FRC begins hunt for new chair after its governance dubbed a ‘grave risk’ August 6, 2021 The government has launched its recruitment drive for a new chair and non-executive directors for the Financial Reporting Council, after its governance was criticised. Although the watchdog has started the search for a permanent chair and six new non-executive directors, it will still be without a chair when Skeoch steps down in October. Just two [...]
Law firms brace as chancellor mulls over new tax on legal sector August 5, 2021 Rishi Sunak may be considering imposing a tax levy on the revenues of large commercial law firms, to help to prop up the ailing legal aid system, according to reports. The chancellor may be contemplating reviving the idea of a bespoke levy on commercial legal practices, an idea first suggested five years ago by then [...]
‘True David and Goliath battle’: Oatly loses UK trademark dispute to Glebe farm August 5, 2021 British oat milk producer Glebe Farm has today won a trademark infringement case brought against it by celebrity-backed oat drink giant Oatly. Glebe Farm was accused by Oatly, which boasts Oprah Winfrey as one of its investors, of trademark infringement and passing off, after the family-run business used the brand PureOaty on their gluten-free oat [...]
WPP raises forecast, following further revenue growth August 5, 2021 WPP today reported continuing strong results for the first half of the year, in a sign of optimism for the global marketing industry. The London-listed ad giant reported revenue growth of 9.8 per cent and new net business worth almost $3bn in the first six months of the year as more customers return to investing [...]
KPMG fined £13m over Silentnight sale misconduct August 5, 2021 The accounting firm has been fined and ordered to pay over £2.75m in costs, for serious misconduct in its role in the 2011 sale of bed retailer Silentnight to a private equity group. An independent tribunal found that KPMG and one of its partners did not comply with the UK professional accounting principles of objectivity [...]
Mike Ashley to hand reins of Sports Direct retail empire to future son-in-law August 5, 2021 The board of Frasers Group confirmed suspicions that CEO Mike Ashley will be replaced next year by his daughter’s fiancé, Michael Murray, in the group’s financial update. 31-year-old Murray is currently the firm’s “head of elevation” and has been in charge of modernise the owner of Sports Direct and House of Fraser, as well as [...]
Racial injustice more of a professional barrier than caregiving, says two thirds of lawyers August 5, 2021 Racial injustice is the biggest professional barrier for over two thirds of lawyers of colour, a report, published today, finds. In the study by Thomson Reuters, 68 per cent of black lawyers said racially related injustice was a key barrier to climbing up the legal ladder – the study found it was considered to be [...]
London hailed as world’s ‘city of choice’ in quality of life report August 4, 2021 London has topped the rankings out of 80 cities around the globe for a higher quality of life and social capital, according to a new report. The mammoth survey by Boston Consulting Group analysed responses from 25,000 residents in 80 cities around the world and using over 150 metrics. The UK’s capital won the title [...]
Legal & General profits over £1bn in a return to pre-covid levels August 4, 2021 Legal & General Group today reported strong financial results for the first half of the year, as the firm remains “confident in our collective and successful emergence from the pandemic.” The London-based asset manager saw a 14 per cent growth in operating profit to £1.1bn, compared with £946m for the same period in 2020. It’s [...]
Fertility benefits – for lawyers or for law firms? August 4, 2021 More law firms in the City are offering paid leave or paying towards the costs of fertility treatments for their employees in a bid to stay up to date, and keep their lawyers. Last week law firm Ashurst announced what it called “landmark” changes to its global parental leave policy. Alongside offering a reduction in [...]