Ackman of Pershings to relaunch SPAC as damage control from investor lawsuit August 20, 2021 In a letter to the shareholders of the largest SPAC to ever hit the market, billionaire fund manager Bill Ackman said on Thursday he will pursue a relaunch of Pershings, following a lawsuit filed this week by an investor. The lawsuit against Pershing Square Holdings (PSTH) was filed by former US Securities and Exchange (SEC) [...]
Faulty lab tests: Hundreds of drug-driving convictions could be quashed August 19, 2021 Hundreds of drug-driving convictions could be called into question after problems with evidence samples were discovered in forensic labs, according to police. Some evidence handled by forensic testing company Synlab Laboratory Services Limited is “no longer reliable”, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said. The company “identified issues with its analysis of drug-driving samples” in [...]
Legal groups urge UK to help female judges and legal professionals in Afghanistan August 19, 2021 At least 250 female judges in Afghanistan face a “perilous” future, legal groups have said while urging the UK government to offer asylum to female judges and other legal professionals in the country which has been control of by the Taliban. According to the Lawyer Monthly, the Bar Council, Bar Human Rights Committee and Law [...]
Deloitte gives all 333,000 staff lessons on climate change August 19, 2021 All Deloitte employees will be given lessons as part of a climate change education programme over the next six months according to reports, as the auditing giant seeks to boost climate change literacy in its workforce. The “climate learning program” that all 333,000 of the auditor’s international staff will be sent on, has been created [...]
PwC partner accused of leaking in £63m lawsuit leaves firm August 18, 2021 Ian Green, the former PwC head of restructuring, left the firm on 30 June according to Companies House filings, following accusations by Watchstone that he leaked confidential information about the PwC client. Aquis Exchange-listed Watchstone, an insurance and technology group, have said that Green disclosed its information to a banker at Greenhill & Co in [...]
Insurance payouts for Covid business interruption near £1bn August 17, 2021 Insurers have paid out almost £1bn in claims to businesses that were forced shut during nationwide lockdowns, according to the latest figures released by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) this week. Insurance companies paid out £637m in full settlements to policyholders with cover for business interruption since January as well as over £309m in interim payments, brining the total to £946m. But the total payments for claims could be higher still, as more than 38 [...]
Travers Smith moving London HQ next door to Deloitte and Goldman Sachs August 17, 2021 Law firm Travers Smith will relocate its City of London headquarters in 2025 and neighbour Goldman Sachs and Deloitte offices. Its new headquarters will be based at Stonecutter Court, a 13-storey office in Farringdon which is a short distance from its current location on Snow Hill in the same area. The silver circle firm signed a [...]
Divorce enquiries jump 136 per cent as lockdown restrictions ease August 13, 2021 The number of people seeking divorce related advice has soared by 136 per cent in June, compared to January, as lockdown restrictions ease, according to a law firm. Law practice Stewarts said the figures follow the busiest 18 months it has seen in the history of its divorce and family practice as the number [...]
German MPs fail in bid to publish ‘dynamite’ report on EY’s Wirecard audits August 13, 2021 Germany’s highest court has rejected an attempt by MPs to force the publication of an unredacted report into EY’s audits of Wirecard, according to reports. The lawsuit was filed by MPs who had investigated the Wirecard fraud, one of the biggest corporate scandals, according to the Financial Times. The Federal High Court of Justice has [...]
PwC profit up 25 per cent to £1.2bn as private sector demand drove growth August 12, 2021 PwC has today reported that its total group profit for the financial year rose by 25 per cent to £1.2bn, as the firm saw renewed private sector demand drive growth for audit, deals and transformation services. The big four accountant also saw its gross revenue increase slightly by two per cent to £4.4bn for the [...]