Latest legal news

US regulators have beefed up rules covering the import of minerals from African war zones in a move that could significantly boost compliance costs for businesses. | 14yrs

A Malaysian group is bidding to resolve a long-standing problem for Sharia financial products by establishing a universally accepted code of ethics and standards for Islamic scholars. | 14yrs

American visa experts and immigration lawyers are highly in-demand by an increasing number of Indian technology and business process outsourcing companies aiming to ensure every visa petition they file complies with regulations. | 14yrs

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has staunchly rebutted claims that she benefitted from a union fund that she helped set up for free, and off the books, when practising as a lawyer 17 years ago. | 14yrs

A senior official at the body regulating English law firms threw a grenade into the debate over legal profession reforms yesterday, suggesting that it is almost a certainty that one of the newly-minted alternative business structures will fail. | 14yrs

South African firm ENS has bagged a six-strong team of lawyers from DLA Piper's South African affiliate, including the Anglo-US practice's corporate and commercial head, in a move highlighting increasing activity in the local market. | 14yrs

Implementation of elements of the controversial Dodd-Frank Act -- which subjects banks trading with American counterparties to US regulation -- could force Asian financial institutions doing North American deals to rush for the exists, warn lawyers. | 14yrs

America's legal profession continues to obsess over a senatorial candidate's controversial comments on rape and abortion, with a lawyer blogger from a top global white shoe law firm lashing out in an open letter to the politician. | 14yrs

The body representing Australia's biggest law firms is calling for lawyers in Queensland to clarify their position on proposed legal profession regulatory reforms, amid fears from local practitioners that a new regime will ratchet up practice costs. | 14yrs

Legal communications must be given ironclad protection in any legislation revising surveillance powers in the UK, the body representing England's barristers said this week. | 14yrs

A New York county judge should be permanently banned from public office in New York after allegedly admitting to having sexual contact with his five-year-old deaf niece 40 years ago, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct has recommended. | 14yrs

Two leading lawyers have weighed into the row over controversial statements on rape and abortion made by the Republican Party candidate for a Missouri Senate seat. | 14yrs

Dwindling cash flow is a practice headache reaching crisis proportions for many UK law firms, results from the latest management research in the sector shows. | 14yrs

The vast majority of British legal professionals say their individual workload requires more than one person, and that the average working week in the profession is equivalent to eight days, recent research reveals. | 14yrs

Legal profession authorities in Canada have launched a trio of initiatives aimed at improving access to justice, preparing the legal profession for the future and assisting law firms to measure diversity. | 14yrs

Philippines President Benigno Aquino has begun the interview process to appoint a new chief justice following the removal of Renata Corona, who was convicted by a senate impeachment court in May. | 14yrs

Regulators have given the green light to the first law firm with private equity backing as part of the revolution sweeping through practice structures in England, it was announced today. | 14yrs

Family of 'big four' accountancy lawyer calls for inquiry following death at Connecticut home | 14yrs

Mass media business News Corp has set up a global ethics team at the instigation of its founder, chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch, and against the backdrop of on-going concerns over 'phone hacking allegations in the UK. | 14yrs