Former Eversheds trainee solicitor stands trial for raping law student at house party October 8, 2021 A trial into alleged sexual assault by a former Eversheds Sutherland trainee solicitor has started. Tom Hagyard is being accused of raping a law student before sexually assaulting another female, while attending a house party – within weeks of joining law firm Eversheds Sutherland on a training contract in 2017, according to The Mail Online, [...]
Thousands of UK businesses at risk of insolvency from this week, City auditor warns September 29, 2021 Thousands of UK businesses that have struggled during the pandemic are at risk of collapse as the government ends its temporary insolvency measures this Friday, a top audit lawyer has warned. From Friday, the Government is phasing out its restrictions on winding-up petitions, meaning lenders and creditors can once again legally seek to liquidate a company [...]
Over two thirds of lawyers have battled with mental health problems September 28, 2021 More than two thirds of lawyers in the UK have suffered from mental ill-health, and the majority are at a high risk of burnout, a new report by a lawyer wellbeing charity has found. The report by LawCare, published today, contained the results of a detailed survey of over 1,700 legal professionals across the UK, [...]
Small law firms are let off from economic crime tax September 23, 2021 Small law firms have escaped the UK government’s Economic Crime Levy, aimed at raising £100m annually from anti-money laundering (AML) regulated organisations, to help pay for the fight against economic crime. Instead, AML-regulated organisations, including legal practices, banks and accountancy firms, with revenues above £10.2m will be subject to the new tax. The Economic Crime [...]
Legal giant Ashurst: One in three of our new recruits will have ethnic minority background September 22, 2021 International law firm Ashurst has announced wide-ranging diversity targets for both its global and UK offices to reach in the next five years. The new targets expand the company’s focus areas to include more LGBTI+ representation, gender equality and ethnicity targets in the UK. In its UK offices, Ashurst aims for 35 per cent of [...]
Legal Q&A: What uncertainty around the Ashes means for England, the players, contracts, sponsors and broadcasters September 21, 2021 Lawyer Jamie Horner examines the legal issues around this winter’s Ashes series between England and Australia, which remains in the balance due to Covid-19 restrictions Down Under. What are some of the key legal issues around this Ashes series? The key issue is the difference between Covid-19 restrictions in the UK and the more draconian [...]
Mishcon de Reya announces new merger ahead of IPO September 21, 2021 Law firm Mishcon de Reya has agreed a merger with life sciences specialist Taylor Vinters after recently confirming its plans to go public on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The deal will result in a new legal and consultancy business, named MDR Taylor Vinters, which will be led by Taylor Vinters’ management team. Mishcon said [...]
Mishcon de Reya partners back IPO plans as firm edges closer to listing September 10, 2021 Mishcon de Reya partners approved the law firm’s plans to go public on the London Stock Exchange, according to reports. Mishcon de Reya officials confirmed that at least three quarters of the partnership voted in favour of the planned initial public offering (IPO) of the firm, according to The Times. The law firm will be [...]
Mishcon de Reya launches new £150m litigation financing unit September 8, 2021 Law firm Mishcon de Reya has today announced plans to launch a new litigation funding unit with Harbour, one of the biggest litigation and arbitration funders in the world. The new venture, known as MDR Solutions I, will be used to assess and finance prospective litigation and arbitration cases originated by Mishcon de Reya clients [...]
Morrison Foerster are first law firm to mandate vaccines for London lawyers August 26, 2021 Law firm Morrison Foerster have publicly announced that its lawyers must be fully vaccinated against covid-19 to return to the London office. Morrison Foerster, also known as MoFo, will make covid-19 vaccinations mandatory from 13 September for those coming back to the office, where they will also need to wear a mask in common areas [...]