The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recently published its report in response to the consultation on the exemption of certain categories of workers who should not be included in the scope of auto-enrolment. The proposed exemptions were set out in a consultation paper (published March 2013), alongside other proposals to simplify technical aspects […]
Following a consultation in January 2013, the government has now confirmed that ‘protected persons’ will not be prejudiced by the statutory override contained in the Pensions Bill, currently working its way through parliament. This override allows employers to offset the increased cost of national insurance contributions (NICs) (without trustee consent), which will follow as a […]
Recently, the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by PMS International of a finding from Mr Justice Arnold in the High Court. The dispute was about ride-on children’s suitcases — PMS’s ‘Kiddee Cases’ — which was openly admitted to be designed to be a cheaper version of Magmatic’s ‘Trunki’ range. PMS argued that it had not infringed […]
After a lengthy trial, a Dallas jury has found that a de facto partnership existed between Energy Transfers Partners (ETP) and Enterprise Products Partners ‘to market and pursue a pipeline project to transport crude oil from Cushing, Oklahoma, to the Gulf Coast’. The jury then concluded that Enterprise had breached its partnership duty of loyalty […]
By Nick Fitzpatrick and Patrick Mitchell Sports, Media and Entertainment Intelligence is the global monthly publication from DLA Piper’s sports, media and entertainment group. Contents Broadcasting Italy: product placement — rules and trends in Italy France: new procedure for moving a DTT channel from free to pay Film India and Canada sign co-production agreement Internet […]
Reed Smith has posted a 6 per cent increase in turnover for the 2013 financial year, with total revenue rising from $1.013bn to $1.075bn. Average profit per partner grew at a slightly lower rate than the top line, from $1.08m to $1.14m, a 5.5 per cent increase. Headcount also grew modestly while firm-wide revenue per […]
Gomez-Acebo & Pombo managing partner Manuel Martín has had to lead his firm through the hardest of times, and make the toughest decisions in the process. Nobody told Gómez-Acebo & Pombo managing partner Manuel Martín they were entering him for European Managing Partner of the Year at The Lawyer European Awards this year, until the […]
DAC Beachcroft (DACB) has raided Eversheds for commercial contracts partner Ruth Connorton and a team of three fee-earners in Newcastle. Connorton, who started at DACB earlier this week (3 March), was head of procurement law at Eversheds. She advises clients in both the public and private sectors, these have included de-commissioning contracts at Sellafield, Olympic […]
At The Lawyer we don’t hide the fact that we’re fans of one of the BBC’s flagship shows, The Apprentice. What, frankly, would winter be without it? Which is why we like to imagine that the BBC legal department’s hiring of its apprentices, which, it has just unveiled is very much along the lines of […]
Morgan Lewis & Bockius has hired partner Tom Cartwright from Taylor Wessing to launch its dedicated private equity practice in London. The firm’s City office currently houses two corporate partners who work on private equity matters, but Cartwright’s hire marks the first aimed specifically at building out a distinct group geared towards the practice. Christopher […]
Wragge & Co has been overlooked by Premier Foods in its £1.1bn capital refinancing plan, with Slaughter and May picking up the core mandate on the deal. While Wragges remains a preferred adviser to Premier Foods on commercial matters, general counsel Andrew McDonald said the firm had missed out because of the size and complexity of […]
Financial services dispute resolution body Prime Finance has recruited another 16 senior lawyers for its panel of experts, bringing the number on the list to more than 100. The new recruits include Allen & Overy’s (A&O) co-head of global capital markets, David Benton, New York-based Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan partner Peter Calamari, Jones Day’s […]