Leaving the EU is a walk into the unknown that would put our prosperity at risk June 14, 2016 As arguments on either side of the EU referendum debate are increasingly cast as products of fear or fantasy, an objective assessment is becoming, for the many in the undecided camp, increasingly difficult. I appreciate that there are emotional and political considerations in this important debate. But I prefer to see it in purely business [...]
Goldman Sachs accused in court hearing of using gifts of prostitutes and Moroccan getaways to win Libyan business June 13, 2016 Goldman Sachs has been accused of lavishing Libyan officials with gifts such as prostitutes and trips to locations like Morocco in a bid to secure business in a court hearing today. In a case that opened at the high court in London today, the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) is taking legal action against Goldman Sachs on allegations that the [...]
Brexit vote could scrap first in time rule for divorcees, says Mayfair lawyer June 13, 2016 A vote to leave the EU on 23 June could result in a key divorce rule being chucked out, a Mayfair-based lawyer told City A.M. today. Jo Edwards, partner and head of family at Forsters, pointed out that the first in time rule, whereby a divorce which involves parties with links to different EU countries [...]
Now KPMG stands down as Fifa’s auditors June 13, 2016 KPMG has stood down as auditors of Fifa after more than a decade of service, the football association revealed in a statement today. Fifa said that it "welcomes" the change, which will give it a chance to work with a new audit firm. A new auditor has not yet been appointed. However, Fifa acknowledged that, particularly [...]
Why conveyancing is where it’s at for legal eagles, but bad luck if personal injury is more your focus June 13, 2016 Fees for lawyers with a head for conveyancing were as safe as houses last year, research out today has found. According to the study by chartered accountants Hazlewoods, fees for law firms which specialise in residential conveyancing rose by 15.4 per cent on average in 2015, while those specialising in commercial conveyancing also received a 8.7 per cent boost [...]
Failed EMI lawsuit could land Guy Hands with legal bill for millions June 12, 2016 Guy Hands' dropped lawsuit over Terra Firma's failed takeover of EMI could cost the investor millions. Hands, who was suing Citigroup for £1.5bn over allegations that the bank had misled him during the bidding process for the music company, had taken his case to London's high court last week, but dropped it on Friday. A [...]
Terra Firma’s Guy Hands drops EMI lawsuit against Citigroup June 10, 2016 Guy Hands has backed down in his lawsuit with Citigroup today. Hands, who brought his case to the High Court in London earlier this week, had been suing the bank for £1.5bn worth of damages over his private equity firm Terra Firma's failed takeover of music group EMI. Hands claimed that Citigroup had misled him throughout the bidding process [...]
Law firm CMS revenues break €1bn mark, although notes the potential for Brexit has caused some uncertainty in its UK market June 10, 2016 International law firm CMS revealed it had raced past a particular milestone today, brining in over €1bn in revenue, despite being slightly shaken by the possibility of a Brexit in its UK market. The figures Revenues for the firm increased to €1.01bn (£735.2m) in 2015, up 8.4 per cent on the prior year's €934.5m. Meanwhile, net profits had grown [...]
Accused ex-Barclays banker likely kept in the dark about any supposed Libor conspiracy by boss, court told June 9, 2016 An ex-Barclays submitter currently standing trial accused of Libor-rigging offences was likely kept in the dark about the full extent of any fixing activity by his boss, a court was told today. Jonathan Mathew, along with former Barclays traders Stylianos Contogoulas, Jay Merchant, Alex Pabon and Ryan Reich, has been charged with conspiracy to defraud on allegations [...]
HMRC tells accountants it’s business as usual for routine tax planning June 8, 2016 The taxman has written to a leading accountancy firm to reassure it that it's business as usual for routine tax planning. Accountancy firm RSM, which has offices in the City, previously wrote in its weekly tax bulletin that it was concerned about a report that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) had published in May. The report [...]