Magic results

Clifford Chance has posted record trading results. Partnership profit rose 13% to £626m at the magic circle firm in the year to 30 April, while PEP climbed 16% to £1.6m.

Ireland eyes Brexit role

Ireland has signalled its intention to become an attractive forum for dispute resolution post-Brexit by signing up to an international agreement surrounding derivative disputes. Users of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association Master Agreement can now choose Irish law to govern derivatives contracts and the Irish courts to determine disputes.

Firm on Mersey beat

Taylor Wessing is the latest firm to unveil a ‘north-shoring’ initiative. The top-20 outfit will open a new Liverpool office in September, which is expected to house its currently London-based business acceptance team.

Immigration appeal

A working party of rights organisation Justice on immigration and appeals has urged tribunals to refer incompetent and dishonest practitioners to the appropriate regulator. A report from the group contains 49 recommendations to be considered by a new administrative justice body chaired by senior president of tribunals, Sir Ernest Ryder.

Contracts update

The Legal Aid Agency has cancelled its procurement for legal aid housing duty contracts following last month’s High Court defeat at the hands of the Law Centres Network. The agency said it will publish further information on what will happen next in relation to the contracts ‘as soon as possible’.