November 2008 Archives

INTELLECTUAL property law firm, Shipley Solicitors, is expanding with the appointment of Nick Phillips and the launch of its Employment Law services.

Nick, formerly of Michelin Tyre plc, recently joined the Liverpool Science Park based company as a senior lawyer to focus on developing the practice's employment law offer.

In addition, he has extensive experience in Intellectual Property Law having been the legal advisor for Michelin's global brand extension business. He also spent a period working in France at Michelin's headquarters.

THE LAW Society says it "warmly welcomes" the appointment of solicitor David Latham to the role of President of Employment Tribunals

His appointment, it added, should "set an example for the profession's judicial ambitions".

Law Society President, Paul Marsh, said:

"We congratulate Mr Latham on his appointment to this senior judicial role and hope this fuels the aspirations of other solicitors to seek appointment to the bench.

WEIGHTMANS has launched a new practical reference tool aimed at all those involved with disease claims.

Disease-i is aimed at claims handlers, employers who wish to broaden their knowledge of diseases and intermediaries who need to bring themselves quickly up-to-speed with current issues.

It is the brainchild of Jim Byard, partner in Weightmans Dedicated Disease Unit.

THE CASE of Baby P and the death of two children in Manchester last week have highlighted a growing crisis in child welfare in England and Wales, according to a leading North West lawyer.

Here, Mike Devlin, managing partner of the Stephensons Solicitors' family department, says there is disparity between the promises of politicians and the stark reality.

He said: "Red tape is putting the most vulnerable children in society at greater risk. Take care proceedings as an example. The legal framework provides that a local authority has certain statutory duties which include:

The Law Commission today published its recommendations for the reform of the law on bribery.

Edward de la Billière, head of financial investigations and criminal fraud at national law firm Hill Dickinson, commented:

"These Law Commission recommendations for simplifying the law relating to bribery and corruption come after a prolonged period of consultation and criticism of the UK's attitude to and ability to prosecute corruption.

A PROTRACTED legal battle which saw a wrongly-drafted will tear a family apart is proof of the increasing need for fragmented families to take thorough legal advice over estates and trusts, according to a Liverpool law firm.

India Buildings-based Mace & Jones is launching a new contentious trusts and estates unit in response to increased demand for the service.

Private client partner Peter Houghton said this week's high profile case of the Sprackling family, which saw three adult children fall out spectacularly with their step mother, is a strong example of why "modern" families need good legal advice.

LIVERPOOL law firm Weightmans have described their half year results as "solid".

The firm recorded turnover of £24m between May 1 and October 31, 2008. Last year Weightmans turnover totalled £50m after recording half year results of £22.6m.

Commenting on the firm's financial performance, managing partner Patrick Gaul said:
"We have increased overall production as compared to this time last year by 9% and all our core practice areas are performing well."

Last month a UN Report heavily criticized Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs - commonly referred to as no-win no-fee arrangements) now the Editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail, Mr Paul Dacre has strongly voiced his concerns over the use of CFAs by "unscrupulous" lawyers whose "scandalous greed" ramps up costs in cases involving the media.

Mr Dacre told the Society of Editors conference in Bristol on Sunday night that the combination of the current libel laws and use of CFAs meant that even well-resourced media groups like his own, Associated Newspapers, feared the financial implications of contesting certain libel and privacy actions and added that it was beyond the means of local newspapers to contest even the most factually straight forward of claims.

PROSECUTORS are too cautious when making decisions about charging drivers involved in fatal accidents, a report found today.

Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate found cases where drivers had been charged with careless driving when the evidence supported a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

The inspectors said that in "a few cases" from a sample of 114, prosecutors tended to charge the lesser offence.

LIVERPOOL firm Silverbeck Rymer has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Barbara Rimmer as finance director.

Ms Rimmer, who joins from Leek United Building Society, is a senior finance and commercial executive with experience in VC backed, financial services, public sector and international plc environments.

Commenting on Barbara's appointment, Jim Rymer, Chairman at Silverbeck Rymer said: "We are delighted to welcome Barbara to the firm.