Despite clear progression in the use of non-legal business professionals within in-house teams, general counsel (GCs) often still see ‘legal ops’ as more buzzword than beneficial. There have been successes. Mo Ajaz is the highly-regarded chief operating officer (COO) at National Grid and, according to GC Alison Kay, he is vital in driving efficiencies. ‘We …
For all the rampant spin around alternative legal suppliers, it is safe to say general counsel (GCs) have been less than satisfied with their services. Trainline GC Neil Murrin has few qualms around the quality of the people the likes of Axiom, Lawyers On Demand (LOD) and Obelisk provide, but finds pricing a sticking point. …
Continue reading “Assault on the alt: GCs on the new law providers”
As a crunch parliamentary vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal looks to be postponed, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled the UK is free to unilaterally revoke its decision to a divorce from the EU. The landmark ruling means that UK parliament can instruct the government to bring an end to the Brexit …
Newly-installed Serious Fraud Office (SFO) director Lisa Osofsky has suffered her first major setback, as the agency’s prosecution of two former Tesco executives was quashed this morning. At Southwark Crown Court, Judge Sir John Royce instructed the jury to acquit John Scouler, formerly Tesco’s UK food commercial director, and Chris Bush, previously Tesco’s UK managing …
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Well-known media lawyer Mark Lewis, who received a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) fine for responding angrily to online anti-Semitic abuse, has had the bulk of his fine paid by crowdfunding supporters. Lewis, recognised for his work advising phone-hacking victims against the News of the World, was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £10,000 in costs …
Continue reading “Media lawyer Mark Lewis fined £2,500 in controversial SRA antisemitism row”
In a move unlikely to inspire mirth from Middle Temple, the Bar Council is seeking to establish new top-tier pay grades for the practising certificate fee (PCF). As set out in a recent consultation, the Bar Council wants to introduce two new payment bands: Band 7 and Band 8, for high-earning barristers.
Highly rated Royal Mail general counsel Maaike de Bie has resigned to become legal chief at FTSE 100 airline easyJet next year. De Bie (pictured), who is expected to join up with easyJet in 2019, brings to an end a five-year tenure at Royal Mail. She joined in January 2014 as deputy GC and subsequently oversaw …
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Simmons & Simmons has landed a major Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation mandate at the expense of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Simmons’ crime, fraud and investigations head Stephen Gentle and partner Nick Benwell have been enlisted to defend oil and gas company Petrofac in the SFO probe, taking on the mandate from Freshfields.
Cementing its reputation as one of the UK’s highest-performing firms, Fieldfisher has recorded an above-trend 26% uptick in revenue in its half-year results for 2018/19. The £97m turnover outstripped the £76.7m for the comparable period, the first half of last year. The revenue figure covers Fieldfisher’s UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and Silicon Valley offices. The …
After leading Worldpay into a transatlantic £22.2bn merger with Vantiv last year, general counsel (GC) Ruwan (Roo) de Soyza will be leaving the global payment processing company in 2019. De Soyza (pictured) is expected to leave midway through next year to take up a GC and executive committee role at a FTSE 100 technology company.
