Transport secretary vows to force P&O to pay UK minimum wage and ‘U-turn’ on firing decision March 25, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has said he will force ferry operators to pay UK minimum wage whilst they’re in international waters, after calling for P&O boss Peter Hebblethwaite to resign from his position as head of the Dubai owned firm. The Tory minister said he will close the “loopholes” that let shipping companies pay seafarers [...]
Bar Council chief hits out at critics who say lawyers are enabling Vladimir Putin’s regime March 25, 2022 The head of the Bar Council has claimed lawyers are being unfairly criticised as “facilitators and enablers” of Vladimir Putin’s regime. Speaking at a service at Temple Church last night, Mark Fenhalls QC, chair of the body that represent barristers, hit out at critics of the lawyers who have worked for those with links to [...]
United Utilities says inflationary pressures will offset higher revenues this year March 25, 2022 The UK’s largest water company, United Utilities, has said it expects its higher revenues, which expects to post as part of its financial results in May, will be offset by higher costs, linked to mounting inflationary pressures. The Warrington headquartered utility said current trading is in line with expectations for the financial year ending on [...]
Hundreds of Knights’ worker opted into share options scheme as stock price plummets March 24, 2022 Shares in listed law firm Knights Plc continued to plummet today, as it emerged that hundreds of Knights’ workers had agreed to buy shares at more than double their current price, after opting into an employee ownership scheme. A total of 524 employees opted into Knights’ Save As You Earn scheme, which offered company employees [...]
British lawyers are being scapegoated for horrors in Ukraine, Law Society says March 24, 2022 The Law Society has claimed “British lawyers” are being turned into “scapegoats” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In a letter to The Times, Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said lawyers have been “singled out” for their involvements with Russia, as she argued they have become scapegoats for the “horrors in Ukraine.” In response to [...]
Three quarters of separating couples are waiting for ‘no fault’ divorce law shakeup March 24, 2022 Government plans to bring in new “no fault” divorce laws next month could lead to a surge in the number of couples filing divorce proceedings. The release of pent-up demand, following the introduction of “no fault” divorce laws on 6 April, is expected to see a boom in demand. More than three quarters (78 per [...]
P&O ‘chose’ to break the law by firing 800 people, company boss says March 24, 2022 P&O Ferries’ chief executive has admitted the ferry operator broke the law by failing to consult employees and unions before sacking 800 people. Peter Hebblethwaite told MPs there was “absolutely no doubt” P&O broke UK employment laws, as he admitted the ferry firm “chose not to consult” employees and unions. “We chose not to consult [...]
Law firms face pressure to cut costs and offer ‘no win, no fee’ payment schemes March 24, 2022 An overwhelming majority of the UK’s biggest law firms are now facing pressure to cut the costs of their services, according to data shared exclusively with City A.M. Nine-in-ten partners in law firms with turnovers of more than £500m a year said they are facing pressure to reduce costs and use different billing arrangements, a [...]
Accounting vacancies boom will benefit London as job openings bounce back to pre-pandemic levels March 24, 2022 The number of job openings for accountancy positions has rebounded after dropping sharply during the pandemic. Vacancies in accounting are set to jump 6.9 per cent between this quarter and the next, to land at levels more 50 per cent higher than in Q2 2021. Following a lull in the hiring during the fourth quarter [...]
Lawyers counter P&O’s claims that it cannot be prosecuted March 24, 2022 Legal experts are disputing P&O’s claims that it is not subject to English law after company boss Peter Hebblethwaite said British courts have no power to prosecute the firm. The ferry operator claimed it had not broken UK laws, because its vessels are registered in Cyprus and Bermuda. The claims come after Prime Minister Boris [...]