All News articles – Page 1432
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News
At least say sorry
In the sympathetic sense of the word, I pity Jewels. The Legal Services Commission clearly does not. An LSC spokesman said: ‘We are sorry to learn that Jewels Solicitors have decided to go into administration and we are now working with the administrators to ensure the firm’s clients continue to ...
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Jurisdiction
Service out of the jurisdiction - Alternative forum available - Claimant bank alleging fraud by defendants Alliance Bank JSC v Aquanta Corporation and others: QBD (Comm) (Mr Justice Burton): 14 December 2011 ...
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Let us not rush to judgement on outside investment
Many solicitors have deep-seated suspicions concerning the external finance that law firms are now allowed to seek out. This week that interest is focused on the pioneering acquisition - subject to SRA approval - of Liverpool firm Silverbeck Rymer by AIM-listed Quindell Portfolio. Some of ...
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Inventing problems
Robin Tilbrook’s comments have left everybody in my office thoroughly perplexed. Is he unaware that those accused of a crime are considered innocent until proven guilty? Will he, on behalf of the English Democrats, stand up and call for the repeal of this longstanding approach to criminal law? If he ...
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Intellectual property
Patent - Validity - Novelty - Obviousness - Insufficiency Omnipharm Ltd v Merial: Chancery Division, Patents Court (Mr Justice Floyd): 21 December 2011 The Chancery Division, Patents Court, decided, inter ...
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The innocent suffer
The ugly shape of the post-crash world is becoming apparent as time passes. Certain structures that were primary causes of the economic crisis are still standing, with their practices more or less unchanged - banks and other financial institutions, for instance - while innocent parties are squirming and suffering. One ...
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Home truths
What with one thing and another (see the news pages) our conveyancing colleagues are having a bit of a time of it at the moment. So Obiter wasn’t too surprised to receive a survey showing that only one third of them are satisfied in their area of practice.
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News focus: lenders in the line of fire
A row over the effect of lenders’ conveyancing panel policies on consumer choice escalated this week, with HSBC denying a claim that it is forcing customers to use firms on its new panel. The bank, which has 10% of the UK mortgage market, prompted outrage earlier this month by announcing ...
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Entry for the Olympics
With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games just around the corner, UK government agencies have been working in tandem with national and international Olympic committees to ensure that the much-anticipated events will run as smoothly as possible. One vital task in these preparations has been to set out the ...
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McNally’s end of peer show
Obiter has been impressed by the dedication shown by peers sitting late into the evening to speak out on the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. And spare a thought for justice minister Lord McNally of ...
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Education is an entitlement
by Graham Clayton, director of the Steve Sinnott Foundation We debate it and argue over it. Almost everyone has a strong opinion about it. We certainly have a lot of legislation about it.
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Earn the title
If Mr Pearlman wishes to be called ‘doctor’, I suggest he studies for a PhD or LLD - quite different animals from the solicitor’s vocational qualification. Dr Julian Critchlow, Fenwick Elliott, London WC2
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Lawyers divided on EU data rules
Proposed new data protection rules designed to cut red tape and save EU companies €2.3bn a year in administrative costs have met with a mixed reaction from UK lawyers. Under a directive due to be published this week some businesses would be liable to fines of ...
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Proceeds of crime
Mauritius - Criminal law - Money laundering Director of Public Prosecutions v Bholah: Privy Council (Lords Phillips, Brown, Kerr, Wilson and Sir Malachy Higgins): 20 December 2011 The Privy Council ...
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Solicitors wary of new compliance roles
Solicitors fear the potential risks involved in taking on new roles as compliance officers within their firms, a legal consultancy has warned. The 360 Legal Group says it found ‘serious concerns’ over regulatory changes requiring individuals to monitor their firm’s behaviour and report any wrongdoing - ...
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LSC offers final chance for family contracts
The Legal Services Commission has fended off the threat of litigation from firms that failed to get family and housing contracts, by announcing a licence-only tender to give firms a final chance to secure a contract. The Law Society welcomed the LSC’s ‘pragmatic and sensible’ decision, ...
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Business specialist launches franchise scheme
A south-east law firm which has won awards for its innovative approach to business advice has used its name to launch a new franchise. Acumen Business Law, based in Hove, East Sussex, will license firms to use the name Acumen Business Law Enterprise. Acumen’s managing ...
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Warning over BSB's 'cab rank' plans
The Legal Services Board has formally warned the Bar Standards Board over proposed changes to the bar’s ‘cab rank’ rule. It says in a letter that the LSB is ‘considering whether to refuse’ a rule change application submitted by the BSB in October 2011. The new ...