Gateley bolsters patent practice by snapping up biotech specialist law firm Symbiosis IP October 4, 2022 Gateley has acquired specialist biotech patent attorney firm Symbiosis for c.£2.5m as the listed law firm pushes forwards with plans to bolster its intellectual property (IP) offerings. The AIM-listed company’s acquisition comes just months after it snapped up Nottingham patent and trademark specialist Adamson Jones in January. The £2.5m deal will see Gateley pay £1.5m [...]
UK blocks Russia from buying professional services following annexation of Ukrainian regions October 3, 2022 The UK has placed new sanctions on Russia, blocking its citizens and businesses from purchasing an array of services from British firms, over the Kremlin’s decision to annex four regions of Ukraine. The new sanctions seek to further damage Russia’s economy by hindering the country’s access to IT consultancy, architectural, engineering, accounting, and commercial legal [...]
Ashurst seeks to capitalise on consulting boom with launch of UK advice business October 3, 2022 City law firm Ashurst is set to expand its services offering by launching a UK consulting business. The Silver Circle firm plans to build on the successes it has had in Australia by launching a London based risk advisory business. Ashurst’s new consulting business will be led by a trio made up of current Ashurst [...]
Barristers ambivalent about MoJ’s pay hike offer October 1, 2022 Criminal barristers have shown ambivalence towards the government’s offer to apply the 15 per cent legal aid fee hike to the “vast majority” of current cases. Barristers speaking to City A.M. said they welcomed the government’s positive movement, but raised concerns the pay hike alone may not go far enough. Members of the Criminal Bar [...]
P&O Ferries settles with laid-off chef following unlawful firing of 800 staff September 30, 2022 P&O Ferries has settled an employment lawsuit brought forward by one of the nearly 800 seafarers it unlawfully fired in March. The ferry operator settled a case with one of its former chefs for an undisclosed sum after the Dubai-owned company admitted breaking the law by firing 800 staff, without consultation, over a pre-recorded video [...]
Luxury resort developer jailed for 12 years over £226m fraud September 30, 2022 A “thrice bankrupt fraudster”, who lost investors almost £400m through a “fatally flawed” Caribbean property scheme, was jailed at Southwark Crown Court today. David Ames, 70, a former double-glazing seller from Essex, was sentenced to 12 years in prison today, after being convicted of defrauding investors of £226m. Ames’ Harlequin property development company collapsed in [...]
Lidl told to stop selling Lindt-like chocolate bunnies and destroy remaining stock September 29, 2022 Lidl’s Swiss unit should stop selling foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies, that bare various similarities to Lindt’s golden rabbits, and destroy its remaining stock, a Swiss court has ruled. The Lausanne court said Swiss cholate maker Lindt & Sprüngli deserves protection from copycats, including the German supermarket which sells a golden foil wrapped bunny of its own. [...]
Data watchdog takes action against Virgin Media and six public bodies over information request failings September 28, 2022 The UK’s information watchdog has taken action against Virgin Media and six public bodies over their repeated failures to respond to members of the public when asked to hand over personal information. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said the seven public and private sector bodies had repeatedly failed to respond to Subject Access Requests (SAR) [...]
Ince settles former executives’ claims with £15,000 payouts each September 28, 2022 Ince has paid two of its former executives £15,000 each to settle a series of cases arising from the listed law firm’s decision to remove them from their posts. The maritime specialist law firm, which is listed on London’s AIM, said it has paid former chief executive Adrian Biles, and former finance chief, John Biles [...]
Government has until November to end barristers’ strike before judges will be justified in releasing prisoners September 28, 2022 Judges acted unlawfully by releasing prisoners awaiting trial because of the barristers’ strike, a High Court has ruled, after warning the government has just two months to sort the situation out before courts will be justified in letting out those awaiting hearings. Crown Court judges in Bristol and Manchester who released prisoners on bail, on [...]