Guest post: The strange, slow death of the criminal courts charge

The criminal courts charge is, or was, one of the less well thought-through criminal justice reforms of recent years. Since April this year, courts have had a duty under section 21A of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 to impose a fixed charge ‘in respect of relevant court costs’ on those convicted of offences.

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US bonus season: Skadden ups the ante with bonus as Simpson Thacher, Paul Weiss and others match Cravath associate pay

Wall Street’s top firms have announced their bonuses for associates, with many matching the levels of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, which became the first US firm to set the benchmark for US associate bonuses this year.

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Comment: NRF’s Martyr – ‘Society craves balance but the profession drives our people in a different direction’

Our profession is facing a growing tension between the drive for profit – the resurgent guiding principle of the 2000s – and the increasing demand for more social responsibility among businesses. Post-recession, we can add increased competition, the scrutiny of the business press and a growing focus on efficiency into the mix, all of which amounts to a potential recipe for trouble. Continue reading “Comment: NRF’s Martyr – ‘Society craves balance but the profession drives our people in a different direction’”

International hires: Hogan Lovells brings in key Hong Kong arbitration lateral as Mayer Brown expands German practice

Hogan Lovells and Mayer Brown have announced significant international recruitment today (9 December). Hogan Lovells has improved its disputes practice with the hire of Baker & McKenzie’s Hong Kong head of international arbitration James Kwan, while Mayer Brown has hired a three-lawyer team from Clifford Chance (CC) in Frankfurt to expand its M&A and restructuring practice.

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