Latest legal news

Lord Chancellor Michael Gove has thrown out sweeping cuts to legal aid contracts in England and Wales. The reform plan had been in the works at the Ministry of Justice for over two years and was fiercely opposed by solicitors. | 10yrs

An HR manager from a New Zealand law firm has been sentenced to three years in jail for stealing approximately NZ$400,000 from the firm over a period of nine years. | 10yrs

The highest-paid partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has enjoyed a remuneration lift, despite profits sitting flat and overall salaries at the firm inching downwards. | 10yrs

Law firm RPC has announced it is entering into a joint law venture with established Singapore-based practice Premier Law. | 10yrs

The lawyer tasked with defending Rebekah Brooks in court against phone-hacking allegations has been rewarded for his efforts, scooping up the role of GC for News UK. | 10yrs

Kennedys will be able to practice US law for the first time after making two hires for its Miami office. The firm is also forming an association in Argentina with local firm Alberto Bunge & Asociados (ABA). | 10yrs

Campaigners are outraged after the UK government blocked access to legal advice documents that allegedly detail the extent to which the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will impact upon the national health service. | 10yrs

Malaysia's top lawyer cleared Prime Minister Najib Razak of wrongdoing on Tuesday, despite a reported recommendation from the country's anti-graft authority that he be charged with criminal misappropriation. | 10yrs

Sheffield City Council has launched a northshoring campaign in a bid to convince Southern law firms to open in the city. | 10yrs

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has defended its prosecution of six ex-brokers who were accused of helping to manipulate the Libor rate, after five of them were acquitted yesterday by a UK jury. | 10yrs

A free online legal advice platform launched in South Australia has taken off, providing legal advice to more than 1,000 users since October last year. | 10yrs

Law firm King Wood Mallesons has unveiled plans to open a second UK office in Cambridge focused on real estate clients. | 10yrs

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has warned it faces its eighth successive full-year loss this year, as it sets £2bn aside for claims relating to mortgage-backed securities and payment protection insurance. | 10yrs

Listed Australian firm Slater and Gordon is consulting with 51 fee-earners and support staff with a view to possible redundancies. | 10yrs

JPMorgan has agreed to pay nearly $1bn to resolve claims by Ambac Financial Group that the bank deceived it into insuring mortgage bonds backed by poor quality loans, clearing the way for approval of a bigger settlement over similar allegations. | 10yrs

Banking and finance specialisms continue to secure higher salaries for junior lawyers, while in-house positions struggle to deliver the dough offered by firms. | 10yrs

Litigation funder Burford Capital has signed a $45m deal to provide third-party funding for BT Group's litigation pipeline. | 10yrs

Research from Radiant Law has found that the vast majority of general counsel lack sufficient control over the technology spend of their department. | 10yrs

DLA Piper has announced that the number of firms in its group has risen to 15 with the addition of ADCA in Angola. | 10yrs