Last 3 months headlines – Page 1727
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Mixed half-year results picture
Big UK firms have endured mixed fortunes so far this year, with the half-year revenue estimates released so far showing large variations in growth. At the top end of growth, City firm Trowers & Hamlins estimated fee income up 16% to £42m for the first half ...
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Local government: a new code of conduct
Pity the poor Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct Order) 2007 – the 18-month-old toddler, currently scampering innocently around local and police authority floors, has been given a proposed sentence of death by the government.
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Constitutional law
Abuse of power – Changos Islands – Colonial legislation – Legitimate expectation – Prerogative powers R (on the application of Louis Olivier Bancoult) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: HL (Lord Hoffmann, Lord Bingham of Cornhill, ...
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Human rights
Immigration – Human rights – Asylum seekers – Children – Removal EM (Lebanon) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL (Lord Hope of Craighead, Lord Bingham of Cornhill, Baroness Hale of Richmond, Lord Carswell, Lord Brown ...
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Martyn Day: fierce advocate for the people
One could never criticise Martyn Day for lacking the willingness to have a go. ‘I’m absolutely determined to find the right case,’ says the senior partner of claimant firm Leigh Day & Co, when asked if he would be prepared to have another crack at suing tobacco companies on behalf ...
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Beyond price
I’m delighted to report that the Law Society’s Excellence Awards were a tremendous success. Old Billingsgate, overlooking the Thames, made for a spectacular venue and Kirsty Wark from BBC2’s Newsnight was a great host. This year saw a record number of entries, and the awards are now widely considered to ...
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Playing by the rules
At a time of growing financial hardship, solicitors need access to as many legitimate channels of income as possible. A fortnight ago this column observed that few subjects in the Gazette’s ambit generate such impassioned opinions as regulation. One that certainly does is referral fees. ...
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New years resolution
From April 2009, a new Acas code of practice on discipline and grievances – and a supplementary, non-statutory Acas guide – will replace the 2004 statutory dispute resolution procedures.
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Bespoke suits
I was interested in Joshua Rozenberg's article on the doom-laden prognoses of Richard Susskind, who apparently believes that, in future, ‘bespoke’ legal services will be the exception (see [2008] Gazette, October 30, 10). With great respect, what utter tosh. The only examples of so-called ‘commoditised’ ...
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Independence and the vote
Your editorial (30 October 2008) on the result of the recent postal ballot reads like an extension of the Law Society’s publicity machine. It is disappointing that you do not seem to have applied independent thought to the issue. Even worse, you have ignored the fact that a two-thirds majority ...
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It ain't broke
Law Society members thankfully rejected the plan for an affiliate category for non-solicitors. The Society is for solicitors. We do not want the brand diluted, and extra administration and costs introduced in permitting others even to be ‘associated’ with the Society. Instead, the aim should be for simplicity and cost ...
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Number of the beast
National press interest in a ‘haunted’ solicitor’s office isn’t spooking Sarfraz Khan, marketing and managing consultant at Birmingham firm LAC. ‘We have no intention of moving or changing our address, because we’ve been very successful,’ he tells Obiter. ‘We haven’t lost a single case yet.’
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Bubble economy
At this time of economic meltdown, it is fitting that solicitors should be using their downtime creatively. To that end, we offer you the opening paragraphs of a new surreal novel by valued Gazette contributor, Anna Gramm. If you look ...
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Art for art's sake
Many Gazette readers will identify with not quite being able to remember how old they are – at least until the maths is done. Institutions sometimes have the same problem. A few weeks back, the Law Society Art Group (LSAG) asked the Gazette for a small spot to ...
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Jack of all trades
Global capitalism is in turmoil, the dole queues are lengthening inexorably and you’ve more chance of finding Shergar than a buyer for your house. But no matter. Such trifles have been turfed off the front pages by an issue of far greater moment – what to do about messrs Ross ...
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Referral rule breaches widespread
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is to reconsider the controversial question of referral arrangements as new figures show that the number of firms not complying with rules governing referrals remains stubbornly high. The SRA also expressed fears that the current economic climate might encourage practitioners to cut further corners.
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Solicitor poised to sue broker as Society takes action
A two-partner firm is set to sue its broker after its professional indemnity insurance (PII) premium quadrupled, the Gazette has learned – while in a parallel development, the Law Society has created a PII crisis group and hinted it could launch its own action. Joe Golstein ...
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Society and bar clash over solicitor-advocates
The Law Society has hit back at criticism from the bar over the ‘appalling’ standards of some solicitor-advocates, who it is alleged are keeping work for themselves for economic reasons rather than instructing barristers. Law Society President Paul Marsh said the comments were ‘exactly what you ...
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Newspapers plan legal referral services
The Daily Telegraph and another national newspaper are to launch their own legal referrals services. The newspapers have tied or are about to tie deals with legal referrals company Contact Law to offer the company's service under their branding. ...