Law Firms

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilder turned Terminator is preparing for his most challenging role ever, as Governor of California. He terminated weeks of speculation on Wednesday by formally announcing that, yes, he will run for governor.

Schwarzenegger, 56, made his announcementsurprise announcement–a surprise given that his spin doctors were spinning that he wasn’t going to declare–during a taping of NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno, to air Wednesday night. California voters are scheduled to go to the polls October 7 to decide whether Governor Gray Davis should finish out his second […]

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilder turned Terminator is preparing for his most challenging role ever, as Governor of California. He terminated weeks of speculation on Wednesday by formally announcing that, yes, he will run for governor. Read More »

The due process of law in Indonesia and the way that country is prosecuting its war on terror is something that may be contributing to incidents like the Marriott bombing. Yet no Western country seems to be raising objections to some of the “legal” tactics used.

In Indonesia’s latest bombing incident, at the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, accusatory fingers are once again pointed at Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the terror network allegedly linked to al-Qaeda. The trail pointed to JI even before the smoke from the rubble had settled. This is because in past weeks Indonesian police have arrested suspected JI members.

The due process of law in Indonesia and the way that country is prosecuting its war on terror is something that may be contributing to incidents like the Marriott bombing. Yet no Western country seems to be raising objections to some of the “legal” tactics used. Read More »

President Bush is now trying to sell his initiative to limit civil awards for pain and suffering as an economic development tool. Imagine how that’s going down with the trial lawyers.

Bush, who as governor of Texas made tort reform a primary objective, has encountered nothing but roadblocks in his campaign on the federal level. His most recent setback came last month when Senate Democrats prevailed in a filibuster over a proposal to cap punitive damages in medical malpractices cases at $250,000 or twice the amount

President Bush is now trying to sell his initiative to limit civil awards for pain and suffering as an economic development tool. Imagine how that’s going down with the trial lawyers. Read More »

What will WorldCom face when bankrupcy judge Arthur Gonzales makes his ruling on Wednesday? Will he approve a $750 million settlement that some say is excessive? Or won’t he?

A U.S. bankruptcy judge is due to rule on Wednesday on WorldCom Inc.’s historic settlement with regulators, capping a long fight over how much the telephone company should pay for its accounting fraud. The settlement calls for WorldCom to pay $500 million in cash and $250 million in new stock in the reorganized company to

What will WorldCom face when bankrupcy judge Arthur Gonzales makes his ruling on Wednesday? Will he approve a $750 million settlement that some say is excessive? Or won’t he? Read More »

London lawyers Hammonds are struggling under a £25m overdraft. That’s why it’s asking its 89 equity partners to put up £18m of additional capital. It’s paying for its merger and acqusition appetite over recent years.

In what is believed to be the largest capital call the City has seen, equity partners will be asked to contribute up to 100 per cent of the value of the capital they have in the firm to ease debt and increase loyalty. Hammonds, which made gross fees of £137m last year, holds £18m in

London lawyers Hammonds are struggling under a £25m overdraft. That’s why it’s asking its 89 equity partners to put up £18m of additional capital. It’s paying for its merger and acqusition appetite over recent years. Read More »

Seven of Kenya’s most distinguished law firms have been asked to appear at an enquiry involving a multi-billion shilling scandal.

Among them is one of the country’s oldest firm of advocates – Hamilton Harrison and Mathews – which was said to have received more than Sh1 billion from Goldenberg International accounts held at Exchange Bank between August 1992 and May 1993. One of the commissioners, Mr Peter Le Pelley, was a partner in the firm,

Seven of Kenya’s most distinguished law firms have been asked to appear at an enquiry involving a multi-billion shilling scandal. Read More »

Average profits for the top 50 firms fell for the second year running according to Legal Week magazine, with profits down 1.1 per cent on the previous year and fee income up by 5.1 per cent. Why, at Clifford Chance, profits are barely £639,000 per partner.

Average profits at the top 50 firms fell for the second year running, depressed by the lack of corporate mergers and acquisitions and the slowdown in capital market activity. That compares with fee growth at the top 50 firms of 8.6 per cent in 2001-02 and 21 per cent in 2000-01. Profits were down 0.9

Average profits for the top 50 firms fell for the second year running according to Legal Week magazine, with profits down 1.1 per cent on the previous year and fee income up by 5.1 per cent. Why, at Clifford Chance, profits are barely £639,000 per partner. Read More »

It was to be the largest West Coast tie-up in US history, but the merger bid between California giants Orrick Herrington and Cooley Godward has collapsed. The problem? “Ego and politics”.

The talks broke off July 24 with management at both firms claiming the split was reached by mutual agreement, despite earlier reports that a merger deal could have been finalised by the end of July. Commenting on the split, one senior Orricks partner said “There are always people and egos and politics in these things,

It was to be the largest West Coast tie-up in US history, but the merger bid between California giants Orrick Herrington and Cooley Godward has collapsed. The problem? “Ego and politics”. Read More »

Supermarkets with legal services? Law firms floating? What is this? It’s the UK law profession’s ‘big bang’, announced by the government on Thursday.

At present lawyers in the UK are forbidden from entering partnerships or incorporating other than fellow lawyers. The government also supports the ending of restrictions under which lawyers employed by companies are allowed to offer legal advice only to that company and not to its customers. The deregulation would open the door to mergers and

Supermarkets with legal services? Law firms floating? What is this? It’s the UK law profession’s ‘big bang’, announced by the government on Thursday. Read More »

How can a lawyer – called a ‘solicitor’ in many common law countries – be confused with a prostitute, beggar or hawker? No joke. In Australia, they’re looking at banning the word.

Plans are afoot in Victoria, Australia to ban the title solicitor because it confuses lawyers with prostitutes, beggars and hawkers. The Attorney-General, Rob Hulls, said the word “evokes thoughts of panhandlers, door-to-door salesmen and streetwalkers”. “In fact, in the US there are signs around the place saying, ‘Do not give money to solicitors’.” To clearly

How can a lawyer – called a ‘solicitor’ in many common law countries – be confused with a prostitute, beggar or hawker? No joke. In Australia, they’re looking at banning the word. Read More »

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