‘PwC has questions to answers’: analyst firm warned years ago about audit failures at Babcock January 17, 2022 Audit giant PwC ignored warnings over irregularities in the accounts of British defence contractor Babcock International for years, even after they were flagged by analysts, according to sources speaking to City AM. In an email to this paper, analyst firm Boatman Capital Research said: “The Boatman and others were warning about accounting issues at Babcock from 2018 [...]
Criminal barristers consider strike over government’s legal aid deal January 17, 2022 Criminal barristers are considering taking strike action, after claiming government plans to inject £35m per year into the criminal justice system would not be enough to “ensure the long-term viability of the Criminal Bar.” Last week, the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) asked its 2,600 members to vote on the prospect of launching a strike, [...]
Best and the brightest welcome? Home Office tells Canary Wharf couple to move to China January 17, 2022 The Home Office has told a British Canary Wharf computer expert that he should move to China and live with his PhD-studying girlfriend’s family in Shanghai, after rejecting her visa application. Robert Evans, 30, from Aberdeen met his girlfriend, Lisa Li, 31, from Shanghai, whilst studying for a master’s degree in computer science in the [...]
JP Morgan looking to poach Big Four accountants after relaunching recruitment scheme January 14, 2022 JP Morgan has relaunched a scheme to poach newly qualified accountants from Big Four firms, in a sign that demand for junior bankers will remain high throughout 2022. The investment bank last week reoponed its recruitment scheme through which newly qualified accountants working in Big Four accountancy firm can become analysts within JP Morgan’s investment [...]
Trainee lawyer jailed for selling cocaine and ketamine over encrypted Encrochat network and helping to move £1.5m January 14, 2022 A trainee employment lawyer, Neema Seifzadeh, 27, has been jailed for six years, for his role in a £1.5 million plot to sell cocaine and ketamine over the encrypted network Encrochat. Seifzadeh, who worked on a pro bono legal advice hotline, was sentenced to six years imprisonment on Tuesday at Manchester Crown Court, for helping [...]
Soophia Khan: Outspoken human rights lawyer jailed for contempt of court January 14, 2022 A prominent human rights lawyer has been jailed for contempt of court, after refusing to hand over files to the the body that regulates solicitors. High Court judge Mr Justice Leech sentenced 41-year-old Soophia Khan – often referred to as Sophie Khan in the media – to six months imprisonment, for breaching a High Court [...]
Out-of-court settlement in Malaysia: KPMG coughs up $80m to end global 1MDB scandal January 13, 2022 KPMG has paid $80m to the Malaysian government, in the form of an out-of-court settlement, after Malaysia sued the Big Four firm over the 1MDB scandal, which saw billions stolen from Malaysia’s state-backed 1MDB investment fund. The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal saw at least $4.5 bn channelled out of Malaysia’s 1MDB investment fund, by [...]