Suzi Ring

March 27, 2012 | International Edition

The senior judicial appointments process in the UK is in need of "significant reform" according to research published yesterday (26 March). According to research by think-tank CentreForum - which comes ahead of the House of Lords report on the subject due out later this week - the current system for senior judicial appointments is "not fit for purpose", drawing on statistics such as the Supreme Court composition of 11 white men and one white woman.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

March 26, 2012 | International Edition

Berrymans Lace Mawer has elected a new senior partner as long-running chief Terry Renouf steps down. Renouf will be replaced by healthcare practice co-head and Manchester partner Mike Brown from 2 April 2012.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 26, 2012 | International Edition

A trio of legal regulators have approved a new scheme for criminal barristers that will see them placed in one of four quality brackets in a bid to improve advocacy standards at the Bar. The Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) was approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) on Friday (23 March).

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

March 25, 2012 | International Edition

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has held that confidentiality under litigation privilege applies to Competition Act investigations, in a key ruling in the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT's) long-running investigation into dairy retail pricing. The ruling comes after an application by the OFT to make use of Tesco's records of interviews with potential witnesses for its investigation.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 23, 2012 | International Edition

City partners earning £1m will save around £42,000 a year as a result of the reduction in the top tax rate announced in Chancellor George Osborne's Budget earlier this week (21 March)...

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read

March 22, 2012 | International Edition

Olswang and US tech leader Cooley have ended their alliance as the US practice weighs up options to launch its own presence in the City. Management at both firms decided to call time on their 18-month non-exclusive alliance at the close of last year, although they are continuing to work on ongoing matters. It is understood the pair discussed a more formal tie-up or merger in the UK before calling off the relationship.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 22, 2012 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Allen & Overy (A&O) and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have all taken roles on the £1.2bn refinancing and development financing of Center Parcs. The deal has seen the UK holiday company complete a £740m refinancing of its existing debt and secure a £150m loan to finance the construction of its fifth site in Woburn, Bedfordshire.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 22, 2012 | International Edition

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May are both advising on the restructuring of Royal Mail as the Government prepares to take on the postal operator's multibillion-pound pension deficit.

By Suzi Ring

2 minute read

March 21, 2012 | International Edition

Private client lawyers are set to see a significant increase in work over the coming months as measures affecting high net worth individuals take centre stage in this year's Budget, which was unveiled today (21 March). Chancellor George Osborne has put measures targeting the wealthy at the core of a budget that is also set to cut tax for business and clamp down on tax avoidance by corporates and individuals.

By Suzi Ring

13 minute read

March 21, 2012 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) and Travers Smith are advising GAME Group as the video games retailer confirmed today (21 March) that it has filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator. The confirmation comes after the company announced that trading in its shares had been suspended pending clarification of its financial position.

By Suzi Ring

3 minute read