Last 3 months headlines – Page 1704
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Nuclear
City firm Lovells advised French energy giant EDF on its £11bn acquisition of British Energy Group, the UK nuclear power generator. Lovells also advised Merrill Lynch and BNP Paribas in connection with the deal. Magic circle firm Clifford Chance advised British Energy, while US firm White & Case advised the ...
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For richer, for poorer...
Adding back – but when and how? Christopher Tromans reviews the court’s powers when family assets have been dissipated. If a party to a marriage squanders part of the family assets before the final hearing of an ancillary relief application, what can the court do to ...
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Agricultural law: challenging times, rewarding work
As Britian’s farmers grapple with disease, rising costs and red tape, agriculture is becoming a more challenging area of law. Mad cow disease, avian flu, bluetongue and bovine tuberculosis (BTB) have all blighted livestock recently, while rising labour costs and a plethora of new ...
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Law firms' private investigators examined
Grania Langdon-Down peers into the business of the private investigators and heir hunters used by law firms Lawyers who use private investigators to ...
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IP/IT: English courts and patent injustice
The English courts have a reputation for being hostile to patents. There exists a perception that if the validity of a patent is challenged – for example, on the classic grounds that the patented invention is not novel, or that it is obvious, or that the patent does not sufficiently ...
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Law and orders
The abolition of powers of arrest in relation to non-molestation orders can leave the victim questioning the whole process.
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Putting clients first
In her article about mediation, Kate Durcan writes: ‘One might think there is a conflict between being a lawyer, where the object is to generate fee income, and conducting mediation, where the goal is to seek early resolution and save costs. Not so, say lawyer-mediators.’ (see [2008] Gazette, 18 September, ...
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Trial by ordeal
The letter from Kat Gibson, chair of the Junior Lawyers Division, concerning newly qualified solicitors appearing in court interested me (see [2008] Gazette, 18 September, 9). In the old days we were not given any training in this field. However, for my sins, I was asked to do a trial ...
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Gaining experience
I was articled in 1952 to a local advocate in Hastings. Where he went, I went, and I was lucky enough to hear on a regular basis high-quality advocacy from fine solicitors, some very good barristers and, on occasion at Assizes, high-quality leaders. One listened and learned. ...
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Left for dead
Following last week’s letter bemoaning the use of the verb ‘to gift’, I wonder how many of your readers also use the verb ‘to dead’. We routinely ‘dead’ our files, and on a recent management training course a number of non-lawyers were highly amused at this concept, and wondered if ...
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New career goal
Guarding a goalmouth in hockey requires lightning reactions, nerves of titanium, and a general indifference to physical pain. As these are also perfect qualities for a career in law, we can expect great things from 24-year-old Jessica Bowman, who has just completed her training contract at Preston firm MWR Solicitors.
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Seeing red
‘A criminal crime simply does not make sense!’ shouted an exasperated Russian interpreter in front of stunned delegates, before slamming the door shut on his sound booth. Following an already fiery exchange regarding the recent conflict in Georgia, the Russia & Rule of Law seminar at the Bar Council’s Holborn ...
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Water warriors
It was no baptism of fire for trainee solicitor Ashley King. It was more a dunking in freezing, peat-stained water. The trainee at 11-partner Black Country commercial law firm George Green was part of a four-man team competing in the Lakes Challenge – a gruelling seven hours of mountain biking, ...
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Poles apart
The wolves are circling, the temperature is dropping, and darkness is all around. No, Obiter isn’t getting lyrical about the credit crunch and recession, but simply describing the icy reality soon to be experienced by a client of Sussex law firm Rix & Kay. Managing partner Bruce Hayter explains: ‘We ...
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Family law
Agreements – Ancillary relief – Reliance – Trust funds – Time limits – Notice to show cause S v S (2008): Fam Div (Mrs Justice Eleanor King): 20 August 2008. ...
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Criminal procedure
Administration of justice offences – Concept of court – Failure to attend – Service by the court – Witness summaries R v Harish Popat: CA (Crim Div) (Lord Justice Hughes, Mrs Justice Dobbs, Judge Pert QC): 28 July 2008. ...
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Criminal law
Benefit from criminal conduct – Confiscation orders – Fraudulent evasion of duty R v Steven Waller: CA (Crim Div) (Lord Justice Gage, Mr Justice Silber, Judge Radford): 18 July 2008.
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Human rights
Bail – Detention without charge – Right to liberty and security – Terrorism R (on the application of I) (claimant) v (1) City Of Westminster Magistrates’ Court (2) Chief Constable of Manchester Police (defendants) and Crown Prosecution Service ...