Claire Ruckin

March 10, 2010 | International Edition

The Law Society is set to launch a review of the Law Society Charity in a move that casts doubt on the charity's long-term prospects. The review will look at the society's relationship with the charity, which was set up in 1974, including issues such as whether it should resume providing annual funding to the body, which only has reserves to cover it for the next few years.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 10, 2010 | International Edition

Leading City partners from firms including Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are calling for more solicitors to join the judiciary as part of plans to increase judicial diversity. A group of partners, led by Linklaters senior partner David Cheyne and Baroness Julia Neuberger, submitted proposals last month on how solicitors should get more involved, with the findings forming part of a wider report issued by the advisory panel on judicial diversity, which was formed last April by Lord Chancellor Jack Straw.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 10, 2010 | International Edition

Ashurst and Blackstone Chambers have represented Winterflood Securities on the trading company's bid to overturn a 2008 market abuse ruling by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Ashurst litigation partner Edward Sparrow instructed Blackstone Chambers' Charles Flint QC on the appeal against the ruling, which saw Winterflood fined £4m for an "illegal share-ramping scheme" carried out in 2003-04.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 10, 2010 | International Edition

Eversheds and Clifford Chance (CC) have won leading roles advising on a £250m joint venture between property investment company NewRiver and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI) to invest in UK retail property. The Guernsey-registered joint venture, which will be known as NewRiver Retail Investments, has an acquisition capacity of more than £250m including leverage and has already made its first portfolio acquisition.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 10, 2010 | International Edition

Herbert Smith has bolstered its City capital markets group with the hire of the former head of Linklaters' US practice in London. Steve Thierbach is set to join the top 10 City law firm as a partner next month (6 April) and will work closely with the firm's capital markets head, Jim Wickenden.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 10, 2010 | International Edition

Olswang has overhauled its management structure, with the firm dropping its managing partner position and electing current post-holder David Stewart as chief executive. Stewart will take over the chief executive position from Kevin Munslow on 1 May. Munslow, who has served as chief executive since 2007, intends to go on sabbatical before returning to Olswang as a consultant.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 05, 2010 | International Edition

Pannone and Beresfords are among a host of firms being sued for allegedly under-settling compensation claims due to sick coalminers. Manchester-based Pannone and Doncaster firm Beresfords are among 11 firms facing 25 civil claims between them for allegedly failing to retrieve the full amount due to ex-miners under the Government's Coal Health Compensation Scheme.

By Claire Ruckin

2 minute read

March 04, 2010 | International Edition

Success fees in defamation cases are to be slashed by 90% in a major step towards libel reform. The move was announced on Wednesday (3 March) by the Ministry of Justice, following a consultation issued in January, 'Controlling costs in defamation proceedings'.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

March 03, 2010 | International Edition

Some of the City's leading law firms are set to be drawn into an ambitious bid to create a global bank disputes tribunal in The Hague. The Dutch not-for-profit organisation World Legal Forum (WLF) is leading the initiative, which is expected to see legal and financial specialists from around the world meeting before June to discuss plans to create a special tribunal for hearing financial disputes.

By Claire Ruckin

3 minute read

March 03, 2010 | International Edition

City partners believe alternative business structures (ABSs) will have a significant impact on the profession, according to new research which shows nearly one in two firms are considering taking advantage of the reforms. The latest Big Question survey found partners at the UK's top law firms thought ABSs would impact on the profession 'significantly' (33%) or to an extent (43%). No one surveyed expected the changes brought in by the Legal Services Act to have no impact.

By Claire Ruckin

4 minute read