Ignore China at your peril, says Law Society
With China on course to pass Japan as the world’s second largest economy, the Law Society says that law firms looking to do business overseas cannot ignore China’s growth and increased presence around the globe.
Jack Straw unveils plans for a new National Victims' Service
Jack Straw has announced details of a new National Victims' Service as the next stage of reforms aimed at ensuring the justice system is firmly on the side of the law abiding citizen.
Combined fund to support victims of sexual violence
Government funding for voluntary agencies that provide support to victims of sexual violence will be streamlined with the establishment of a one-year combined fund for 2010/11.
Junior Criminal Bar under threat
The influential House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has published a damning report on the Legal Services Commission’s handling of legal aid reform. The report on criminal legal aid procurement also warns that the increased use of solicitors to conduct work in the Crown Court is threatening the long-term future of the junior criminal Bar and may be affecting the quality of advocacy provided in those courts.
Not enough QC applicants
The low numbers of barristers applying to become QCs is causing concern amongst the legal profession, and is thought to be linked to uncertainly over the implementation of the Legal Services Act, reports The Lawyer.
Judicial appointments
Jeffery William Brailsford has been appointed a District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) and will be assigned to the Northern Circuit, based at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court, with effect from Monday 1st February 2010.
Glennis Marianne Corkill has been appointed a District Judge and will be assigned to the North Eastern Circuit, based at Barnsley County Court, with effect from Monday 1st February 2010.
Richard John Preston Musgrave has been appointed a District Judge and will be assigned to the Midland Circuit, based at Birmingham Civil Justice Centre, with effect from Monday 1st March 2010.
Simon John James has been appointed a Circuit Judge and will be assigned to the South Eastern Circuit, based at Canterbury Crown Court, with effect from Tuesday 16th February 2010.
Further to a previous announcement, Immigration Judge Terence Richard Peter Hollingworth will not take up appointment on 1st February 2010 as a Designated Immigration Judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, based in North Shields, due to personal reasons.
Reappointments to Judicial Appointments Commission
Jack Straw has announced the reappointment of five Commissioners of the Judicial Appointments Commission. The reappointment of Dame Hazel Genn, Sir Geoffrey Inkin, Her Honour Judge Frances Kirkham, Edward Nally and Sara Nathan are for one year from 1st February 2010.
Work activity increases at Norton Rose
Norton Rose's flexible working scheme, introduced last May as a measure to avoid redundancies, will end three months early due to an increase in work levels, reports the Lawyer.
Nelsons appoints child abduction lawyer
Nelsons has appointed a specialist child abduction solicitor, Terri Harman, to its family law team. Following her appointment, Nelsons has also been appointed as the only firm from the region, and one of only 28 firms in England and Wales, to be instructed by the British Government's International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) to represent parents in international child abduction cases.
Paul Cooklin to join Keating Chambers
Keating Chambers has announced that Paul Cooklin has joined Chambers as Director of Clerking. John Munton moves on from Keating Chambers while Barry Bridgman retains his role as Consultant Senior Clerk. Nick Child remains as Senior Clerk. The teams of Junior Clerks, led by Chris Sunderland and Simon Wigley, remain in place.
Reed Smith enhances its real estate group
Reed Smith has announced the appointment of Philip Olmer to its real estate group based in London. Philip will join the firm’s partnership from Olswang LLP.
BLG raises £6300 for The London Legal Support Trust
Around 5,000 lawyers and their friends and colleagues took part in the fifth London Legal sponsored walk organised by The London Legal Support Trust. The Trust raised a total of £380,000 for legal advice charities in London and the South East.
BLM is most female friendly firm in UK top 50
Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP (BLM) has been recognised by The Lawyer for having the highest proportion of female partners among the top 50 UK firms by turnover, with 35% of its partnership made up of women.
Planning expert joins expanding team
HBJ Gateley Wareing has recruited planning specialist Gerry Sheedy to its Birmingham office to head up the firm’s planning team. Gerry will take charge of the planning team in England and will be working within the firm’s expanding real estate team. Gerry joins HBJ Gateley Wareing from Eversheds.
Tim Otty QC joins Doughty Street Chambers
Doughty Street Chambers has announcd that with effect from 1st February 2010 Tim Otty QC will be a member of Chambers. Tim is an acknowledged expert in public law, human rights law, commercial law and public international law and will be working principally from the Public Law, International law, Extradition and Media teams within Chambers.
Halliwells expands planning team
A leading lawyer has joined Halliwells LLP to head up the Sheffield office's new planning team. Partner Steve Hawkins has over 30 years' experience in all aspects of planning law and has worked at Rollits in Hull and Gordons in Leeds for the past 18 years.
Mayer Brown adds sixth new partner to London Finance group
Mayer Brown has announced the hire of a finance partner to its London office as part of its ongoing strategic growth plans for London. This follows the five finance partner hires within the last four months and builds the London Finance group to 20 partners. Neil Caddy joins from Allen & Overy.
One for the road....
Amorous couple face unusual fine
A couple in Malaysia have been found guilty by a tribal court of having an extramarital affair, reports AFP. In addition to a monetary fine of around US$580, the guilty couple have also been ordered to hand over four buffalo and a pig in compensation.