All Law Gazette articles in Archive – Page 1196
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Running for cover
I really hope there are some effective changes in the worrying lottery of obtaining cover each year. I for one really do not look forward to dealing with this and it is always the same – having to worryingly hold out to the last minute to get a reasonable quote. ...
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Criminal procedure
VAT – Benefit from criminal fraud – Carousel fraud R v (1) Bhovinder Singh Sangha (2) Brian Meehan (3) Gerard Martin McAllister: CA (Crim Div) (Lords Justice Richards, Mr Justice Stadlen, Judge Gordon): 18 November 2008. ...
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Dispelling the myths
The rights and wrongs of contingency fees is one of the great debates. One side sees them egging on unscrupulous lawyers to fuel a crazed litigation culture, as in the US. The other says they reward lawyers for the results achieved for clients, rather than the work put in, and ...
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The Middle East: a legal goldrush or an ‘over-lawyered’ region?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is fast becoming the jurisdiction with the most English solicitors outside the UK. The adage ‘go east, young man’ has heralded a talent goldrush as firms in the Middle East report a torrent of job applications from solicitors hoping to join the 500-plus England and ...
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Family law
Ancillary relief – Error of fact – Lump sum payments – Periodical payments – Transfer of assets – Acquisition of capital after marriage Paul Fallon v Ruth Fallon: CA (Civ Div) (Lords Justice Thorpe, Lawrence Collins, Goldring): 20 ...
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Lawyers slam tribunal scam
Lawyers have demanded that the Tribunals Service ‘join the 21st century’ before scammers overwhelm courts with multiple age-discrimination claims. The scam targets job advertisements containing ageist phrases like ‘newly qualified’. The scammers apply for all such jobs and, if not offered the posts, threaten to take ...
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Nursing support
I am writing in response to Jonathan Rayner’s article citing criticisms of medical provision in custody by forensic medical examiner Dr Jason Payne-James (see [2008] Gazette, 13 November, 1). I would like to put forward facts in support of the nurses working in police custody, prisons and other criminal justice ...
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Working together to ride out the storm
I read with interest Jon Robins’s article ‘Under Pressure’ (see [2008] Gazette, 20 November, 14). It is unfortunate only one bank appears to have been approached for an attributable quote. A more rigorous process of engaging with banks to establish their views would have allowed a more balanced assessment. No ...
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Paper tigers
Paperless offices aren’t something you immediately associate with legal practice, so congratulations to south-west London firm DG Law for picking up a Green Business award from Wandsworth Council for just such an innovation. ‘Getting rid of paper means we can now support our clients much better,’ says managing director David ...
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Solicitor off the ropes
A two-punch combination came to the help of solicitor David Leach when he tried to calm a violent confrontation outside Burnley Magistrates’ Court. Leach, of the criminal department at the Burnley office of Donald Race & Newton, was attacked by a former local councillor who had been ticked off for ...
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Reprieve from F1's skid row
Never mind the frosty meteorological and economic climate - partners at a firm in Barnard Castle, County Durham, have good reason to be full of festive cheer. Clearing out some furniture, the family-run practice found it had what antique expert and TV presenter David Dickinson would call ‘a real bobby ...
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Challenges for the SRA in 2009
There is no disguising the fact that the past year has been a challenging one for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). There have been a number of issues on our agenda, including embedding best equality and diversity practice in everything we do; preparing for new types of firms spawned by ...
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£75k payout in email claim
A Midlands law firm has paid a £75,000 out-of-court settlement to a Muslim former employee who claimed she had suffered harassment and religious discrimination from a partner and board member. Shakespeare Putsman has apologised to Saleca Faisal-Parkar for two emails describing the paralegal as a ‘tent ...
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Direct access only works for a few
As a practising barrister (and former solicitor), I strongly disagree with Tim Dutton QC (pictured), chairman of the bar, who supports direct access by lay people to counsel. It can work for a tiny minority who can marshal documents and evidence, write and speak coherently, and ...
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Group litigation: the coming of class actions?
The recession, with the government’s bail-out of the banks, could provide fertile territory for lawyers that specialise in group litigation.
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APIL slams Straw for attack on lawyers
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has criticised comments about ‘ambulance-chasing’ lawyers, reportedly made by Justice Secretary Jack Straw. Denise Kitchener, APIL chief executive, accused Straw of taking ‘easy potshots’ at personal injury lawyers in an interview published in the Daily Mail. ...
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Back to the future
I would like to press the Law Society to consider a return to the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (see ‘Insurance rethink’ [2008] Gazette, 27 November, 3). That may have been a little more expensive than competitive tendering in the open market, but at least we all knew where we stood - ...
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In-house counsel set to take work back from firms
In-house counsel are seriously looking at how they can take work back from external law firms and either do it themselves or send it abroad, according to a Gazette poll. In a survey of senior in-house counsel intentions to offshore legal work, respondents said overwhelmingly that, ...
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Banks urged to increase cashflow
Law firms of all sizes are asking banks to provide them with secure pipelines of cash as the economy continues to deteriorate. In the coming weeks, Law Society President Paul Marsh and chief executive Des Hudson are to meet top executives at retail banks as well as the chief executive ...