Last 3 months headlines – Page 1746
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Call to divide AG's dual role
Parliamentary support for the government’s decision not to split the Attorney General’s legal and political functions has attracted scathing criticism from experts. Last Thursday, the Joint Committee on the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill published its report that, controversially, ignored the advice of the Justice Committee to ...
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HIPs questionnaire 'biased against solicitors'
The proposed home information pack (HIP) questionnaire has been branded a ‘crude attempt’ to help non-solicitor pack providers and push solicitors out of the conveyancing market. A year after the introduction of the controversial packs, the government has launched a consultation to add an extra document ...
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Victory for firm over client account funds
Irwin Mitchell has won approval to claim funds paid on account even though the client’s finances were later subject to a restraint order. The national firm was acting for a client facing a Revenue & Customs investigation, who paid £5,000 on account of costs into its ...
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Helpline to make appointments at law firms for legal aid clients
A pilot helpline enabling civil legal aid clients to book face-to-face appointments with solicitors could boost the numbers of people receiving publicly funded advice, the chairman of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG) has told the Gazette. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) launched the trial Community ...
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Libel success fees decision
The government has decided not to push ahead with imposing fixed recoverable success fees and capped recoverability on after-the-event insurance (ATE) premiums in defamation and privacy cases. After eight months of waiting for an announcement following its defamation consultation last year, the government has opted to ...
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Reality warning for 'optimistic' firms
Experts have warned small firms not to be ‘blind to reality’ after a new survey indicated the vast majority have no intention of cutting spending over the next six months – despite turbulent economic conditions. More than a quarter (27%) of UK firms with three to ...
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Public guardian to order LPA review
A fifth of applications to register a lasting power of attorney (LPA) contain mistakes that render them invalid or prevent registration, the new public guardian has told the Gazette. Martin John, who was appointed in June, said ‘about 20% of applications have real issues’ and announced ...
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US firm promotes lawyer
PRIVATE PRACTICE Partners Regional firm Thring Townsend Lee & Pembertons hires employment specialist Jeremy Nixon from Bird & Bird. The firm also promotes Graeme Fearon in the ...
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Security for costs
The recovery, or not, of pre-action costs in an application for security for costs just got a little easier to work out, say Chris Warren-Smith and Ian Pegram In adding up the costs incurred ...
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Comparative advertising - the ECJ fizzes it up
In a ruling that could have a noticeable impact on advertising in the UK and across Europe, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) last month ruled that businesses can use the distinctive trademarks of their competitors when comparing their goods and services.
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Media and entertainment
Administration of justice – Broadcasting – Contempt of court – Fines – Sub judice Attorney general v ITV Central Ltd (2008): DC (Lord Justice Pill, Mr Justice King): 15 July 2008 ...
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Immigration
Human rights – Asylum seekers – Proportionality - Remittal TG (Central African Republic) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2008): CA (Civ Div) (Lords Justice Buxton, Keene):15 July 2008 ...
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Employment
Local government – Discrimination – Equal pay – Legitimate aim – Proportionality – Trade unions Allen & Ors v GMB (2008): CA (Civ Div) (Lords Justice Tuckey, Smith, Maurice Kay): 16 July 2008 ...
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Family law
Local government – Adoption – Expert reports - Placement orders – Children Re B (children) sub nom (1) MJ (mother) (2) LB (father) v (1) Local Authority (2) CB, AB, MB (by their guardian EE) (2008): CA (Civ ...
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Defamation
Absolute privilege – Complaints – Police – Slander Richard Anders Westcott v Sarah Westcott (2008): CA (Civ Div) (Lords Justice Ward, Sedley, Stanley Burnton): 15 July 2008 The appellant ...
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Football frenzy
It’s a global footballing bonanza this week, and to kick off we have some homegrown talent. Eighteen-year-old Junior Bilal (inset), who works in the business support unit at Cumberland Ellis, is in Manchester playing for England (above) in the INAS-FID European Championship 2008.
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Challenging times
As the saying goes: ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ And some people will go to extreme lengths to keep dullness at bay. Edward Hardy (pictured far right), a senior solicitor at the Nationwide Building Society, is a case in point. He and a team of ...
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Bolly good show
Word reaches Obiter of yet more Bollywood action in the legal world. Elizabeth Mitchell, 34-year-old partner at York firm Wood Sherwood Solicitors, is currently preparing for her second Bollywood role after appearing in the West Yorkshire Playhouse summer production of Bollywood Jane last year, see Obiter 24 May 2007. ...
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Setting Sail for Beijing
City firm Charles Russell gave paralympic sailor Helena Lucas a hearty send off on her way to the Beijing games last week. Lucas, a member of the Skandia Team GBR, will be racing in the 2.4m single-handed keelboat class. The firm has provided the sailor, tipped to bring home a ...