Reading Mary Heaney’s piece in The Lawyer 27 September 1994, took my mind back 30 years to a time when, as a schoolboy, I was avidly studying ‘Wisden’ and other works on cricket and taking an interest in all the names which appeared, including those of batsmen from the universities. The name of FW Neate […]
Lloyd’s syndicate: arbitration results confidential Insurance company sub nom v Lloyd’s syndicate [1994] (Ch.Div) (Colman J) Summary: When parties agree to go to arbitration over a dispute concerning an insurance contract, this agreement contains an implied term which imposes on both parties to it a duty to keep confidential from third parties the award, the […]
TWO law firms have announced new senior partners to take over the running of their practices as they move to new premises. John South is now at the helm of 46-partner London firm Charles Russell, while Tony Bell becomes senior partner at Knight & Sons, in Staffordshire, in January. South, former head of the company […]
PARTNERSHIPS for barristers are ruled out for the foreseeable future, under proposed changes to Bar Council rules. But public direct access for all non-contentious work is under consideration as well as permission to engage in direct contact with clients, according to the package of measures laid before the Bar Council in its last meeting. The […]
Paisner & Co is advising on the £173 million restructuring of leisure group Ascot Holdings. If successful, the refinancing will eliminate negative net worth of around u25 million and will replace this with shareholder funds of between u51 million and u61 million. The legal team is led by partner Keith Stella, with partners Stephen Nelson […]
THE EUROPEAN Court of Justice could extend its doctrine on the failure to implement EU directives to include a provision for action against member states which only partially meet their obligations, says Lord Clinton-Davis. Speaking at a recent Solicitors European Group (SEG) dinner, he said there appeared to be a “real possibility” in cases now […]
Local government lawyer Dudley Lewis has been invested as president of Bristol Law Society. He is believed to be the first local authority lawyer to head the society, which is the oldest in the country. Lewis, city clerk for Bristol City Council, says his main message for the year is equal opportunity and accessibility. He […]
London law firm Masons has teamed up with the Building Employers Confederation in a drive to generate more construction projects under the Government’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI). It has worked with accountants Ernst & Young in publishing a guide, ‘Profiting from investment’, which explains how construction companies can become involved in PFI projects. Head of […]
The lord Chancellor has outlined the legislation needed to establish a “fast track” for defamation claims. The proposed reforms include a new defence, recommended by Lord Justice Neill’s working group, doing away with the need for a trial if the defendant is prepared to offer amends and pay damages assessed by a judge. He is […]
More than 25 firms have joined the Solicitor Trust co-operative marketing campaign and another 150 are “seriously considering” whether on not to join, say the Bournemouth-based organisers. Up to 200 participating practices will have their exclusive area for responses to a u10,000 per week national press advertising campaign for personal investment and legal advice.
LEADING corporate finance lawyer Mike Francies, one of Clifford Chance’s highest billers, is quitting the firm to head US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges’ corporate practice in London. Francies, who is thought to have billed about £3m last year, has been given a mandate by his new firm to build a corporate finance and M&A […]
Women solicitors were encouraged to apply for judicial posts at a presentation last week by Robin Holmes, head of the judicial appointments group at Lord Chancellor’s Department, and sponsored by the Association of Women Solicitors. New LCD figures show there are six women High Court judges compared with 89 men, 29 women circuit judges compared […]