Marital problems

Marital problems
Proposed legal reforms to reduce family breakdown by making marriage more attractive ‘ignore the demographics’, according to David Allison, chairman of the cohabitation working party at family law charity Resolution. The Centre for Social Justice blames family breakdown on the ease of divorce and the growing popularity of ‘informal’ cohabitation.

Misconduct hearing
Two partners at Yorkshire law firm Beresfords have appeared before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to face charges of serious professional misconduct in relation to the handling of compensation claims for sick miners. Jim Beresford, 58, and Douglas Smith, 51, are accused of ‘conduct unbecoming a solicitor’. Both deny any wrongdoing.

BME board bid
Black and minority ethnic (BME) groups are demanding stakeholder members be co-opted on to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) board. The Society of Black Lawyers, Society of Asian Lawyers, Association of Muslim Lawyers and Black Solicitors Network made the call in response to Herman Ouseley’s report on the disproportionate presence of BME solicitors in SRA investigations.

Top team at Lovells
City firm Lovells won the solicitor team award at the Law Society’s junior lawyers division pro bono awards for its work with the National Centre for Domestic Violence. Laura Mitchell, associate at Leeds firm Clarion, won the solicitor award. Ipswich firm Gotelee & Goldsmith won the trainee team award.

Mental health unit
Mental health charity Mind is to launch a new legal unit to challenge mental health discrimination through the courts. Tracy Jenkins, head of legal, said the unit would build upon Mind’s record of taking on test cases and challenging abuses within the mental health system. ‘We aim to provide representation where otherwise there would be none and to establish legal precedents in both mental and human rights law.’

Awards announced
National firm Eversheds won the professions award at the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution Awards for Excellence for the roll out of its RAPID Resolution project management system. Her Majesty’s Court Service won an award for the growth and success of the small claims mediation service over the last two years.

Personal injury pilot
Tim Wallis of Trust Mediation and Brian Dawson of Just Mediation are looking for people to take part in a bespoke telephone mediation pilot for personal injury cases. Anyone interested should contact Tim Wallis on 07971 125946.

Reprieve for Bingham
Lord Bingham of Cornhill, former senior Law Lord and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, is to be the new chairman of legal charity, Reprieve. Clive Stafford Smith, founder of Reprieve, said: ‘It is sometimes lonely out there for the rule of law and (Lord Bingham’s) name carries immense weight.’

Some half-year cheer
UK firms continued to report mixed fortunes for the half year. City firm Watson, Farley & Williams reported half-year revenues up 25% to £29.5m, north-west firm DWF reported a 12.5% increase, City firm Taylor Wessing's revenues were up 9% to £84.7m, and Manchester firm Pannone’s revenues rose 8% to £27m. North-west firm Halliwells reported revenues down 3% to £44m. National firm Beachcroft (£54m) and City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (£84m) reported no change.

More job cuts
Four major firms announced staff cutbacks. National firm Eversheds said it could cut around 45 lawyers (about 3% of the total), while national firm Hammonds announced that up to 7% of its workforce could go – equating to around 40 lawyers and 50 non-lawyers. US firm White & Case said it would cut 70 associates and 90 non-lawyers, and US firm Orrick Hetherington & Sutcliffe said it could cut 40 lawyers and 35 non-lawyers.

Markets down, actions up
Enforcement action settlements by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are to hit a three-year high in 2008, according to a study by NERA Economic Consulting. NERA predicts that the SEC will reach 739 settlements in 2008, compared with 702 in 2007 and 663 in 2006. NERA also reports that settlements with individuals are rising, while settlements with companies are falling. Allegations of insider trading are also predicted to rise, from 52 in 2007 to 92 this year.