All News articles – Page 1811

  • News

    CCBE warning on the threat of notaries

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    A backdoor bid by continental notaries to beat off the threat of competition is meeting fierce resistance from lawyers across Europe. At its plenary session in Brussels last weekend, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) abandoned its historically neutral position on the notarial profession to pass ...

  • News

    Cold comfort

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    It’s that time of the year. You’ve used all your holiday entitlement and in a desperate need for a day off to do some Christmas shopping or recover from one of many parties, you pull a sickie. Not for those at personal injury practice Kingslegal. The ...

  • News

    Committed to helping you through difficult economic times

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    One issue that all firms are grappling with today is of course the downturn in the economy. While it is impossible to be precise, it is clear that the recession will be deeper and longer than many anticipated and the next 12 months will be very challenging for us all. ...

  • News

    Coode puts his oar into the law

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    Ed Coode MBE, Olympic gold medallist oarsman and now trainee solicitor at Burges Salmon, Bristol, says his former life as a professional sportsman had much in common with his fledgling career in the law, ‘like sitting on my arse going back­wards, for instance’.

  • News

    Legal 'super panels' for local councils

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    Three ‘super panels’ of law firms and barristers’ chambers are being formed to service about 30 local authorities across England, the Gazette can reveal. Birmingham City Council, the largest local authority in Europe, is tendering for a panel of around 25 firms on behalf of 17 ...

  • News

    Running for cover

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    I really hope there are some effective changes in the worrying lottery of obtaining cover each year. I for one really do not look forward to dealing with this and it is always the same – having to worryingly hold out to the last minute to get a reasonable quote. ...

  • News

    Criminal procedure

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    VAT – Benefit from criminal fraud – Carousel fraud R v (1) Bhovinder Singh Sangha (2) Brian Meehan (3) Gerard Martin McAllister: CA (Crim Div) (Lords Justice Richards, Mr Justice Stadlen, Judge Gordon): 18 November 2008. ...

  • News

    Dispelling the myths

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    The rights and wrongs of contingency fees is one of the great debates. One side sees them egging on unscrupulous lawyers to fuel a crazed litigation culture, as in the US. The other says they reward lawyers for the results achieved for clients, rather than the work put in, and ...

  • News

    The Middle East: a legal goldrush or an ‘over-lawyered’ region?

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is fast becoming the jurisdiction with the most English solicitors outside the UK. The adage ‘go east, young man’ has heralded a talent goldrush as firms in the Middle East report a torrent of job applications from solicitors hoping to join the 500-plus England and ...

  • News

    Family law

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    Ancillary relief – Error of fact – Lump sum payments – Periodical payments – Transfer of assets – Acquisition of capital after marriage Paul Fallon v Ruth Fallon: CA (Civ Div) (Lords Justice Thorpe, Lawrence Collins, Goldring): 20 ...

  • News

    Lawyers slam tribunal scam

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    Lawyers have demanded that the Tribunals Service ‘join the 21st century’ before scammers overwhelm courts with multiple age-discrimination claims. The scam targets job advertisements containing ageist phrases like ‘newly qualified’. The scammers apply for all such jobs and, if not offered the posts, threaten to take ...

  • News

    Nursing support

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    I am writing in response to Jonathan Rayner’s article citing criticisms of medical provision in custody by forensic medical examiner Dr Jason Payne-James (see [2008] Gazette, 13 November, 1). I would like to put forward facts in support of the nurses working in police custody, prisons and other criminal justice ...

  • News

    Working together to ride out the storm

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    I read with interest Jon Robins’s article ‘Under Pressure’ (see [2008] Gazette, 20 November, 14). It is unfortunate only one bank appears to have been approached for an attributable quote. A more rigorous process of engaging with banks to establish their views would have allowed a more balanced assessment. No ...

  • News

    Paper tigers

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    Paperless offices aren’t something you immediately associate with legal practice, so congratulations to south-west London firm DG Law for picking up a Green Business award from Wandsworth Council for just such an innovation. ‘Getting rid of paper means we can now support our clients much better,’ says managing director David ...

  • News

    Solicitor off the ropes

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    A two-punch combination came to the help of solicitor David Leach when he tried to calm a violent confrontation outside Burnley Magistrates’ Court. Leach, of the criminal department at the Burnley office of Donald Race & Newton, was attacked by a former local councillor who had been ticked off for ...

  • News

    Shipping

    2008-12-04T00:00:00Z

    Torts – Conversion – Detention - Health and safety at work – Ships Club Cruise Entertainment & Travelling Services Europe BV v Department for Transport: QBD (Comm) (Mr Justice Flaux): 18 November 2008. ...

  • News

    The law of Property Act 1925 will not rescue clients

    2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

    I refer to the unfortunate question raised in Calvert Solicitors’ letter, asking if the current recession is an ‘exceptional circumstance’ that would allow the return of a deposit under section 49(2) of the Law of Property Act 1925 (see [2008] Gazette, 13 November, 13).

  • News

    Data page for November 2008

    2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

    The data page is financial rates and data compiled for the Law Gazette by Moneyfacts Group, the UK's largest supplier of savings and mortgage data. Downloads Download the Data ...

  • News

    ADR encouraged in planning process

    2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Replacing planning appeals with alternative dispute resolution (ADR) could help save businesses and councils £300m a year, the government claimed this week. The proposals, published by the Communities and Local Government department, call for a ‘more proportionate’ planning system, removing nearly 40% of minor non-residential developments ...

  • News

    Law Commission to clear 'mess' over adult social care statutes

    2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

    The first steps in rationalising a ‘confusing jumble of statutes’ governing adult social care were set out this week by the Law Commission. A scoping paper, expected to be approved by the Department of Health, proposes a single modern statute that can be understood by ...