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Corporate Counsel

RealNetworks Defends DVD Copying Software

Hollywood alleges software encourages piracy.
13 minute read

Corporate Counsel

Securities Suit Strategies

Experts discuss subprime litigation and the Tellabs pleading standard.
21 minute read

Corporate Counsel

The Year in Review

20 Stories the In-House Bar Couldn't Ignore.
41 minute read

International Edition

Herbies faces fees cut after Talco case settles

One of the most expensive cases in British legal history - the epic Talco battle in which Herbert Smith advised the Republic of Tajikistan in a dispute with a group of aluminium traders - has settled midway through trial. The settlement, which comes just four weeks into an 18-week trial, means Herbert Smith's fees - expected to hit $100m (£65m) - are likely to be reduced.The firm fielded a team led by disputes partner Simon Bushell, with the estimated total fees also including costs for counsel - Herbert Smith in-house advocate Murray Rosen QC and One Essex Court's Neil Kitchener QC.
2 minute read

International Edition

Bar to open its doors to TV cameras in fly-on-the-wall BBC documentary

The struggle to become a barrister and the everyday issues facing the profession are set to be revealed in a groundbreaking BBC fly-on-the-wall documentary, The Barristers.The four-part series, which will first air on BBC2 tomorrow (14 November), was co-produced by The Open University and gives an insight into all of the aspects of court life - from young people aspiring to join the profession to typical life in chambers for the most senior QCs and judges.Members of the profession taking part in the programme include Bar Council chairman Timothy Dutton QC, Louise McCabe and Alistair MacDonald of Birmingham-based St Philips Chambers, Annie Evans - one of the first Crown Prosecution Service barristers, and a number of students.
2 minute read

International Edition

Stars at the Bar: Future stars at the Bar

Who are the Inns of Court A-listers of the future? Dominic Carman meets 10 up-and-coming young barristers who are being tipped for the top
10 minute read

International Edition

Outer Temple in management structure reshuffle

Outer Temple Chambers has re-jigged its management structure in a move that will see three QCs take on new leadership roles as the set gears up for the Legal Services Act (LSA).Head of Chambers Philip Mott QC has become the set's executive director while former deputy head of chambers, Richard Lissack QC, will stand down from his role to become head of strategic development, in a post that will see him take responsibility for external marketing and public relations.In addition, Michael Bowes QC has taken on the role of head of service delivery in which he will take responsibility for quality assurance, the repackaging of services to take advantage of the LSA, management of contracts and promoting new ways of working.The new leadership structure was agreed at the set's annual general meeting last month (18 October), with each of the leaders to hold their post for four years until 2012, when the structure will come up for further review.The move follows the set's recent hire of Christine Kings, who joined in the newly-created role as chambers commercial director from Doughty Street last year. In addition, former senior clerk Derek Jenkins took on a new role of business development director in 2007 following a five-year plan from management consultants The Strategy House in 2006, which recommended splitting the operational running of the practice and responsibility for its strategy.
2 minute read

International Edition

Stars at the Bar: Long lunches are out

Every cloud has a silver lining. The current financial crisis is already bringing in more work for the commercial Bar - and this increase is set to continue. Past performance is no certain guide to the future, but it is one of the only yardsticks we have. So what trends are apparent from earlier financial crises? In 1973 the Barber boom came to an abrupt end, resulting in the failure of secondary banks and provoking fears for the entire British banking system. The recession that followed produced a large amount of commercial litigation - many of the cases that were generated by economic events in 1973-74 continued through until the 1980s.
4 minute read

International Edition

Stars at the Bar: Pollution in the first degree

"It is a trite observation that environmental problems, although they closely affect municipal laws, are essentially international; and that the main structure of control can therefore be no other than that of international law." The above was written by Sir Robert Jennings QC, Whewell Professor of International Law at the University of Cambridge and former president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in his foreword to the first edition of Principles of International Environmental Law by Philippe Sands.
8 minute read

International Edition

Stars at the Bar: Inside the ivory tower

The worlds of the TV star and the barrister are not as far apart as one might think. The day job at the Bar is in some ways akin to putting on a performance - it is not about illusion, but there is more than a degree of acting and drama about the court room experience. That is why I think so many individuals in the profession, including myself, were interested when the prospect of taking part in the BBC documentary 'The Barristers' arose.
6 minute read

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