All News articles – Page 1727
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News
Conveyancers must enact 'radical' change to survive, says Chancery Lane
The Law Society has warned conveyancing solicitors that they will need to consider ‘radical’ change – such as increasing their liability – to ensure they retain a ‘sustainable commercial role’ in the property market. Pledging Chancery Lane’s support for conveyancing solicitors, chief executive Des Hudson questioned ...
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Lovells moves closer to transatlantic merger
City firm Lovells and US firm Hogan & Hartson moved closer to a transatlantic merger today as management at each firm agreed to recommend the tie-up to partners. Information on the proposed merger will be sent to partners at each firm late next week, before a ...
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Transport secretary grilled over Freshields fees in Metronet collapse
Legal and professional advisory fees were cast into the spotlight as MPs picked over the bones of Metronet, the collapsed London Underground upgrade consortium whose failure cost the taxpayer up to £410m, at a public accounts committee hearing last week. Magic circle firm Freshfields was the ...
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European Commission criticises lawyers over lobbying
Law firms that carry out EU lobbying work have been criticised by the European Commission for failing to enter their clients’ names on its voluntary lobbying register. The commission said that law firms, in arguing that they would breach professional conduct rules by revealing clients’ names, ...
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Immigration and turning up to court
While thumbing through previous copies of the Gazette I found an article from 4 June 2009 which stated that a defendant had escaped confiscation proceedings because she was unable to find an advocate who was willing to represent her under the legal aid rate. This article emphasised the importance of ...
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Lending credibility
I write on behalf of the Council of Mortgage Lenders in response to Alan Tunkel’s letter (see [2009] Gazette, 1 October, 9). Mr Tunkel states that ‘over the last decade or so the CML has imposed on solicitors who sign certificates of title ever-increasing obligations’.
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Employment
Employers’ duties – Honest belief – Strict liability – Transfer of undertakings Royal Mail Group Ltd v Communication Workers Union: CA (Civ Div) (Lords Justice Waller, Hughes, Rimer): 14 October 2009 ...
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LPA error
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has confirmed that on 1 October their website contained an error in the Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), where there was an incorrect additional part C (for the attorney to sign) included in the downloaded document.
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A touch of Frostrup
A sprinkle of stardust descended on last Thursday’s boisterous and extremely well-attended (recession, what recession?) Law Society Excellence Awards at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London. No, not in the person of the BBC broadcaster Mishal Husain, who conducted proceedings with consummate aplomb. An even brighter star was present, the ...
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Gag ladies
David Mosey is not the only solicitor to be involved in a shameless publicity stunt this week (see Mott on the landscape). Jeanette Miller, co-founder of Manchester firm Geoffrey Miller, gave staff a surprise earlier this month when she asked them to put on gags and go out into the ...
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Probate: privileged wills and not-so-helpful help
Just how unusual it is to have a modern case on privileged wills is, perhaps, indicated by the comment of judge Peter Langan at the start of his judgment in Re Estate of Ashley Edward Servoz-Gavin, deceased 14 September 2009: ‘The case has involved a forensic journey on a path ...
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Human rights record
Jason McCue of H20 Law became the third human rights lawyer in three years to be named practising Solicitor of the Year in the annual Law Society Excellence Awards. McCue followed in the footsteps of Phil Shiner, who won the accolade in the inaugural year ...
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Personal injury
Armed forces – Compensation – Medical treatment Secretary of State for Defence v (1) Anthony John Ross Duncan (2) Matthew Richard McWilliams: CA (Civ Div) (Lords Justice Keene, Carnwath, Elias): 12 October 2009 ...
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Mott on the landscape
Can anyone spot the lawyer amid these aging rockers? Yes, construction lawyer David Mosey of Trowers & Hamlins is third on the right, pictured with Mott the Hoople members (left to right) Ian Hunter, ‘Overend’ Watts and Verden Allen. Mosey met the not-quite-so-young dudes during their reunion tour, and like ...
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Barnetts launches iPhone application
Conveyancing firm Barnetts has launched an iPhone application that allows clients to get an instant quote and follow the progress of their case via their phone. The in-house IT team at Barnetts developed the software, which other firms will be able to licence and use. ...
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Costs: how to lose when you win
It appears the banks still don't know how to save a penny or two – makes one wonder how good their advice is to customers.In a recent case brought against Barclays, the old adage of 'only bite off what you can chew' was dragged...
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Criminal solicitors and barristers unite against the MoJ
The rise of solicitor higher court advocates and the perception that barristers have come off better than solicitors in legal aid fee cuts has, over the past couple of years, led to frostiness between the two branches of the profession.
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Children and young people facing legal advice ‘crisis’, charities warn
Four leading advice charities have today warned of a legal advice ‘crisis’ facing more than a million children and young people, as a report reveals they are not getting the legal advice they need. The JustRights campaign, which brings together the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, ...
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Former bar chief questions wisdom of legal services reforms
The former chairman of the bar who led the profession when the legal services reforms were working their way through parliament has voiced strong reservations about the changes. Stephen Hockman QC (pictured), chairman of the bar in 2006, believes the public and not just the bar ...