‘Deeply upset’: Law Society’s historic HQ suffers damage after outbreak of major fire

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‘Deeply upset’: Law Society’s historic HQ suffers damage after outbreak of major fire

Firefighters were called out to The Law Society’s headquarters over the weekend after a major fire broke out, damaging the historic building late on Saturday, 1 February.

The fire was brought under control early on Sunday, with no injuries sustained as a result. The alarm was sounded on Saturday night after the annual Junior Society dinner was held at the premises, 113 and 114 Chancery Lane in central London. Continue reading “‘Deeply upset’: Law Society’s historic HQ suffers damage after outbreak of major fire”

Lawyers rank top for satisfaction, value for money, but access to justice gaps persist

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Lawyers rank top for satisfaction, value for money, but access to justice gaps persist

Solicitors in England and Wales received a glowing review in a new survey of legal needs but evidence of gaps in access to justice shows the profession has a perception problem.

The survey – the largest legal needs survey of its kind – was conducted by the Legal Services Board and Law Society using data collected by YouGov covering the experiences of 28,633 people. Solicitors ranked highest for service satisfaction, with nine out of 10 people who had used a solicitor satisfied with the service they received, while 84% believed the solicitor provided value for money. Continue reading “Lawyers rank top for satisfaction, value for money, but access to justice gaps persist”

HSF brings German offices into UK LLP to mitigate Brexit concerns

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HSF brings German offices into UK LLP to mitigate Brexit concerns

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has finalised a move to absorb its German partnership into its UK LLP, as firms enter the final stages of preparations ahead of a 31 January Brexit.

The move was implemented in December last year as the firm faced a complex regulatory environment in Germany due to the UK’s imminent departure from the European Union. Without the change, HSF would have been incapable of existing as an English company domiciled in Germany. Continue reading “HSF brings German offices into UK LLP to mitigate Brexit concerns”

Full disclosure – How to resolve the profession’s #MeToo problem

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Full disclosure – How to resolve the profession’s #MeToo problem

‘If you’re a partner and in control of someone’s career, that is an unequal relationship. Repeated drunken flings are not the work of a balanced, responsible partner. Could she have realistically said no? He was in control of her. He was her boss.’

So says one City employment veteran of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) prosecution and subsequent departure in October of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer restructuring partner Ryan Beckwith, following findings of sexual misconduct with a junior member of staff. It reveals uncomfortable truths about why, with its esoteric partnership structure and pressure-cooker working conditions, the legal industry is more susceptible than many to the fallout from #MeToo allegations and the behaviour that fuels them. Continue reading “Full disclosure – How to resolve the profession’s #MeToo problem”

Bakers former City head Senior admits to sexually harassing associate but denies abuse of position

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Bakers former City head Senior admits to sexually harassing associate but denies abuse of position

Baker McKenzie’s former London managing partner Gary Senior has admitted his behaviour after a firm event in 2012 amounted to sexual harassment towards a junior associate but said he did not believe at the time that his advances were unwanted.

In the third of 15 days of hearings at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), Senior admitted today (4 December) that he tried to kiss a female associate half his age and agreed this behaviour was ‘totally inappropriate and unacceptable for a managing partner’, but denied it was an abuse of his position. Continue reading “Bakers former City head Senior admits to sexually harassing associate but denies abuse of position”

Bakers accused of ‘failure’ over handling of allegations of sexual misconduct against former London head

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Bakers accused of ‘failure’ over handling of allegations of sexual misconduct against former London head

Baker McKenzie was accused of ‘collective failure’ for the way it handled allegations of sexual misconduct against its former London head Gary Senior yesterday (2 December), beginning a 15-day Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) hearing.

Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) lead counsel Andrew Tabachnik QC of 39 Essex Chambers said the firm allowed Senior to seek to influence the conduct and outcome of an investigation into a complaint made against him by a junior associate. Continue reading “Bakers accused of ‘failure’ over handling of allegations of sexual misconduct against former London head”

Beckwith ruling a wake-up call for profession as regulators close in on #MeToo complaints

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Beckwith ruling a wake-up call for profession as regulators close in on #MeToo complaints

Ruling sends strong message but Nathalie Tidman finds unease over watchdog’s shifting remit

October’s prosecution of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Ryan Beckwith highlights awkward truths for the profession as regulators increasingly target claims of harassment and sexual misconduct in law. The ruling on 10 October, the most high-profile scalp yet after a string of embarrassing post-#MeToo disclosures for the UK legal profession over the last 18 months, has already produced a bout of soul searching across the City along with many lurid headlines. Continue reading “Beckwith ruling a wake-up call for profession as regulators close in on #MeToo complaints”

Slater and Gordon’s long-running £637m Quindell action settles for paltry sum as office closures continue

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Slater and Gordon’s long-running £637m Quindell action settles for paltry sum as office closures continue

The long-running saga around Slater and Gordon’s (S&G) invidious Quindell acquisition settled on the eve of trial this week for a slither of the initial claim.

A tough week for the national firm was then compounded by the closure of its Leeds office and consultation over a further closure at its Watford call centre. Continue reading “Slater and Gordon’s long-running £637m Quindell action settles for paltry sum as office closures continue”

Tribunal finds against Freshfields partner in high-profile misconduct case

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Tribunal finds against Freshfields partner in high-profile misconduct case

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer restructuring partner Ryan Beckwith engaged in sexual activity with a junior female colleague in circumstances in which she was ‘intoxicated to the extent that her judgment was impaired’, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) found today (10 October).

The SDT said at a hearing this morning that Beckwith knew or ought to have known that the junior member of staff was intoxicated and her judgement impaired and that he knew or ought to have known that his conduct was inappropriate. The verdict followed a seven-day hearing that has attracted a stream of headlines. Continue reading “Tribunal finds against Freshfields partner in high-profile misconduct case”

A&O’s Mansell to appear before SDT in December as #MeToo fallout promises busy winter

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A&O’s Mansell to appear before SDT in December as #MeToo fallout promises busy winter

Allen & Overy (A&O) employment partner Mark Mansell is to face his first Solicitor Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) hearing on Wednesday 5 December following an investigation into his role drafting a controversial non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein.

A spokesperson for the SDT confirmed to Legal Business yesterday (9 September) the new date for Mansell’s hearing, which had originally been scheduled for 3 June. Continue reading “A&O’s Mansell to appear before SDT in December as #MeToo fallout promises busy winter”