October 2007 Archives
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Brabners to head online 'green' law advice service
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 31, 2007 6:55 AM
BRABNERS Chaffe Street has been appointed to provide advice on environmental regulations to businesses and local councils across Britain.
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Solicitors prepare to defy Government reform of pay scales
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 30, 2007 3:18 PM
MERSEYSIDE’S criminal justice system is set to be thrown into chaos as solicitors prepare to defy Government reform of their pay scales.
Law firms across the region are refusing to sign a new contract which will mean a fixed hourly fee for lawyers representing defendants on legal aid.
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Lawyers beseiged by clients worried about Facebook
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 30, 2007 10:19 AM
EMPLOYMENT law specialists in Liverpool are being contacted by scores of companies concerned about staff use of social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook.
Thousands of workers regularly log-on to networking sites – which allow users to create their own profile page, add photographs and chat to friends.
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Tough Gig
Posted by Phil Rees-Roberts on October 30, 2007 9:40 AM
We’re all capable of making a social faux pas. One of my favourite stories is the one about the Eastern European delegate at a UN dinner who finished an after dinner toast by saying “as the English like to say ‘early to bed and up with the cock’.”
Fortunately, I’ve never made one quite so severe. But a recent trip to Dublin was a close call.
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Capital Idea?
Posted by Phil Rees-Roberts on October 30, 2007 9:18 AM
Part of the game at this time of year is to guess what the chancellor is thinking and what his intentions are leading up until the final budget next April according to the recent pre budget report.
Once the dust has settled and people stop taking such a reactive stance the professional sector will carefully analyse his proposal, before inevitably saving the day at the eleventh hour when they tell the government how much money they stand to lose in the long-term.
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Firm is Investor in People
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 29, 2007 7:00 AM
SCOTT Rees & Co Solicitors is living and breathing its new Investors in People status.
The firm has promoted Partner David Byrne to a new strategic role to manage the firm’s core client base and undertake a greater sales and marketing function.
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Firm expands personal injury department
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 26, 2007 7:00 AM
WALKER Smith Way Solicitors already employs 15 staff in the personal injury department in Chester and another 13 over the Welsh border in its Wrexham offices.
Now it has recruited two young Chester professionals to strengthen the team yet further.
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Conveyancing clerk jailed for theft from clients
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 26, 2007 6:55 AM
A LEGAL professional who used his position to steal nearly £160,000 from clients publicly apologised to his victims as he was imprisoned for two years.
Geoffrey Black, 62, of Grant Avenue, Wavertree, was described as a “thoroughly dishonest man” by His Honour Judge Swift in Liverpool Crown Court, as he was sentenced on ten counts of theft and one of fraud.
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Prevention is better than cure
Posted by Mark Goodwin on October 25, 2007 8:44 AM
We are often appointed to handle disputes which hinge on the same fundamental question: did a contract exist?
In a typical scenario, a contract is under discussion between two companies who want to do business – but commercial imperatives mean they actually start trading before the draft is finalised and signed.
Later on, when there’s a bust up, the parties involved are forced to scramble around, looking at the legal basis of their relationship. That’s when it gets messy.
Clearly, you are much better having the protection of a contract, but it’s amazing how often people proceed without a proper legal agreement that sets out their business relationship.
I don’t expect this situation to change any time soon. The tension between commercial demands and legal security is as old as the hills. When it goes wrong, we are here to pick up the pieces.
Record deals for city firm
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 25, 2007 7:00 AM
THE Liverpool office of law firm Halliwells is celebrating record levels of deal activity.
In recent weeks, the firm has advised on a number of £100 million plus transactions.
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Warning to employers taking on Christmas workers
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 25, 2007 6:55 AM
COMPANIES taking on temporary workers in the run-up to Christmas should ensure they are given the same rights and privileges as other staff or run the risk of employment tribunals, warns law firm DWF.
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Lawyers get their hands dirty
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 24, 2007 6:55 AM
LAWYERS from Weightmans recently got their hands dirty to bring the gardens of Walton Church in Liverpool back to life.
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Law Society visit for African counterpart
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 24, 2007 6:50 AM
THE Law Society is hosting a visit from the Law Society President of Zimbabwe, Beatrice Mtetwa today, to highlight the dramatic deterioration in the rule of law and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe.
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The long and winding road from Southport to Poland
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 23, 2007 8:17 AM
WHEN Southport solicitor Rob Fletcher was invited to a family wedding in Poland, he could have flown over in just hours, by boarding a budget airline flight.
Instead, he decided to raise thousands of pounds by making his way there by bicycle. Riding 100 miles a day without support, and finding accommodation along the way, Mr Fletcher, 54, senior partner at motorcycle injury specialist firm Fletchers Solicitors, arrived in Jelina Gora, Poland, having clocked up 735 miles across Europe in just a week. He was in plenty of time to attend the wedding of his nephew Geoff to fiancèe Asha.
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OPINION: Dawn Joughin on inheritance tax
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 23, 2007 8:15 AM
THE Chancellor’s proposal for a “transferable nil-rate band” between spouses and civil partners in his recent pre-Budget Report means it’s now possible for the surviving spouse to “double up” on the nil rate band on gifts made by them under their will.
Prior to this, it was possible for married couples to pass almost unlimited assets to each other without paying inheritance tax.
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DWF warns the age discrimination is still rife in job adverts
Posted by David Higgerson on October 22, 2007 6:58 AM
A year after age discrimination was outlawed in the workplace, one in five job advertisements still fails to comply with the rules, according to law firm DWF.
Its survey of 200 advertisements found that 21 per cent were potentially ‘ageist’, while 27 per cent could be viewed as containing some form of discrimination, whether on grounds of age, sex or disability.
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Former DLA partner joins Hill Dickinson
Posted by Hill Dickinson on October 22, 2007 6:51 AM
Sally Wightman has joined leading UK legal business Hill Dickinson as a partner to head the Chester office corporate and commercial team.
Sally joins Hill Dickinson from DLA Piper in Manchester, where she was a partner, after a short career break.
Her legal expertise covers all major corporate areas including mergers and acquisitions, group reorganisations, AIM flotations and joint ventures.
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Annual Judges' Forum
Posted by Mark Goodwin on October 21, 2007 7:45 PM
The Liverpool Law Society held its annual Judges’ Forum this week to coincide with the opening of the new legal year. The popular event was a huge success with over 100 people in attendance and all major law firms represented.
Several members from DLA Piper went along to the event to meet the local judiciary. This provided an important opportunity to get their feedback on a range of issues from the introduction of a mediator for small claims in Liverpool to proposals for an administrative High Court Judge in the city.
It was really pleasing to see the commitment from local judges to continue to improve the delivery of legal services locally. The Liverpool Law Society is working hard to meet the needs of its members and as a former committee member it was great to see the event was so well received.
High profile sentencing QC visits Liverpool
Posted by David Higgerson on October 21, 2007 6:47 AM
David Thomas Q.C with John Benson QC from Atlantic Chambers
Atlantic Chambers in Cook Street recently welcomed Dr David Thomas Q.C, the country’s pre-eminent authority on sentencing, to Chambers for a seminar to a packed audience of local solicitors and barristers.
Lawyer raises thousands with charity cycle ride
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 19, 2007 7:02 AM
A LIVERPOOL lawyer who braved torrential rain to make a 350-mile cycle ride to London has raised over £2,600 for charity.
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Wearing denim for dosh
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 19, 2007 7:00 AM
SOUTHPORT-based law firm Barnetts Solicitors threw out the usual work attire and donned their denim to raise £775.76 for Jeans for Genes.
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DLA Piper hold Tate party
Posted by David Higgerson on October 19, 2007 5:29 AM
THE Liverpool office of DLA Piper celebrated its sponsorship of one of the cornerstone exhibitions of the city’s Capital of Culture year with an exclusive launch party at the Tate at the weekend.
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Firm helps author on road to independence
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 18, 2007 7:00 AM
A multiple sclerosis sufferer has gained the freedom of the road thanks to a fundraising campaign by law firm DWF.
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Clients enjoy special reception
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 17, 2007 6:57 AM
Criminal barristers from Atlantic Chambers recently held a sumptuous reception at Room on Castle Street for its range of solicitor clients.
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Firm becomes limited company
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 17, 2007 6:55 AM
FLETCHERS Solicitors, the Southport-based specialist serious injury and matrimonial law firm, has taken a significant step in its history by converting to limited company status.
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A new approach to divorce: talking
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 16, 2007 11:21 AM
A LIVERPOOL family law specialist is lobbying to take divorce out of the courts.
Fiona Davidson, of Mace & Jones, is urging fellow lawyers to offer their divorcing clients an alternative to a bitter and expensive dispute played out in a courtroom.
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Supermum makes grade for World Triathlon
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 16, 2007 10:26 AM
MARTINE SNOWDON, a barrister at Exchange Chambers, in Liverpool, has achieved her lifelong ambition of qualifying for the World Triathlon Championships, to be held in Vancouver next year.
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Chester students offer services for free
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 16, 2007 10:24 AM
STUDENTS from the College of Law in Chester are offering their legal services to the public.
Clients visit the college’s centre in Christleton with a legal issue that needs to be resolved, supervised by the watchful eye of solicitors from the college, enabling students to interview and then advise the client as to the most appropriate action.
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OPINION: Chris Aitken on new Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
Posted by Vicky Anderson on October 16, 2007 9:29 AM
AS A result of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a new arrangement called Lasting Power of Attorney replaced EPAs (Enduring Power of Attorney) at the beginning of this month.
Unfortunately, there is now greater expense at the outset because of the requirement to register the LPA with the Public Guardianship Office.
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Napthens expands to become leading law firm
Posted by David Higgerson on October 15, 2007 2:17 PM
LANCASHIRE law firm Napthens has completed its transformation into one of the leading law firms in the North West.
From October 1 Napthens became one firm with Chorley based Wallwork & Company, and Fylde firm Cuddy Woods & Cochrane.
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BLOG: Balancing a career and being a good mum
Posted by Nicky Benson on October 13, 2007 12:25 PM
Can women have successful careers, and be good mothers?
This is probably the hardest question that any woman has to answer.
Does one have to take a back seat to the other?
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Atlantic Chambers on hand for mentoring scheme: Dear Vicky, thank you for sharing the good news ab
Legal aid fight for campaigner: I do agree very much with what Mrs campbell says h
Resolution's Liverpool chair backs Judge: Hasn't Mr. Justice Coleridge forgotten that part o
Collaborative law a "realistic alternative": Karen is right to highlight the advantages separa
Law Society backs "phone tap" evidence: I think phone tapping is a somewhat intrusive ende