Category: law firms

Iraq abuse claims ‘often very poor’ says former DPP – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 16th, 2016 in armed forces, disciplinary procedures, human rights, Iraq, law firms, news, reports, solicitors, war, witnesses by sally

‘Alleged Iraq abuse claims brought against British troops by a leading human rights law firm have often been made up of poor, inaccurate information, a review by a former director of public prosecutions has said. Sir David Calvert-Smith said investigators tasked with wading through hundreds of alleged abuse claims had found key details such as names, dates and times were often wrong.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lawyers aghast at SRA plans to lift cold-calling ban – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 15th, 2016 in law firms, news, personal injuries, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority, telecommunications by sally

‘Personal injury lawyers have warned that Solicitors Regulation Authority plans to remove a ban on cold calling will only encourage the shadier elements of the profession.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 15th September 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

War & peace: the importance of applying the rule of law to the military – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted September 12th, 2016 in armed forces, human rights, law firms, news, war by sally

‘The news last month that Public Interest Lawyers, the firm which brought a host of discredited cases alleging abuse by British serviceman in Iraq, is to be wound up has been met with applause by the press and service community. These claims culminated in the Al Sweady Inquiry which considered allegations of war crimes and abuse by British troops in Iraq in 2004. The allegations were found to be “baseless” and claims of torture and murder were “wholly without foundation” and “entirely the product of deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility” from some Iraqi witnesses. It has prompted calls for the suspension of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) on the “battlefield” and a general attack on lawyers meddling or challenging affairs involving “war”. That reaction is understandable; however, it would be an enormous mistake to conclude that the law only interferes with the military doing its job.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 7th September 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Lord Chancellor expresses delight at action taken against “ambulance chasing” law firm – Legal Futures

Posted September 7th, 2016 in human rights, law firms, legal education, lord chancellor, news, parliament by sally

‘The new Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice used her first appearance in the House of Commons to label Birmingham law firm Public Interest Lawyers as “ambulance chasers”.’

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Legal Futures, 7th September 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Claimant slapped with costs order after erroneous CFA letter – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 1st, 2016 in costs, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘The County Court has refused costs protection to a claimant after his solicitors had wrongly told the defendants that a funding agreement was in place.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 31st August 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Defending public interest lawyers – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted August 31st, 2016 in armed forces, disciplinary procedures, disclosure, fees, law firms, news, private hearings, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

‘After months of rumours that staff were leaving the firm and that its founder Phil Shiner was buckling under of the pressure, Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) has announced its closure.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 30th August 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Court of Protection judge criticises firm for ‘brutal and insensitive’ comments – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 23rd, 2016 in appeals, deprivation of liberty safeguards, law firms, news, powers of attorney, solicitors by sally

‘A north-west firm is considering appealing a Court of Protection ruling in which it was removed as a financial deputy in a case concerning deprivation of liberty and care arrangements.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th August 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Tax avoidance sanctions proposals “threaten rule of law” – Legal Futures

Posted August 18th, 2016 in accountants, HM Revenue & Customs, law firms, news, rule of law, solicitors, tax avoidance, tax evasion by sally

‘Government proposals to clamp down on tax avoidance by targeting advisers with sanctions if HMRC successfully challenges a scheme further blur the line between evasion and avoidance, and “threaten the rule of law”, according to a prominent tax lawyer.’

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Legal Futures, 18th August 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Proposal to fine tax avoidance enablers lacks teeth, campaigners say – The Guardian

Posted August 18th, 2016 in banking, consultations, fines, law firms, news, tax avoidance by sally

‘Government proposals to impose heavy fines on banks, accountants and lawyers who market tax avoidance schemes will fail without more resources for HM Revenue & Customs to pursue offenders, campaigners have said.’

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The Guardian, 17th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

How to tell a shining knight of a lawyer from an ambulance chaser? – The Guardian

Posted August 17th, 2016 in armed forces, asylum, law firms, legal aid, news, public interest by sally

‘The question takes us straight to this week’s reported news that Phil Shiner’s Public Interest Lawyers is having to close.’

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The Guardian, 16th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Offline conveyancers could face stamp duty penalties – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 16th, 2016 in consultations, conveyancing, electronic filing, law firms, news, penalties, solicitors, stamp duty by sally

‘Solicitors could face penalties for not filing stamp duty returns online, under proposed government reforms to the conveyancing process.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 15th August 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law firms urged to lead fight against modern slavery – Legal Futures

Posted August 16th, 2016 in human rights, law firms, news, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘Law firms should be at the forefront of the fight against modern slavery, both in terms of their own impact as businesses and advising clients on meeting their human rights obligations, the Law Society has urged.’

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Legal Futures, 16th August 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Iraq War: Public Interest Lawyers closes down – BBC News

Posted August 15th, 2016 in armed forces, compensation, human rights, inquiries, Iraq, law firms, news, solicitors, war, war crimes by sally

‘The law firm Public Interest Lawyers, which submitted multiple allegations of misconduct by British troops during the Iraq War, is to close.’

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BBC News, 15th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hundreds of compensation claims against British soldiers could be abandoned after controversial law firm announces closure – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 15th, 2016 in armed forces, budgets, compensation, human rights, inquiries, Iraq, law firms, legal aid, legal representation, murder, negligence, news, solicitors, statistics, torture, unlawful killing, war, war crimes by sally

‘Hundreds of compensation claims against British soldiers are likely to be abandoned after a controversial law firm accused of “hounding” troops announced that it is closing.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th August 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police to hire law firms to tackle cyber criminals in radical pilot project – The Guardian

Posted August 15th, 2016 in assets recovery, civil justice, computer crime, contracting out, criminal justice, evidence, fraud, internet, law firms, news, pilot schemes, police, proceeds of crime, statistics by sally

‘Private law firms will be hired by police to pursue criminal suspects for profit, under a radical new scheme to target cyber criminals and fraudsters.’

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The Guardian, 14th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Nothing inherently riskier about ABS, says super regulator – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 12th, 2016 in alternative business structures, law firms, legal services, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘Restrictions on alternative business structure can be lifted now they have shown to be no greater risk than traditional law firms, the Legal Services Board has said.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th August 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law firm investigating VW emissions scandal hired to examine BHS – The Guardian

Posted August 12th, 2016 in administrators, bankruptcy, insolvency, law firms, news, pensions by sally

‘The US law firm investigating the diesel emissions scandal at Volkswagen is to examine the conduct of BHS directors in the run-up to the retailer’s collapse.’

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The Guardian, 11th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge rues ‘attritional warfare’ in PI case – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 4th, 2016 in costs, law firms, news, personal injuries by Mark L

‘A High Court judge has heavily criticised the parties in a hotly contested personal injury case for their lack of co-operation.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd August 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Linklaters escapes ‘unprecedented’ disclosure order – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 1st, 2016 in compensation, demonstrations, disclosure, documents, electronic mail, law firms, miners, news by Mark L

‘The High Court has decided against making what would have been an unprecedented order in relation to e-disclosure in an action brought over the behaviour of a mining company in Peru.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 29th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Former partner loses age discrimination appeal over firm restructure – Legal Futures

Posted July 29th, 2016 in age discrimination, law firms, news, partnerships by sally

‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has dismissed an appeal against a decision that a top-100 regional law firm was not guilty of age discrimination against one of its partners, after he was not offered a new partnership when it restructured.’

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Legal Futures, 29th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk