pinsent & Co accuses the […]
The Law Society’s Commerce & Industry Group for the North West is staging a meeting for in-house lawyers. Glen James and Michael Pescod, from Slaughter and May, will speak on ‘Law applicable to difficult company meetings’ on 30 November. At the next meeting on 25 January 1995, Janet Gaymer, of Simmons & Simmons, will speak […]