Colourful language…
Reading the Legal Week Editor’s blog this morning I came across a story about the election of the new Slaughter & May managing partner. For those interested in such matters – see the Legal Week story in full – this quote gives the flavour:
“As numerous law firm elections have shown, there’s always something to be said for being an unknown quantity. Less time to make enemies, less time to get on the wrong side of corporate and less baggage – that most dangerous accessory for any prospective managing partner.”
I was more interested in this pithy comment:
“Or as one Slaughter and May partner colourfully puts it: “Hidden away in Asia, no-one would know if you’re a shit or not.”
Leading City litigation partner to be Dean of Nottingham Law School.
Nottingham Law School has managed to get through three Deans recently – but now seems to have made a good signing, Legal Week has the story: “Nottingham Law School (NLS) has named Lovells senior litigation partner Keith Gaines as its new dean – its third in as many years.”
I know NLS well – a good Law School and both Peter Jones (senior pro-Vice Chancellor) and Philip Knott (MD) know how to get things done. I had the pleasure of working with them both some years ago. It will be interesting to see how fresh thinking and practitioner blood will work in academe.
Incredible…after all these years… Barristers will be able to sue solicitors for their fees off the back of a legally binding invoice
Legal Week: “Barristers are celebrating the news that payday is set to become a more regular fixture. After almost a decade of negotiation and stalled talks, the Law Society and Bar Council have struck an historic deal to make arrangements for paying barristers contractually binding by this October.
At present, the standard terms of work do not create a contract that is enforceable through the courts. But the changes, which come as the Bar moves to reposition itself ahead of the impending legal service reforms, will enable barristers to sue solicitors for non-payment off the back of a legally-binding invoice. “
I can’t imagine that all solicitors will be overjoyed at this announcement and development – although, gamely Legal Week states that both sides of the profession are “happy to see an end to the ‘anachronistic’ system currently in place, which sees clerks issue the instructing solicitor a ‘request for payment fee note’ on behalf of the barrister concerned. “
A note of caution?: Solicitors have, however, expressed concern about how the new fee arrangements will work. “The question with the new system is what the terms of the contract will be,” said Herbert Smith litigation partner Ted Greeno.
One assumes that the contract will work both ways?
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