Europe/UK - Page 237
Lawyers warned over spiralling divorce costs
Lawyers are failing to adequately advise separating couples to settle their legal issues before costs spiral out of control, a report from the legal ombudsman has claimed.
Impropriety allegations need careful handling
Responding to allegations of impropriety for high profile people needs a well thought out plan, says employment expert Clare Murray of CM Murray
Oracle Capital Group launches London legal brokerage
A new project to protect vulnerable foreign clients from legal hawks has been established by multi-family office Oracle Capital Group in a joint venture with Australian lawyer Dr Yuri Rapoport, creating the first legal brokerage service in London.
CPS lawyers reject 'difficult cases' in cost-savings row
Cash-strapped prosecutors at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) pick and choose cases, keeping potentially expensive trials in-house even if they are not the best qualified to handle them, a leaked e-mail has claimed.
Top UK firms eye mergers with non-legal practices
Around a quarter of UK's top 40 law firms are looking at merging with a non-legal practice within the next two years, according to research by a London accounting and consultancy firm today.
Basic pay slide cancels out bonuses
English lawyers took home on average five per cent less in 2012 than they did the year before, as higher bonuses were outstripped by tumbling basic pay.
UK lawyers told to go digital
Justice Minister Damian Green has said that 'unacceptable' court delays could lead to an overhaul of the legal aid system, which may see a single digital case file created and shared throughout the justice system.
British banks face £9bn unfunded litigation bill
The four largest banks in Britain have racked up a legal bill of more than £9 billion due to pending legal action, a report yesterday revealed.
SRA plays down law firm finance concerns
The regulatory body of lawyers in England and Wales has today moved to quash claims that it has 'serious concerns' over the financial well-being of some 2,000 law firms.
Top British companies ramp up legal budgets
Britain's leading companies have set aside £22.1 billion to cover regulatory and legal costs last year representing a 22 per cent increase from the previous year, research has revealed today.
Cut out lawyers to save £1.5bn, says insurer
Motorists would save an average of £60 per year if lawyers were by-passed in the small-claims process, a leading UK insurer yesterday claimed, sparking cries of outrage from the legal profession.
Linklaters posts flat retention rate
London law firm Linklaters became the latest magic circle firm to reveal its March retention rates yesterday, announcing a rate of 83 per cent.
Barclays GC race hots up
Leading in-house lawyers at Barclays are jockeying for position as the bank looks to appoint a new general counsel, with reports suggesting Michael Shaw and Judith Shepherd are the current frontrunners.
Diversity improving at UK law firms
UK law firms are tasting success in their efforts to improve diversity and inclusion performance but there is still more work to be done, a report released today has concluded.
Accountancy watchdog launches Autonomy inquiry
Britain's chief accountancy enforcer is set to investigate claims that Cambridge-founded software company Autonomy misrepresented its profitability before its £7 billion takeover by Hewlett-Packard in 2011.
Economic woe creates 'hostile landscape' for lawyers
The UK legal sector is facing an 'unprecedented change' as major reforms to legislation take their toll on once lucrative markets, a leading financial advisory firm yesterday claimed.
Leading firms take top roles on Virgin Media mega deal
A raft of global law firms took starring roles as US cable giant Liberty Global completed the $23.3bn (£14.9bn) purchase of Virgin Media yesterday.
Pinsent Masons gears up for new business launch
UK law firm Pinsent Masons has revealed it is to launch a new flexible resources service in the spring.
Privilege denied
Accountants have taken a knock in Britain's top court over confidential tax advice, but lawyers shouldn't relax as bean-counter leaders are gearing up to lobby for profound change
Barclays top lawyer steps down after 10 years
Long-serving Barclays' group general counsel Mark Harding is to retire from the bank at the same time as finance chief Chris Lucas, it was announced this week.