Bar Council chair: 'relax drug law'

Bar Council chair Nick Green QC (pictured) has called for the decriminalisation of personal drug use to free up police resources, reduce crime and improve public health.

LPC exemption proposals
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has launched a consultation proposing exemptions from the Legal Practice Course. Students who have completed the Bar Vocational Course and other recognised courses will not have to attend the LPC but must pass the assessments.

Contract shake-up
Litigators and advocates instructed on very high cost cases will now operate under individual case contracting arrangements if they pass the eligibility criteria, and will be paid at 2008 panel rates, the Legal Services Commission has said.

Trainee pay frozen
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has frozen the minimum salary for trainees for 2010/2011 at £18,590 in London and £16,650 elsewhere.

More tender delays
The LSC has still not notified all bidders of the outcome of the family and social welfare tenders, it has said. The process should be completed by tomorrow.

‘New mindset’ on ABSs
Lawyers have started to undergo a ‘change of mindset’ in favour of alternative business structures, the Legal Services Board said in its first annual report.

Everything merges
Telecoms giants Orange and T-Mobile will combine their legal teams and create a unified law firm panel following their merger to form new company Everything Everywhere. James Blendis, former head of legal at T-Mobile, will become general counsel and company secretary.

M&A activity rises
Global merger and acquisition deals totalled $881bn (£580bn) in the first half of 2010, up 8% on the same period last year, according to data from business intelligence analyst Mergermarket. European M&A jumped 24% to $240bn (£158bn); US M&A fell 16% to $331bn (£218bn); and Asia-Pacific M&A rose 11% to $137bn (£90bn) compared with the first half of 2009. The number of M&A deals announced globally rose 13% to 5,026.

Profits surge at DWF
National firm DWF reported a 17% rise in turnover and a 50% jump in average profits per equity partner (PEP). Turnover rose to £72m in 2009/10, while PEP climbed to £333,000.

Mixed fortunes
Turnover at City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse fell 3% to £92m in 2009/10, with PEP down 8% to £476,000. City firm Lewis Silkin reported a 2% increase in revenues in 2009/10, to £32m. PEP rose slightly to £259,000.

Clifford Chance promotions
Magic circle firm Clifford Chance has promoted 10 senior lawyers in Asia to either counsel or consultant. Five were promoted in corporate; three in capital markets; one in projects and energy; and one in investment management.