Meet Julien Martinet: The savvy lawyer who poached an entire team from law giant Hogan Lovells February 5, 2022 Julien Martinet this week hit the headlines for leaving Hogan Lovells, one of the biggest law firms in the world, to start his own specialist litigator, Swift Litigation – and taking his entire team of lawyers with him. Martinet’s departure from Hogan Lovell’s came after former Boies Schiller Flexner partner Natasha Harrison left the New [...]
Money and mental health czar Richard Lloyd named FCA boss while search for Charles Randell successor kicks off February 4, 2022 The Treasury announced this afternoon that they have started the search for the next Chair of the FCA. While the search for Charles Randell’s permanent successor kicks off, Richard Lloyd OBE will act as interim chair of the FCA from 1 June, with Aidene Walsh will become interim chair of the PSR from 1 April. Richard Lloyd [...]
Disbelief and anger as man who kept low IQ victim for 40 years in a horse box walks free: ‘I had nowhere else to go’ February 4, 2022 There was disbelief and anger today as a man who exploited a vulnerable victim found living in a squalid shed has walked free from court. Peter Swailes Jr, 56, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court to a nine-month jail term, suspended for 18 months. The victim had been “used and exploited” for 40 years while [...]
UK lags behind European rivals as hub for creative agencies February 4, 2022 The UK is trailing behind its rivals in the competition to become Europe’s best place for creative agencies, according to new data from Sortlist. Figures from the advertising industry analysts show that Belgium has the most creative agencies per capita of any country in the world, with 22.9 creative firms per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, the [...]
Court grants sex worker anonymity in case against payments processor SumUp February 4, 2022 A British court has said an escort should be allowed to remain anonymous as she seeks to prevent card payments processor SumUp from banning sex workers from using its payments services. The court’s decision to grant anonymity to the escort – referred to only as Anna – will see her argue that SumUp’s decision to [...]
KPMG sued for £1.3bn over audit of Carillion February 3, 2022 The court appointed officer in charge of liquidating collapsed construction giant Carillion is suing KPMG for £1.3bn, for its role in auditing the building contractor. The £1.3bn claim – filed by the High Court appointed Official Receiver (OR) – alleges that KPMG failed its duties as an auditor to spot misstatements in Carillion’s accounts. The [...]
Russia-Ukraine: What will sanctions mean for UK businesses? February 3, 2022 Liz Truss this week warned Russia that the UK is now prepared to hit the Russian Federation with its “toughest sanctions regime” ever, as it seeks to deter the country from sending troops into Ukraine. “Nothing is off the table and there will be nowhere to hide,” the foreign secretary said. But as of yet, [...]
Privately-educated lawyers fill top ranks of UK’s corporate law firms, figures show February 3, 2022 Privately educated lawyers are much more likely to become partners in Britain’s biggest corporate law firms, than their state-educated counterparts, according to new figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The figures show that one-third (33 per cent) of lawyers working in corporate law firms went to private school, compared to just 13 per cent [...]
Carillion’s liquidator seeks more than £1bn from KPMG over collapsed construction giant’s audit February 2, 2022 KPMG may be forced to pay more than £1bn in damages for its role in auditing collapsed construction giant Carillion. The Big Four firm has received a legal claim from the Official Receiver (OR) – a UK government officer responsible for managing Carillion’s liquidation – requesting the firm pays damages in excess of £1bn, Sky [...]
The rise of the crypto lawyer – Glaisyers strikes deal with specialist crypto firm February 2, 2022 Commercial law firm Glaisyers ETL has struck a deal with a Stockport based law firm that specializes in recovering stolen crypto assets, amid a rise in scams and fraud linked to cryptocurrencies. Glaisyers’ investment in Wealth Recovery Solicitors (WRS) has seen the specialist crypto law firm move from their former headquarters in Stockport to [...]