Breathing space for MOJ as Court of Appeal orders OpCotton trial to resume

In a verdict that gives the Ministry of Justice at least a temporary reprieve in its legal aid battle with the Bar, the Court of Appeal today (21 May) reversed the Crown Court’s ruling that the ‘OpCotton’ serious fraud trial should be stayed after the defendants failed to find any barrister prepared to represent them …

A good week for…Osborne Clarke, advising on the £3.6bn Carphone Warehouse/Dixons merger and IPO of Patisserie Valerie

Ordinarily a week advising on the AIM flotation of luxury cake and cafe chain Patisserie Valerie, which formally starts trading on Monday (19 May), could be viewed as relatively successful. But Osborne Clarke’s corporate partner Jonathan King has trumped his own efforts by also leading the top 35 firm in acting for Carphone Warehouse on its …