Court throws out privacy challenge to facial recognition technology in landmark ruling September 4, 2019 The High Court today rejected a privacy challenge to the use of facial recognition technology in a landmark ruling. The High Court found that the use of automatic facial recognition technology (AFR) by South Wales police was lawful after a challenge by privacy campaigner Ed Bridges who was represented by advocacy group Liberty. AFR technology [...]
Donald Trump blasts Sadiq Khan in misspelled tweet after criticism of time spent on the golf course September 3, 2019 US President Donald Trump unleashed a misspelled rant at London mayor Sadiq Khan today after criticism of the amount of time he spends on the golf course. Trump yesterday cancelled his trip to Poland to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II because of the impending landfall of Hurricane Dorian in [...]
UK’s top law firms boost average partner pay to £750,000 September 3, 2019 Average partner profits at the UK’s top 50 law firms hit £750,000 last year as the sector continued to expand despite an uncertain economic and political backdrop. Nine firms posted average profit per equity partner (pep) of over £1m, according to new research published today by website Legal Week. Partners at Magic Circle firm Slaughter [...]
Allen & Overy’s US merger talks with O’Melveny & Myers collapse September 2, 2019 Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy’s longrunning merger talks with US firm O’Melveny & Myers have collapsed, the firm said today. In a statement, the firm said: “Allen & Overy and O’Melveny & Myers have held discussions about a possible combination and, despite agreeing that there were some compelling synergies between us and that it [...]
Law firms moving away from traditional partnership model September 1, 2019 Law firms are moving away from the traditional partnership structure with 47 per cent now incorporated businesses, according to new research. Forty seven per cent (4,890) of the 10,400 law firms in the UK are now incorporated businesses, up from 32 per cent five years ago, according to analysis from accountancy firm Hazlewoods. The increase [...]
Burford Capital’s shares fall on fresh criticism from Canaccord analysts August 29, 2019 Shares in Burford Capital fell a further six per cent today as analysts at broker Canaccord Genuity unleashed a fresh barrage of criticism at the embattled litigation funder. Burford Capital’s shares lost 40 per cent of their value earlier this month after shortseller Muddy Waters blasted its accounting practices and governance. Read more: Burford left [...]
Watchstone accuses Slater and Gordon of using ‘illicit back channel’ during disputed Quindell deal August 29, 2019 Insurance outsourcer Watchstone struck back in its High Court scrap with Slater & Gordon today after it was granted permission to file a counter-claim against the personal injury law firm. Watchstone said it recently discovered an “illicit back channel” Slater and Gordon’s corporate finance adviser Greenhill & Co allegedly used to access confidential information about [...]
Baker Mckenzie boosts revenue and profit despite testing year August 29, 2019 Global legal giant Baker Mckenzie said today its revenue grew 1.2 per cent to $2.92bn (£2.39bn) in the last financial year. Baker Mckenzie has suffered a tough year with the shock death of global managing partner and former London chief Paul Rawlinson in April. Read more: Law firm Baker McKenzie confirms death of global chair [...]
First payout to London Capital & Finance investors pushed back August 28, 2019 Investors in mini-bond firm London Capital & Finance will have to wait longer to receive their first dividend since its collapse, according to an administrators’ report published today. Administrators Smith & Williamson estimate a return to the bondholders of as little as 25 per cent of their investment in the firm, which failed in January [...]
Italian political crisis: Former PM Giuseppe Conte could return to power August 27, 2019 Italy’s former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte could return to power to lead a coalition between the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD). The two parties are in talks to try and form a coalition following the collapse of a pact between PD and the right wing League which triggered Conte’s resignation last [...]