All News articles – Page 1277
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News
Start of an experiment
Back in 1979, the Gazette reported Margaret Thatcher’s arrival in Downing Street with a huge front-page picture of Lord Hailsham, her first lord chancellor, magnificent in wig and robes (those were the days when we had real lord chancellors).
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Making a new EU
The passing of Baroness Thatcher has triggered a swell of emotion, and some parts of her legacy permeate today’s politics. The UK’s relationship with the EU at least partly defines her premiership. David Cameron says he wants to renegotiate the UK’s relationship with Europe and ...
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New entrants must have old principles, Townsend tells PI sector
Solicitors must not abandon their principles even if they are forming ventures with new entrants from outside the profession, the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s chief executive said today. Antony Townsend (pictured) told the annual Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) conference that the sector was ‘complicated’ by ...
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Reforms must work, family division head warns
‘Revolutionary’ reforms to the family justice system to speed up cases and cut costs must be made to work, the head of the Family Division has warned practitioners. In an update to the profession on the ‘revolutionary’ changes, Sir James Munby (pictured) noted the family justice ...
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Supreme Court justices sworn in
The Supreme Court last week swore in its two new justices. Lord Justice Hughes (pictured, top left) succeeds Lord Dyson and Lord Justice Toulson (pictured, top right) succeeds Lord Walker. Hughes will first hear a case from Northern Ireland concerning the admissibility of electronic fingerprinting ...
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Conveyancers want more training to tackle fraud
Mortgage fraud and money laundering are the biggest risks facing conveyancers, but three-quarters of firms want more training to tackle them, according to research by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. In a thematic review of conveyancing, the regulator revealed that a quarter of 100 randomly selected firms ...
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Competition flaw
There are a number of difficulties and risks associated with the government’s proposals on price-competitive tendering. I am sure that the representative bodies will do an effective job of highlighting many of these flaws. I wish to highlight a major operational risk.
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Hoff colour
Obiter’s search for firms with names crying out for a merger continues to attract suggestions. Alice Biggar, trainee at Southampton firm Trethowans, notes that local firms Knight Polson and Watkins Ryder could merge to create Knight Ryder, with managing partner David Hasselhoff. (A noted Hollywood ...
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Regulator to probe intervention impact on clients
Former clients of firms closed down as a result of interventions by the Solicitors Regulation Authority are to be asked about their experiences in a research project announced by the regulator today. The SRA said the study of the impact of interventions on clients will ...
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SRA promises ‘reckless trading’ clampdown
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has promised tough action against failing firms that do not wind down efficiently, including putting conditions on the practising certificates of those responsible. SRA director Samantha Barass (pictured) told a conference on compliance today that the regulator is seeing increasing numbers of ...
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Europe reviews cross-border claims
The European Commission is to review the operation of a cross-border claims service, after admitting it has failed to make an impression with consumers. The European Small Claims Procedure was launched four years ago to resolve cross-border disputes worth less than €2,000. ...
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Firm defends police officer Kelly Jones in kerb claim
The personal injury firm at the centre of a media furore over a claimant police officer has insisted its client is right to press on with the case. National firm Pattinson & Brewer said Norfolk officer PC Kelly Jones is continuing with a claim against a ...
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Chris Grayling: criminal ignorance
Chris Grayling’s comments about the restriction of legal aid for prisoner complaints are either another example of political posturing from the justice secretary or, more worryingly, show an alarming ignorance of how such cases have been funded for over three years.
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Policing football matches: charges
The core authority in this area is Glasbrook Brothers Ltd v Glamorgan County Council [1925] AC 270.
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Solicitor charged with fraud and money laundering
A solicitor has been charged with conspiracy to defraud UK investors of more than £5m. Solicitor Dale Walker of Kent firm Dale R Walker is one of eight men to have been charged by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common ...
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Chancery Lane wants voice at whiplash inquiry
The Law Society has demanded that solicitors’ voices are heard when MPs come to hear evidence on whiplash. The House of Commons transport select committee will invite witnesses to appear in parliament later this year having today closed the call for evidence. ...
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‘Client’ care
Adam Sampson (8 April) decries the use of the word ‘client’ in favour of ‘customer’. Despite him possibly confusing Julius Caesar with Cicero as a renowned lawyer in the Roman courts, Mr Sampson should be wary of rejecting the client relationship. In classical times there was a mutuality of obligation ...
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SRA moves to calm fears over indemnity insurer
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has sought to reassure hundreds of law firms using Balva for professional indemnity cover after the Latvian company was placed under new restrictions. The Financial Conduct Authority has updated its register following a decision by Latvian regulators to prohibit Balva from writing ...