UK government to open negotiations with striking barristers following ‘constructive’ meeting September 21, 2022 The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has said it will call off a demonstration, planned for this Thursday, following an introductory meeting with the UK’s new justice secretary Brandon Lewis. In a joint statement, the CBA and Bar Council said the introductory meeting had been “constructive” as the barrsiters’ trade bodies said “detailed conversations now will [...]
Barclays faces £40m lawsuit over breast implant scandal September 16, 2022 Barclays is facing a £40m High Court lawsuit over claims it dishonestly transferred assets, owned by one of Britain’s largest cosmetic surgery providers, to prevent women who were given dangerous breast implants from receiving compensation. The High Court lawsuit, which is scheduled to be heard this October, claims Barclays’ Business Support Unit helped restructure Hospital [...]
Lawyers should be ‘ethically obliged’ to inform clients of climate risks, open letter says September 15, 2022 Lawyers have said the legal sector should be forced to inform their clients of the legal risks of investing in projects that are inconsistent with efforts to keep global warming below 1.5˚C In an open letter, more than 100 top lawyers called on regulators to ensure solicitors and barristers are “ethically obliged” to advise their [...]
Keystone Law ready to poach lawyers hit by downturn, firm chief James Knight says September 15, 2022 Keystone Law’s head has said the listed law firm is readying itself to profit on the looming economic downturn, with a view to poaching lawyers laid off from other firms. Speaking to City A.M. Keystone chief executive James Knight said the remote-first law firm is ready to pick up those lawyers facing heightened pressure to [...]
Queen’s death: Top lawyers called KC’s for first time in 70 years September 15, 2022 The death of the UK’s longest reigning monarch, and the coronation of King Charles III, will mean lawyers forced to familiarise themselves with a series of semantic shakeups in Britain’s court system as all references to the Queen are switched out for references to the country’s new King. The UK’s top advocates and barristers [...]
Legal sector hits back at EU calls for regulation of third-party litigation funders September 14, 2022 Lawyers and litigation funders have hit back at EU plans to regulate the third-party litigation financing industry in claiming new rules could limit access to justice. The clashes come after the EU parliament on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting a report by German MEP Axel Voss calling for new regulation of Europe’s [...]
Legal sector wage inflation expected to slow, Gateley chief executive says September 13, 2022 The head of UK listed law firm Gateley Plc has said he expects “pay inflation” in the legal sector to slow over the coming year. Speaking to City A.M. Gateley chief executive Rod Waldie said “wage inflation has been the single biggest issue we’ve had to confront” as he noted the law firm’s payroll costs [...]
UK’s accounting sector on course for record year as firms capitalise on volatility September 12, 2022 The UK’s accounting sector’s turnovers continued to grow over July as the industry bucked trends towards plummeting revenues in the wider services sector. The accounting sector’s turnovers increased 0.69 per cent from June to July, to heights of £3.54bn, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show. The growth saw the sector’s revenues [...]
Barrister fined £500 over links to ‘inappropriate and offensive’ tweets September 11, 2022 A barrister has been fined £500 for his links to an anonymous Twitter account that put out a series of “inappropriate and offensive tweets.” The Bar Standards Board (BSB) fined Anthony Daniel Bennett £500 for allowing the Twitter handle “@arrytuttle” to send a series of offensive tweets about fellow barrister Adam Wagner. Bennett authorised use of [...]
Information watchdog to crack down on Freedom of Information request failures September 11, 2022 The head of the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has warned public bodies it will take action against those failing to respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests within the required 20-day time frame, after issuing its first enforcement notice against a government department in seven years. ICO chief John Edwards said the watchdog [...]