The largest family justice reforms ‘for a generation’ will come into effect today (22 April), introducing a new combined Family Court in which all levels of judge are able to sit in the same building and a simplified single system. Continue reading “Legal regulation: Largest family justice reforms ‘for a generation’ usher in new single court”
‘Why don’t parties and their donors pay to run Parliament?’ MoJ pushes ahead with controversial court fees reform
Despite fierce accusations from within the senior echelons of the legal profession that the Government has failed to comprehend the Courts’ standing as an essential institution of the State, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) this week announced it will push ahead with the first stage of its proposals to overhaul court fees in civil claims. Continue reading “‘Why don’t parties and their donors pay to run Parliament?’ MoJ pushes ahead with controversial court fees reform”
Global London – The justice play
Having for years eschewed the City disputes market to invest in corporate and banking work, US firms have been piling into litigation of late
In retrospect, it seems strange that it wasn’t part of the game plan from the very start. US law firms – so long geared as much towards disputes as transactional work – came to London in force well over a decade ago… and all but ignored litigation.
Former Shell legal head Rees joins Thirty Nine Essex Street
With the global arbitration market currently powered by a string of high stakes energy disputes, Thirty Nine Essex Street Chambers looks to have secured itself a trophy tenant with the London set this morning announcing the arrival of former legal director of Royal Dutch Shell Peter Rees QC. Continue reading “Former Shell legal head Rees joins Thirty Nine Essex Street”
Clyde & Co alleged whistleblower case to see Supreme Court decide if partners are afforded protection
The Supreme Court will next week preside over a precedent-setting case to decide if partners of limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are entitled to whistle blower protection, following a claim brought by former Clyde & Co partner Krista Bates van Winkelhof. Continue reading “Clyde & Co alleged whistleblower case to see Supreme Court decide if partners are afforded protection”
Nabarro bolsters City disputes capability with DLA IT litigation head hire
Top 30 LB100 firm Nabarro has bolstered its City disputes capability with the addition of DLA Piper’s IT litigation head Lee Gluyas.
Gluyas specialises in both commercial litigation and arbitration in complex IT disputes. Having acted for and against technology companies, the 424-lawyer firm said his appointment is part of a strategic move to build on its existing presence in the sector. Continue reading “Nabarro bolsters City disputes capability with DLA IT litigation head hire”
Bar news: Blackstone bolsters commercial litigation capability with hire of Brick Court’s Alan Maclean QC
Leading set Blackstone Chambers has taken further steps to bolster its commercial litigation and arbitration capability with the hire of heavyweight Brick Court Chambers commercial litigator Alan Maclean QC.
Having officially started yesterday (4 February), Maclean (pictured) is acknowledged by the Legal 500 as ‘a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom’ and a ‘streetwise trial advocate.’
Family marketing teams on DEFCON 1 as Law Commission calls for gold-plated prenups in UK law
For marketing teams at the family bar it’s been a tough wait but at last the Law Commission has issued its long-trailed proposals on matrimonial property laws.
Private practice teams across London have been lightening quick to respond to the report, published today (27 February), which proposes new legislation to take out the uncertainty surrounding the enforcement of pre-nuptial agreements, an issue that has dogged divorce cases of wealthy couples, setting London at a disadvantage to the majority of countries in Europe.
RBS litigation: Bird & Bird’s head of dispute resolution criticised for £500m fluctuation in value of claim
The highly complex Royal Bank of Scotland 2008 rights issue litigation has seen Bird & Bird’s dispute resolution head Steven Baker criticised at the High Court over a £500m fluctuation in the value of the claim.
In his fifth witness statement to the court in November Baker, who represents John Greenwood and the RBoS Shareholders Action Group Limited, with around 12,000 retail and around 100 corporate, institutional and charitable members (the BB Action Group), told the court: ‘the losses suffered by the members of the BB Action Group who have actually issued proceedings so far would equate to approximately £900m…and the total acquisition value of those claimants’ shares is £1.25bn.’ Continue reading “RBS litigation: Bird & Bird’s head of dispute resolution criticised for £500m fluctuation in value of claim”
You’re gonna need a bigger boat! – big data and the modern law firm
Big data has been hailed as the next big thing to hit legal tech and has already become a force in US litigation. Legal Business assesses the prospects for the analytics-powered law firm
In 2011, McKinsey defined big data as ‘datasets whose size is beyond the ability of typical database software tools to capture, store, manage and analyse’ and hailed big data analytics – applying algorithms to crunch together numbers from disparate sources to uncover new correlations, patterns and trends – as ‘the next frontier for innovation, competition and productivity’.
Continue reading “You’re gonna need a bigger boat! – big data and the modern law firm”