August 2008 Archives
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BLOG: The Legal Risks of Corporate Blogs
Posted by Philip Gray on August 28, 2008 12:18 PM
I have been blogging, or, more accurately blawging, for over six months now and have really enjoyed being able to share my thoughts on the law and being a trainee solicitor on the Legal Week site.
Blogging is becoming ever more popular as the tradition media struggles to retain viewers/readers and many people seek their news and editorial comment in the instant electronic online world where information is free and available in enormous magnitude. Yet much online content, including most blogs, is unedited, or, not subject to approval from the website publisher or ISP.
Continue reading "BLOG: The Legal Risks of Corporate Blogs"
BLOG: New rules on football transfers illustrate ever increasing player power
Posted by Philip Gray on August 27, 2008 4:03 PM
Football is big business. Nothing new in that statement, but for the many of the countries big clubs this has been a positive development allowing massive increases in revenue and profit. However, as a big business football is no longer immune to contract and business-to-business law.
The new "Webster clause" from the landmark decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) earlier this year, is likely to shape the future of football transfers and has already caused more than one top manager a headache.
Continue reading "BLOG: New rules on football transfers illustrate ever increasing player power"
Hill Dickinson raises at smile at Edinburgh fringe
Posted by me on August 26, 2008 3:48 PM
LIVERPOOL-BASED law firm Hill Dickinson and city comic John Bishop have teamed up and gone to the Edinburgh Festival to encourage performers to take legal advice.
Hill Dickinson is sponsoring John's show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, called John Bishop: Cultural Ambassador, and will also be his legal adviser.
In return, he is helping the lawyers highlight legal pitfalls facing budding performers as part of their "Get Protected" campaign.
Continue reading "Hill Dickinson raises at smile at Edinburgh fringe"
Better regulation of private rented sector needed, says Liverpool law expert
Posted by me on August 26, 2008 3:47 PM
PROPOSALS for better regulation of the private rented sector have not fully taken into account the diversity of the industry, according to a Liverpool expert.
The Law Commission, the non-political inde-pendent advisory body set up by Parliament, has announced its proposals as the third and final part in its series of housing law reform.
The Commission recommends staged reforms designed to promote self-regulation and enhance voluntary initiatives already in place.
Continue reading "Better regulation of private rented sector needed, says Liverpool law expert"
£4.5m for ruined football career is tip of iceberg warns solicitor
Posted by me on August 26, 2008 3:44 PM
THE £4.5m compensation payout to Manchester United academy star Ben Collett could be the first of an avalanche of sports injury pay-outs, a Liverpool solicitor has warned.
Simon Gibson, a partner at Kirwans and head of the firm's personal injury specialist, also said teams will have to review their risk assessments and could see a painful rise in insurance premiums.
Collett, now 23, was awarded the record payout at the High Court last week after his leg was broken in two places by a crunching tackle from Middlesbrough's Gary Smith in May, 2003.
Continue reading "£4.5m for ruined football career is tip of iceberg warns solicitor"
Cities Unlimited - an accurate review?
Posted by Clive Bleasdale on August 14, 2008 2:26 PM
As a Property Lawyer specialising in concluding legal documentation in order to make urban regeneration work, I have considered with interest the latest report entitled "Cities Unlimited" dealing with the question of urban regeneration.
Whilst conscious that as a Liverpool Property Lawyer, I will be seen as having a vested interest in making supportive comments in favour of Liverpool and the City Region, I do have the following observations:-
• It strikes me that the heritage of Liverpool is its unique selling point. From its prosperous origins as a thriving port, the City has an abundance of history, particularly reflected in its buildings which have withstood the tests of time and economic conditions. The thriving tourist economy in Liverpool is evidence of that and this must be a growing selling point for the Region, supported by the Capital of Culture status.
• The quality of life the City Region can offer now, in view of the significant rebuilding and regeneration that has occurred as reflected by the huge investment in Liverpool by Grosvenor and the resurgence of the Albert Dock supported by the new Arena make the City an extremely attractive place to work and now also to live.
• There is an inherent quality in the entrepreneurial spirit of Liverpool, which was doubtless founded in the days when the shipping trade was flourishing but which is now reflected in the diverse number of businesses that succeed from a Liverpool base, from insurance monies through to financial institutions, property developers and businesses, as well as new technology businesses.
• There is a strong case to ensure that our key cities do thrive. We need to make an effort to maintain an equilibrium within the Country with regard to commercial centres, rather than an imbalance between South and North. Manchester has made great strides in recent times towards its regeneration and Liverpool is fast following in its footsteps.
• As well as the efforts of the City Council other Local Authorities within the Region, are making strong attempts to make the Region an attractive place to live and work in and my firm as a major employer in Liverpool is finding that it is increasingly easy to attract talented Lawyers to the Region for these reasons.
• It is not a case in my view of looking at matters through "rose tinted spectacles". There is an inherent realism here in Liverpool and our political scene is far more middle ground these days, in terms of convincing businesses that we have a stable and vibrant city in which to work and prosper.
• The analysis of our strengths and weaknesses has been carried out and we have learnt from past mistakes and are putting them right. There is no doubt in my mind, that this Region provides now a thriving environment on which to build further success with a view to enhancing the attraction for businesses to relocate to the City and the City Region, based on the real benefits we have to offer.
Clive Bleasdale
Head of Property
Weightmans LLP
Former Law Society president on his bout over legal aid
Posted by Ben Schofield on August 13, 2008 11:17 AM
THE Legal Aid system has just weathered one of the worst storms in its near 60-year history.
A series of reforms spearheaded by ministers and the Legal Services Commission (LSC) threatened a piecemeal dismantling of the £2bn system.
But another sexagenarian - and the senior partner at Merseyside's biggest legal aid firm - was at the centre of the fight for access to justice.
Continue reading "Former Law Society president on his bout over legal aid"
OPINION: Paul Spence on the anniversary no one wants to celebrate
Posted by Ben Schofield on August 13, 2008 11:14 AM
ON AUGUST 9 last year investment bank BNP Paribas announced a "complete evaporation of liquidity in the market". This led to the European Central Bank injecting more than 200billion Euro into the banking market and is acknowledged to have been the start of the "credit crunch".
Various horror stories have made the national and international headlines ever since.
The impact upon business has been worrying, as shown by the recently-released Government insolvency statistics.
Continue reading "OPINION: Paul Spence on the anniversary no one wants to celebrate"
Double marriage on cards at Scott Rees & Co
Posted by Ben Schofield on August 11, 2008 1:03 PM
Scott Rees & Co Solicitors in Skelmersdale is celebrating after two couples announced their plans to marry.
The four employees, who have all been working with Scott Rees for several years, were showered with flowers and well wishes from colleagues when they announced the good news at exactly the same time.
Continue reading "Double marriage on cards at Scott Rees & Co"
Second Jackson & Canter family lawyer on Law Society Childrens' Panel
Posted by Ben Schofield on August 11, 2008 12:47 PM
ANNIE Leaker, solicitor at Jackson & Canter, has become the second member of the firm's family department to be made a member of the Law Society Childrens' Panel.
She joins Andrew Gillespie who was made a member earlier in the year.
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