In an embarrassing setback for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in its long running dispute over legal aid with the Bar, a Crown court judge today (1 January) halted a costly publicly funded serious fraud trial after the defendants failed to find representation. Continue reading “The Bar 1-0 MoJ: Crown court halts serious fraud trial over lack of representation”
Anger as the Bar prepares to vote on legal aid deal and QASA appeals continue
High emotion and anger over the Criminal Bar Association’s (CBA) decision to strike a deal with the Government on legal aid cuts has seen barristers given until next Wednesday 9 April to vote to accept the deal or take further industrial action, as further legal challenges were also brought this week to the controversial Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA). Continue reading “Anger as the Bar prepares to vote on legal aid deal and QASA appeals continue”
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”
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.’
Return to form for Queen’s Counsel as 100 advocates take silk
Latest QC promotions round the largest in three years
In stark contrast with the recent decline in the number of Queen’s Counsel (QC) appointments, the latest round announced in February saw 100 advocates awarded the elite kitemark, up by 19% on last year’s all-time-low figure of just 84.
The number of applicants rose this year to 225, in what may be interpreted as the litmus test of confidence in the wider economy, after queries were raised from within the profession over whether previous drops were a reflection of not just the £2,000 cost of applying to become a QC, but also fears that the associated higher rates would not be supported by cash-strapped clients.
Continue reading “Return to form for Queen’s Counsel as 100 advocates take silk”
Return to form for Queen’s Counsel as 100 barristers take silk
In stark contrast with the recent decline in the number of Queen’s Counsel (QC) appointments, the latest round announced today (19 February) has seen 100 barristers awarded the elite advocacy kitemark, up by 19% on last year’s all-time-low figure of just 84.
The number of applicants rose this year to 225, in what may be interpreted as the latest litmus test of confidence in the wider economy, after queries were raised from within the profession over whether previous drops were a reflection of not just the circa £2,000 cost of applying to become a QC, but also fears that the associated higher rates would not be supported by cash-strapped clients. Continue reading “Return to form for Queen’s Counsel as 100 barristers take silk”
Former Paul Hastings litigator disbarred following Bar Standards Board appeal
A former Paul Hastings consultant and barrister has been disbarred after it emerged that he had lied about his education and qualifications, following a successful appeal by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) against the earlier decision of an independent disciplinary tribunal to suspend him.
Announced today (22 January), the BSB appealed against a disciplinary tribunal, held in late September, which ordered that litigator Dennis O’Riordan be suspended from practice for three years after it was proved he had falsified a range of qualifications and achievements, including degrees from Harvard and Oxford University.
Continue reading “Former Paul Hastings litigator disbarred following Bar Standards Board appeal”
Closer scrutiny for the Bar as BSB introduces tougher supervision measures
Undeterred by the Bar’s reaction to its recent grading scheme for criminal advocates, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) today (5 October) announced new, more rigorous supervision arrangements for Chambers, aimed at curbing ‘ineffective governance and inadequate pupillage training.’
From January 2014, all Chambers will be required to participate in the new process, which will see the BSB assess how efficiently sets and sole practitioners are managing potential risks, while those identified as ‘high risk’ will be targeted by the BSB for remedial measures. Continue reading “Closer scrutiny for the Bar as BSB introduces tougher supervision measures”
The Bar: Bloch QC exits Wilberforce for Blackstone as Lord Hope joins Brick Court
Just weeks after Wilberforce Chambers’ longstanding chief executive and senior clerk Declan Redmond announced he is leaving for Keating Chambers, Wilberforce QC Michael Bloch has announced he is to depart for rival Blackstone Chambers.
A rated commercial and intellectual property specialist, Bloch QC’s recent caseload includes Nestles’ successful High Court battle with Cadbury earlier this month, after Cadbury tried to trademark the iconic purple colour of its Dairy Milk bars. Other significant cases include the British Sky Broadcasting Group v Microsoft over the latter’s use of the word ‘SkyDrive’ as the name for its cloud storage service. Continue reading “The Bar: Bloch QC exits Wilberforce for Blackstone as Lord Hope joins Brick Court”
‘I could walk away but I don’t want to’: Mansfield QC explains launch of virtual chambers following Tooks closure
The recent dissolution of Tooks Chambers was widely regarded as a sign of the times, as legal aid cuts coupled with a turbulent economy have hit publicly funded sets at the Bar harder than most. Now, however, former chief Michael Mansfield QC has embarked on plans to reinvent a low-cost, virtual version of the civil liberties set.
While Tooks closed its doors in Farringdon Street last Friday (11 Oct), 15 of the 55-strong set are expected to join Mansfield Chambers, as it will be known. Although the official launch is expected to take place in February next year, the new set began operating out of serviced offices at 5 Chancery Lane on Monday (14 Oct).
Continue reading “‘I could walk away but I don’t want to’: Mansfield QC explains launch of virtual chambers following Tooks closure”