The veteran criminal defence lawyer turned legal head on bridging the gap between journalism and law While a student at the University of Wales, Angus McBride mulled his career prospects. During his first year at university, he was obliged to choose three subjects to study. ‘I took English literature and philosophy and then decided I …
In a further setback for insurers hoping to take advantage of the post-Legal Services Act landscape, Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society (LV=)’s legal arm has been discontinued less than two years after it was created through a partnership with Bristol firm Lyons Davidson. In January 2016 the insurance company joined forces with Lyons Davidson to offer …
Continue reading “Investment costs force insurer LV= to pull plug on legal services”
Hogan Lovells has been drafted in to advise Uber as the US-based ridesharing company launches a legal challenge to Transport for London’s (TfL) decision to not renew its private hire licence. TfL today (22 September) issued a statement confirming that Uber will not be given another private hire operator licence after the current one expires on …
Continue reading “Hogan Lovells to handle appeal as TfL refuses Uber new licence”
After being on the verge of accepting a six-figure sum last month, a group of 288 former King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) employees have been awarded over £1m by an employment tribunal to settle claims from the collapse of the firm’s European arm. The ex-staffers received the compensation award this week (20 September) following the …
Continue reading “‘A clear cut case’ – Ex-KWM employees win £1m pay-out from employment tribunal”
Following last month’s separation of Tata Steel’s business from the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS), Linklaters and Slaughter and May have been drafted in to advise on its much-anticipated €15bn joint venture with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp. The 50:50 project received the green light as the firms signed a memorandum of understanding today (20 September) to launch …
Continue reading “Magic Circle prove mettle as Tata and ThyssenKrupp agree €15bn steel JV”
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today (19 September) issued a highly unusual apology to Serle Court’s Khawar Qureshi QC after the senior barrister was subjected to a year-long investigation over unfounded misconduct allegations. The matter turned on Qureshi’s representation of East African republic Djibouti in a high-profile civil fraud case between the state and …
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As the profession’s liberal wing casts a sceptical eye over the Bar’s lack of diversity, former Linklaters capital markets partner Clare Moulder has made history by becoming the first female solicitor to be appointed to the High Court without practising as a barrister. Moulder, who joined Linklaters in 1982 and made partner in 1991, will …
As scandal-ridden PR agency Bell Pottinger collapses into administration, Ashurst, Hogan Lovells and Mishcon de Reya have swept in to take advisory roles during the aftermath. Ashurst is acting for Bell Pottinger’s administrators, BDO, with a team consisting of corporate partner Bruce Hanton and restructuring partner Olga Galazoula. Ashurst had previously represented Bell Pottinger in 2012 …
It has been a busy week for in-house moves, with three major companies seeing significant changes in their legal teams. First up, Air France-KLM has appointed a new head of legal after a near year-long process. Pauline Baron has been promoted to head of legal at Air France after serving as head of corporate and …
Continue reading “In-house wrap: Air France confirms new law chief as EDF and PwC make senior hires”
It remains extremely rare for law firm leaders to re-emerge at another practice, but then Sir Nigel Knowles has always been one to do things his own way in more than 30 years in the profession. Knowles today (7 September) announced his return to law after retiring last year from the global giant DLA Piper …
