January 2009 Archives

DIVORCING couples should watch their behaviour in front of their pets, as well as their children, according to a Cheshire lawyer.

Here, Shelley Hesford from SAS Daniels, says distressed dogs are increasingly becoming factors in how a divorce is conducted - and many couples are underestimating the impact the build-up to divorce and the consequent split can have upon their hound. Her comments are followed by the views of pet care professional Sarah Walmsley.

Ms Hesford told LDPLegal.co.uk: "This may well sound frivolous, but a dog has rights and its wellbeing can put huge demands on its owners, and actually cause intense complications when a couple splits up.

A MERSEYSIDE law firm is urging families to review their wills as the credit crisis wreaks havoc with the value of estates.

Mace & Jones private client team warns that with investments and property prices tumbling, wills drafted during the economic boom of the 90s and 00s need urgent review as their provisions may well now be out of date.

"Many assets in wills have plummeted in value," said Mace & Jones private client Associate Paul Bricknell.

AS FIGURES released today show unemployment rates have hit 6.1% and the number of jobless has risen to 1.92m, LDP Legal asked a leading city employment lawyer for his take on the news.

Paul Beck, employment partner, from Liverpool's Quinn Barrow Solicitors, said: "The increase in unemployment underlines the difficulty that our economy is in. Competition for jobs will now be fierce and wage demands will have to be extraordinarily realistic or further job losses will follow.

"As an employment lawyer, I have personally noted an increase in work coinciding with the general rise in unemployment. However, we have not yet seen a direct increase in employment tribunals, as most of the current hearings reaching fruition were started before the real effects of the 'Credit Crunch' kicked in. But, I predict the next 12 months will be an extremely turbulent time for both employers and employees as they struggle to cope with their respective obligations.

"The most worrying factor at the moment is that we are witnessing unemployment figures affecting a broad spectrum of positions and industries. It seems no one industry, or level of position, is immune to the current crisis".

NOW that memories of our Christmas and New year celebrations have faded many of us are attempting a business plan for the next 12 months or more in the post Capital of Culture era and in the midst of a recession.

Challenging times in many ways but to a degree we've been there before and the challenges faced are no bad thing in forcing concentration on ensuring the key elements of business success are in place.

Charlie Jones launches Liverpool Law Society's Legal Awards, 2009

LIVERPOOL'S Law Society today launches its second biannual Legal
Awards.

At a glittering ceremony planned for June, Merseyside's top legal professionals will be praised for their "excellence".

Charlie Jones, president of Liverpool Law Society and a partner at Weightmans, told LDP Legal: "Two years ago we had the first legal awards ceremony and dinner in Liverpool, run by Liverpool Law Society. The idea of that was to celebrate the excellence of Liverpool lawyers and the
excellence of the work done in Liverpool - and it was a resounding success.

LAW Society of England and Wales chief executive Desmond Hudson says firms should go green to cut costs.

WITH recent estimates suggesting that two internet searches through Google produce the same amount of carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle one could be forgiven for discarding any hopes of saving the planet and assuming we're all doomed.

The discovery comes amid increasing warnings about the little-known environmental impact of computer and internet use and adds to the pressure that companies are under to reduce their carbon footprint.

YOU MAY have heard that Hill Dickinson announced last week that we are expanding our horizons still further by opening a new office in Singapore to service our growing number of clients in Asia.

This is an excellent opportunity for the firm and for Liverpool too because it supports the City's drive to create inward investment by developing a presence in overseas markets.

It further strengthens the firm's international links and we now have teams operating throughout the UK, the Far East, Greece and Russia. Singapore is a great location from which we can service clients right throughout the Asia Pacific region.

HORDES of retailers, pubs, hotels and manufacturers are tipped to bow under the pressure of the deepening recession.

But according to Liverpool insolvency experts, law firms are now also in the mix.

David Moore, Liverpool-based partner at corporate recovery specialists Begbies Traynor, has seen a surge in the number of firms looking for help. Here he gives his insight into troubled times.

"We have recently dealt with a number of struggling and insolvent law firms in the region and I suspect we will see an increase over coming months.

Paul Burns of Exchange Chambers in Liverpool has been named in a list of the top ten UK Barristers who are considered "future stars of the Bar" by The Times.

The 2008 list includes just two barristers practising outside of London. Paul is the only barrister in the North West of England to feature.

This accolade comes on top of his now regular appearance in the annual publication Chambers and Partners - the leading independent guide to the legal profession. The recently published 2009 Edition describes Paul as a leader in his field and awards him the highest available ranking, noting that Paul has an "incredible level of expertise" and that "You know you'll get the best representation out there when you instruct him and you know he'll always do a damn good job for you."