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International Edition

The return of the native – Todd QC on returning to practise after an eventful year as Bar Council chair

"This last year, I have come to realise, even more clearly than before, that you cannot please all people all of the time and you cannot please some people any of the time." So wrote Erskine Chambers' Michael Todd QC at the conclusion of his year as chairman of the Bar Council. If there was a touch of asperity in the tone of writing, Todd could be forgiven.
10 minute read

International Edition

Access all areas – the realities of gaining direct access to the Bar

There are no two ways about it. After years of effectively being a closed shop, the Bar is opening up. A number of initiatives over the years have seen it attempt to open its doors to a more diverse range of young barristers. And more recently, it attempted to stop relying on its traditional referring solicitor client base to attract a more diverse range of clients – whether or not solicitors liked it. The popularity of the scheme myBarrister – to launch later this year – an online service that will promote direct access to the Bar through a centralised portal of barristers (see page 20), is the latest in a string of moves by the Bar to increase direct instructions from clients. The changes are largely down to a concerted push from several individual barristers and sets to increase direct access in light of funding cuts, especially to legal aid, as well as to increased competition from solicitors looking to bring more advocacy work in-house.
15 minute read

International Edition

Paper trail – are paperless trials the way forward for UK courts?

Billed as the biggest trial in the British courts in terms of value, the case brought in 2011 by Boris Berezovsky against fellow Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich was always going to attract plenty of interest. With accusations of blackmail, breach of trust and breach of contract, as well as a damages claim of £3.8bn, the scene was set for high drama. The ensuing litigation proved to be a first on a number of counts, not least for being the first case to be heard at the High Court's commercial arm, the Rolls Building.
8 minute read

International Edition

Libor scandal throws Extradition Act into the spotlight as SFO comes under pressure

As the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) becomes the third bank to reach a settlement on Libor, a key battle is being fought behind closed doors as both the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the US Department of Justice (DoJ) pursue former employees of UBS for alleged manipulation of Libor. It has once again thrown the spotlight on the Extradition Act 2003, its proposed amendment and the prospect of UK-based executives being extradited to the US for offences where arguably the proper forum for resolution of the allegations is England & Wales.
6 minute read

International Edition

Fee pressure deters rising stars at Bar as silk applications dip

Barristers are being put off from applying for QC status because they fear losing out on work amid acute pressure on fees, according to senior figures at the Bar. The news comes as it was announced this week that 84 out of 183 applicants were awarded QC status this year – the lowest number on both counts since the selection procedure was revamped in 2006.
4 minute read

International Edition

Slaughters brought in by SFO for multimillion-pound Tchenguiz claim

Slaughter and May has been instructed by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to defend it against claims totalling as much as £300m resulting from its failed investigation into businessmen and brothers Robert and Vincent Tchenguiz. The SFO today (28 February) confirmed the appointment of the magic circle firm, which comes after the collapse of the long-running investigation into the brothers for suspected impropriety in relation to the 2008 failure of Icelandic bank Kaupthing.
2 minute read

International Edition

BSB chair Deech and ex-Herbert Smith senior partner among honorary QCs

Bar Standards Board (BSB) chair Baroness Ruth Deech and former Herbert Smith senior partner Edward Walker-Arnott are among a group of eight lawyers to be made honorary QCs this year. The award of Queen's Counsel honoris causa is given to those who have made a major contribution to the law of England & Wales outside practice in the courts, and is decided by a Ministry of Justice selection panel, which passes its recommendations to Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling.
3 minute read

International Edition

Herbert Smith Freehills secures senior Gibson Dunn hire for new US base

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has boosted its ranks in New York with the hire of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher global arbitration co-head Laurence Shore. Shore originally joined legacy Herbert Smith's London arm in 1995, becoming head of international arbitration at the firm in 2005 before leaving for Gibson Dunn's arbitration practice in 2008. He became co-chair of the practice in the same year.
2 minute read

International Edition

Essex Court, Doughty Street among big winners in 84-strong silk round

The annual round of QC appointments has been announced today (27 February), with 84 taking silk, including four each from Brick Court Chambers, Doughty Street Chambers and Essex Court Chambers. The trio are the most successful sets in this year's round, while other chambers to be recognised include Hardwicke, 3-4 South Square, Landmark Chambers, Maitland Chambers and St Phillips Chambers, all of which are home to three newly appointed QCs.
5 minute read

International Edition

Three new Supreme Court justices appointed to top court

The Queen has approved the appointment of three new Justices of the Supreme Court, with Lord Justice Hughes, Lord Justice Toulson and Lord Hodge all set to join the bench. The trio will replace Lord Dyson, who became Master of the Rolls in October 2012, and Lord Walker and Lord Hope, who are due to retire later this year.
3 minute read

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