In a move to boost diversity within judicial ranks, the judiciary has begun piloting a new initiative to allow candidates from ‘non-traditional backgrounds’ to apply for positions as deputy High Court judges without gaining judicial experience first.
Losing its grip: nearly two-thirds of lawyers fear damage to UK’s disputes status from court fees hike
With the government’s current proposal to raise the fee to issue proceedings to 5% of the value for claims worth £10,000 or more, research recently undertaken by the Ministry of Justice shows that 61% of respondents believe the proposals will have a negative impact on the UK’s competitiveness in commercial disputes, according to RPC.
Sending the ‘right message’: Arthur Cox sees donations rejected by Irish Cancer Society due to client
A leading charity has decided it will no longer accept corporate donations from Big Five Irish law firm Arthur Cox as the firm is currently acting for tobacco giant Japan Tobacco in a dispute against the Irish government.
Cultural revolution: will the UK Anti-Corruption Plan create a US enforcement regime?
Michael West reports on how a shift in enforcement will herald a raft of new advisory work
At the tail end of last year, the government launched its long-awaited UK Anti-Corruption Plan, a disparate collection of actions, initiatives and priorities aimed at improving the UK’s transparency, strengthening investigation powers and toughening enforcement options. The strategy, if implemented, will mean an increasing workload for defence lawyers and further overhaul of companies’ compliance regimes.
Judicial diversity: First female senior presiding judge appointed
The senior judiciary has gone further towards increasing diversity in its ranks as it names its first female senior presiding judge (SPJ) in the latest round of appointments.
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A&O and Linklaters scale back in Russia as foreign firms feel the brunt of sanctions
Law firms scramble to reposition Moscow practice as EU sanctions hit home Russia’s volatile political environment began to have an impact on international and domestic law firms in Moscow at the beginning of this year, but as 2015 nears, and with multiple rounds of international sanctions imposed on the country, the situation has dramatically deteriorated.
US and EU sanctions on Russia have taken their toll on many located in Moscow, including Allen & Overy (A&O), which offered redundancy packages at associate level in October; Linklaters, which seconded 19 associates into other regions; White & Case, which reduced its Moscow-based headcount across both partner and associate levels; and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, whose office associate headcount dropped.
Taxing times: Lawyers’ reactions to the Autumn Statement
After his Autumn Statement, which may be UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne’s last if the Conservative party fails to be elected in next year’s general election, tax practitioners across the City have been besieged by calls from funds managers and banks nervous about the government’s proposals while real estate lawyers are facing a late night.
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‘Inspired by common law’: EU damages Directive opens door for competition disputes but steers clear of class actions
Monday (10 November) saw the EU Council of Ministers formally adopt the European Commission’s Directive on antitrust damages, a move to standardise multiple aspects of competition litigation across the EU and one which City competition lawyers believe will generate an uptick in potential cases.
Are sanctions affecting workloads in legal services? What are the expectations for 2015?
Andrei Gusev of Borenius looks at the effects of the latest EU/US measures.
There was a lot of speculation, stress and tension among foreign investors in Russia when the EU, the US and several other countries imposed their two latest rounds of sanctions against Russia, leading to Russia responding with its own counter-sanctions, including the so-called ‘food embargo’. A few weeks after the introduction of these measures, certain trends have already surfaced. What are these trends? Continue reading “Are sanctions affecting workloads in legal services? What are the expectations for 2015?”
Gang aft agley – relief for Scots lawyers but indy vote is hard on mice an’ men
It was late in the day, as opinion polls narrowed alarmingly, that English lawyers took notice of Scotland’s independence vote last month and entertained the huge implications of a split in the UK’s 300-year-old union.
As several major Scottish institutions warned they would relocate operations to London, sterling buckled and one mortgage-backed securities deal went so far as to exclude Scots real estate, the implications began to sink in for business.
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