April 2008 Archives
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Blog: The decline of trials and the growth of mediation
Posted by Philip Gray on April 30, 2008 2:02 PM
In the last five years there has been a marked increase in the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and in particular mediation, as a means of settling disputes quickly and on a commercial basis. Despite the improvements to the litigation procedure in the post-Woolf era, litigation remains an expensive, time consuming and stressful process which can turn into a continuous drain on a businesses resources (management time and profits), often with costs in excess of the sum in dispute.
It is estimated that mediation saves UK businesses nearly £1 billion a year. As well as being quicker and cheaper, the mediation process lends itself to settlement as it brings about a more conciliatory attitude on the parties than might prevail in preparation for trial. Most mediators have a settlement success rate of over 70 per cent and in some cases as high as 95 per cent.
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City seminars on employment law
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 30, 2008 10:26 AM
CANTER Levin and Berg launched a new series of free employment seminars delivered by the firm’s new head of department, Will Burrows and solicitor John Booth.
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Merseyside professionals in UK law top 100
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 30, 2008 10:25 AM
TWO prominent Merseyside legal professionals have been named among the country’s most powerful in a definitive list.
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BLOG: Tony Wilson
Posted by Legal Week Administrator on April 29, 2008 5:50 PM
THE theme of this week's blog is leadership, something which comes in all styles and shades, but which every serious business or organisation needs to make a priority.
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OPINION: Stuart Jones
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 29, 2008 6:05 AM
Weightmans' employment partner on health screening
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Changes to sex discrimination laws at work
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 29, 2008 6:00 AM
EMPLOYMENT specialists are warning about key changes to the law governing sex discrimination and maternity rights .
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Online revenge "net" the way to do it!
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 28, 2008 6:45 AM
A LIVERPOOL divorce lawyer have warned of the dangers of posting messages on the internet after a British woman launched a six minute rant against her soon to be ex-husband on YouTube.
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Legal fight to sue police
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 25, 2008 6:45 AM
THE family of a Liverpool man shot dead while naked and unarmed when police raided his home were this week given the go-ahead by the House of Lords to bring a civil action for misconduct.
Five Law Lords dismissed an appeal by Sussex Police against a court ruling that James Ashley’s father and son, both also called James, can bring an action alleging misfeasance in public office and assault and battery.
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New Law Society consumer campaign
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 25, 2008 6:45 AM
THE Law Society has launched an information campaign to make consumers across England and Wales aware of how solicitors can help them solve a wide range of problems.
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JST to hold construction regulations seminar
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 23, 2008 6:45 AM
JST Lawyers is holding a free seminar for property and construction professionals seeking to strengthen health and safety policies to minimise risk and comply with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.
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Global board of DLA touches down in Liverpool
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 22, 2008 6:45 AM
A MEETING of DLA Piper’s global board takes place in Liverpool this week.
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Court becomes domestic violence specialist
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 22, 2008 6:40 AM
WEST Lancashire Magistrates in Ormskirk has been named as a specialist domestic violence court area.
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OPINION: Ged Jones
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 22, 2008 6:40 AM
The associate solicitor at Camps discusses a landmark damages claim
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New partners at Hill Dickinson
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 21, 2008 6:45 AM
HILL Dickinson has announced eight partner promotions as part of its ongoing growth and expansion strategy, three of whom are based in Liverpool and one in Chester.
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New medical accident helpline
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 21, 2008 6:40 AM
A CHESTER solicitor is to staff a new clinic negligence helpline for patients involved in medical accidents.
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DLA meeting brings US senator to town
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 17, 2008 3:35 PM
THE US Senator who helped broker Northern Ireland’s historic Good Friday Agreement is to visit Liverpool next week to deliver a keynote public lecture.
Senator George Mitchell will give a speech on the challenges facing western democracies in the 21st century at the Philharmonic Hall on April 24, as part of Liverpool John Moores University’s Roscoe lecture series, sponsored by law firm DLA Piper, of which the politician is global chairman.
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LFC's litigation complications: pt 2
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 16, 2008 6:50 AM
LFC manager Rafa Benitez has a strong case for taking legal action against the club after he expressed fears his job was “being undermined”.
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Law Society presidential election results
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 16, 2008 6:45 AM
THE Law society today announced the results of the 2008 Presidential elections.
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LFC's litigation complications
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 15, 2008 6:50 AM
A LIVERPOOL specialist in shareholder disputes and shareholder rights has spoken out about the current situation at Liverpool Football Club, with one of the co-owners calling for the chief executive to step down.
Paul Lunt, litigation partner at Brabners Chaffe Street says: “Reports that Tom Hicks has asked Rick Parry to resign demonstrate the increasing damage potentially caused to the club by the ongoing dispute between co-owners."
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Regional impact of global credit crunch
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 15, 2008 6:45 AM
MANAGING partners throughout Merseyside say that the global credit crunch is impacting on the financial performance of the region’s law firms – but remain upbeat about the rest of the year.
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OPINION: Mark Dale
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 15, 2008 6:40 AM
The DLA Piper associate and employment law specialist on the use of social networking sites on work time
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Hill Dicks teams up with Kingdom
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 15, 2008 6:35 AM
MERSEYSIDE law firm Hill Dickinson has teamed up with one of Liverpool’s most fashionable new bars to become its first corporate member.
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Don't bet your house on it
Posted by Phil Rees-Roberts on April 11, 2008 9:31 AM
The mortgage market is in chaos. There’s no other word for it. Every lender seems to be taking a different approach to dealing with the credit crunch and the fallout from Northern Rock.
Last week NR revealed that it wants to get rid of 60% of its mortgage customers in the next couple of years so that it can repay all the government's emergency lending by 2010.
As a way of softening the blow, the bank has pledged to assist its customers in finding a new mortgage.
In a stable and well funded market this wouldn’t be a problem. Unfortunately for borrowers, this is not the case.
Continue reading "Don't bet your house on it"
Bootle solicitor's marathon challenge
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 11, 2008 6:50 AM
A LIVERPOOL solicitor donned his running spikes for Sport Relief after promising his grandmother on her deathbed that he would complete a marathon in her honour.
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Firm backs nurses congress
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 11, 2008 6:45 AM
Goodmans Solicitors has announced that it is supporting the Royal College of Nurses Congress 2008.
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Musical offering on our doorstep
Posted by Clive Bleasdale on April 9, 2008 10:28 AM
It was good to hear that The Echo Arena will be the venue for a 30th Anniversary gig for the band, Echo And The Bunnymen on 27th November. The band will be performing their iconic ‘80’s classic album “Ocean Rain” to many thousands of fans.
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Resolution's Liverpool chair backs Judge
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 9, 2008 6:45 AM
PROMINENT High Court Judge Mr Justice Coleridge broke with the judiciary’s traditional silence at the weekend and spoke out against the government in a speech to Resolution family lawyers at their annual conference in Brighton.
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Musical offering on our doorstep
Posted by Clive Bleasdale on April 8, 2008 5:43 PM
It was good to hear that The Echo Arena will be the venue for a 30th Anniversary gig for the band, Echo And The Bunnymen on 27th November. The band will be performing their iconic ‘80’s classic album “Ocean Rain” to many thousands of fans.
Continue reading "Musical offering on our doorstep"
Manslaughter law changes
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 8, 2008 11:58 AM
THE Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 which came into force this week aims to make it easier to convict companies which have fatally breached their duty of care.
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Lingerie boss addresses conference
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 8, 2008 11:57 AM
HALLIWELLS’ Liverpool office has been given a “lift” by one of the country's leading female entrepreneurs.
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OPINION: James Murray
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 8, 2008 11:54 AM
The partner at James Murray Solicitors on fair rape trials
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Property market slump could lead to claims
Posted by Vicky Anderson on April 8, 2008 11:51 AM
THE slowdown in the property market could lead to a rise in liability claims against professional advisers, a Liverpool property lawyer has warned.
Phil Rees-Roberts of niche property firm Rees-Roberts Solicitors has warned that solicitors are facing an increased risk of being sued as lenders look to assign blame for investment losses arising from borrower’s defaults or repossessions.
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Musical offering on our doorstep: i'd just like to say well done mr clive bleasdale
Have you got news for us?: DSE who store archives and files for a number of p
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