Cherie Booth age plea

Cherie Booth QC has called on the legal profession to address the issue of age. She told the College of Law in London that the profession is missing out on talent. ‘Sometimes we do not understand what people with more maturity have to offer and we need to do more to address that.’

Jersey costs ruling
The Jersey Court of Appeal has directed Jersey’s courts not to apply ‘security for costs’ orders automatically in all cases involving claimants from outside Jersey. These orders require non-domiciled claimants to deposit funds to cover a defendant’s potential legal costs. On 19 May, the court ruled in Leeds United v AdMatch that Leeds did not need to deposit £263,500 to cover AdMatch’s potential legal costs.

> Market movers
City firm Norton Rose and magic circle firm Slaughter and May advise more stockmarket clients than any other firm, with 108 clients each, according to the second quarter rankings from business information company Hemscott.

FSA extends disclosure
The Financial Services Authority has proposed to extend its disclosure requirements for short-selling UK financial services stocks. The current regime, due to expire on 30 June, requires short positions above 0.25% to be disclosed. Consultation on the new proposals will close on 12 June.

BLG announces job cuts
City firm Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has begun a redundancy consultation that will result in around 49 staff being cut. Fee-earners and business support staff face the axe, but trainees will not be included. Chief executive Clint Evans said the cuts are a consequence of higher overheads and falling profits, despite a rise in turnover.

SRA panel named
The Solicitors Regulation Authority appointed 16 law firms and solicitor-advocates to work on its new disciplinary proceedings panel. Firms and advocates will serve for three years and work on prosecutions and appeals before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and appeals against regulatory decisions.

Sri Lanka warning
Sri Lanka’s judicial system and legal profession are increasingly subject to political interference and physical threat, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute warned. A delegation found an escalation of threats, physical attacks, intimidation and harassment by government and police against lawyers. Visit www.ibanet.org

Health scare
Proposed changes to doctors’ sick notes could expose employers to disability discrimination claims, employment lawyers warned. The new ‘fit notes’ will allow doctors to recommend phased returns to work and workplace adaptations.

Napier quits LSB
Michael Napier QC has resigned from the Legal Services Board in the wake of the high-profile Court of Appeal decision to allow the magazine Private Eye to publish details of a complaint against him. ‘Recent press coverage about a long-running complaint against me and my firm [Irwin Mitchell] concerning disputed allegations, to be reinvestigated by the SRA, mean I will no longer be able to give the time and attention required,’ he said.

Excellence awards
Nominations for the Law Society Excellence Awards have opened. The awards are open to individuals and teams across the legal sector. There are 14 categories and a lifetime achievement honour. The awards ceremony will be held at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London, on 22 October. The closing date for entries is 21 August. See www.lawsociety.org.uk/excellenceawards.

Fraud warning cards
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is issuing warning cards highlighting four areas of concern where fraud is most prevalent: property, undertakings, fraudulent financial affairs and money laundering. SRA chief executive Antony Townsend said even the most conscientious solicitors could unwittingly support fraudulent activity. The cards should help identify the signs.

Care expansion
The Ministerial Group on Care Proceedings, which oversees developments, has been renamed the National Family Justice Board and given a broader remit. As well as looking at developments in public law, the board will also examine private law issues.