Legal View: Why the law is an underappreciated asset class March 3, 2022 Economists have recently acknowledged the existence and the value of natural assets in ways which open new avenues of thought. Guy Beringer, former chair of UK Export Finance and currently the director of LegalUK, argues that the same process of recognition and revelation should apply to another class of asset which impacts the quality of [...]
Kazakhstani mining company’s libel lawsuit against British author dismissed by High Court judge March 2, 2022 A libel lawsuit, put forward by a Kazakhstani mining company against Financial Times journalist Tom Burgis over his new book, has been thrown out of court. A High Court judge dismissed a case brought forward by Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC), after the firm sued Burgis for libel, over comments made in the first two [...]
Magic Circle law firm Allen & Overy vows not to take on any more Russian clients March 2, 2022 Magic Circle law firm Allen & Overy has vowed not take on any more Russian clients, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The City of London law firm said it is “reviewing” its “Russia-related portfolio” with a view to stopping “all Russia-linked work that goes against our values.” The firm also said it will [...]
Insurers and analysts temper enthusiasm on Solvency II reforms March 2, 2022 Insurers and analysts have warned that the UK government’s plans to reform Solvency II, with a view to lowering the sums that insurance firms must hold in their coffers, may not live up to expectations. After City minister John Glen set out plans to reform the EU’s Solvency II rules, and “unleash” the “benefits of [...]
Grant Thornton cuts ties with Russian member firm that audits Russia’s Central Bank and Gazprom March 2, 2022 Grant Thornton has cut ties with its Russian member business, FBK, in response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The London headquartered consultancy said its Russian member business, FBK, would be leaving Grant Thornton’s international network with immediate effect. Grant Thornton’s decision to cut ties with Moscow headquartered consultancy FBK will in effect see the firm [...]
Sanctions will force consultancies to drop Russian clients, consultancy trade body says March 2, 2022 The trade body for management consultancies has said the UK government’s sanctions on Russia and Belarus will “inevitably” mean some consultancies will be forced to cut links with some of their clients. In a statement, Tamzen Isacsson, Chief Executive of the Management Consultancies Association (MCA), said: “Our firms are strictly abiding by the updated changes [...]
Conservative MP Bob Seely names and shames ‘amoral’ lawyers working for ‘Putin’s henchmen’ March 2, 2022 Conservative MP Bob Seely has spoken out against the UK lawyers working on behalf of Russian oligarchs, after accusing them of teaming up with Putin’s henchman to silence the British press. The MP for the Isle of Wight said the UK’s legal system had become “corrupted” by money from kleptocrats, as he accused lawyers of [...]
UK private schools told not to accept fee payments from Russia March 1, 2022 The group that represents Britain’s private schools has told its members not to take fees from Russia. The Independent Schools Council (ISC), a lobby group that acts on behalf of more than 1,300 private schools, warned its members that they may face legal issues if they accept payments from any individual or entity that has [...]
Slater & Gordon cuts divorce fees in half ahead of new laws allowing for ‘no-fault divorce’ March 1, 2022 Slater & Gordon has halved the price of getting a divorce, in preparation for the introduction of new laws allowing for “no fault divorce” next month. The law firm said it would cut fixed fees charged to those seeking a divorce from £1,020 to £540, plus court fees. The decision comes as the government [...]
Fried Frank poaches 35 of New York rival Cadwalader’s staff March 1, 2022 New York law firm Fried Frank has poached 35 professionals from its New York rival Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. Fried Frank is set to take on five partners from New York’s oldest law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. In the coming weeks, 15 Cadwalader lawyers and a further 15 professional services employees will also join [...]