Welcome to the year's fifth edition of the weekly 'Law Business' column brought to you by the SundayLawReview team. In the week when women were finally allowed to wear trousers in the streets of Paris we take a serious look at what happened in the business of law within UK as reported by online legal publications throughout last week.
The most interesting articles on developments, compliance, business and the study of law including articles cited within TheLawMap 'focus of the day':
- Secret courts are totalitarian and would destroy our country’s moral standing in the world. Full story - The Lawyer
- Justice secretary Chris Grayling has said the proposed new small-claims court limit of £5,000 may be ‘too low’ – despite the ongoing consultation on raising the figure from £1,000. Full story - Law Gazette
- MPs have approved same-sex marriage in England and Wales in a key Commons vote, despite the opposition of almost half the Conservative MPs. Full story - BBC
- Collective actions will fuel ‘litigation culture’. The US Institute for Legal Reform echoed the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI’s) warning that US-style collective actions would ‘fuel a litigation culture in the UK’. Full story - Law Gazette
- Solicitors acting for thousands of construction workers are appealing a decision by the Metropolitan police not to investigate claims that officers supplied information to an illegal blacklist of construction workers. Full story - Guardian Law
- The defamation bill is now in thrall to a politically motivated Leveson clause http://t.co/25htngSv
- The Bundle: UK law in boom and bust - and jury trial by Google | The Bundle from Guardian Law http://t.co/5ytaUhZ4
- Complaints, horrible jumpers and ill-fitting socks | Law Gazette http://t.co/0coIgYKM
- Grieve alarmed by ‘trial by Google’ | Law Gazette http://t.co/ystL5fF6
- Co-op launches in-house legal training scheme | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/evRVeu4p
- London partner recruitment by US law firms hits record levels - Legalweek http://t.co/5RUax18I
- Scottish Solicitors involved in children's cases must sign up to new code of practice to be able to apply for legal aid http://t.co/L0fBR7l1
- London-based Italian lawyers sanctioned over volume overseas conveyancing | Legal Futures http://t.co/Xxgv3zRg
- Clients reject notion of lower legal fees in return for reduced consumer protection | Legal Futures http://t.co/16WMkVNj
- Flash law school applicants continue legacy | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/Lqj9HRN2
- Law firms told to 'embrace reality' | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/iZ6kd3Tj
- Consumers like indemnity insurance, LSB panel research finds | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/xFeDFhzp
- Claims management company first to buy law firm | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/LRmjqjlj
- ‘First legal brokerage’ to manage cases for wealthy clients | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/iNiNf7SA
- Legal services turnover ‘to rise by 4.2 per cent from 2015’ | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/t5ypMwi6
- EU crime and justice measures of ‘real importance’ says DPP Starmer | Law Gazette http://t.co/hHLhb1uJ
- 400 jobs saved as Cobbetts deal goes through | Law Gazette http://t.co/55y8Ns5U
- Strong growth will not return to legal market until 2016, forecasts Law Society | Legal Futures http://t.co/Jkm8P015
- Leading ABS set to open up entry to the law through 'Learning Academy' | Legal Futures http://t.co/Vz7Lx8aG
- Future Law School Applicants Tend To Have Bigger Egos Than Their Peers http://t.co/cVrRXtNQ
- Court contract handling by Ministry of Justice 'a shambles' http://t.co/lSdXuqjf
- Layoffs rattle European, UK law firms http://t.co/iOpELZiA
- What Mid Staffs and RBS have in common | Law Gazette http://t.co/vKe2Fa7Y
- Leniency for whistleblowing? This is not the NYPD | Law Gazette http://t.co/K1lM3yOj
- Small-claims limit could rise above £5,000, Grayling admits | Law Gazette http://t.co/q9pgcpMW
- Lords back low-cost libel arbitration | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/5PuL7A6F
- Public law ultra vires | Law Gazette http://t.co/S9dFSkPV
- Peers pass low-cost arbitration law for victims of press defamation http://t.co/0Md96KF5
- Law firm profits fall to 2010 levels, leading to cash-flow warning http://t.co/AcE0FGfj
- ‘Limited trust’ undermines SRA whistleblower plan - Society | Law Gazette http://t.co/1BY4ytV8
- EC proposes new money-laundering controls | Law Gazette http://t.co/JaQiUgJb
- SRA keeps PC fee split | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/SNcwGKWJ
- A quarter of judges escape Grayling’s pension cuts | Law Gazette http://t.co/6ogzSroI
- Mid-sized firms feel the pinch in Scotland | Law Gazette http://t.co/eAqnR8FY
- Legal consultancy offers exit strategy for PI firms “without firesale” | Legal Futures http://t.co/hvmxrSJs
- Law Society claims new barrister terms are biased http://t.co/XK9vFpCZ
- Insurer wrong to reject law firm's blanket notification of possible claims, High Court rules | Legal Futures http://t.co/TqthKqtA
- Bringing retail to the law: stores, customers and footfall | LEGAL FUTURES: http://t.co/AQrcuRP7
- Call for care failings disclosure laws | Law Gazette http://t.co/mXicrU9h
- Heads of chambers unite against QASA as criminal Bar bids to build alliance | Legal Futures http://t.co/1et2XEN7
- Law firms eating into savings after partners saw earnings fall last year http://t.co/5uXj1GPb
- The Cobbetts administration highlights the importance of partners knowing their firm’s financial position | The Lawyer http://t.co/VzUaUI3M
- Fresh thinking urgently required in the partnership model for Law Firms | The Lawyer http://t.co/wLSL3Jd6
- Those administering estates should look into the causes of death of people with military connections | The Lawyer http://t.co/5H6N0d5V
- Appeal court’s weak decision undermines efforts to constrain legal costs and adds to judges’ burden | The Lawyer http://t.co/QqLDf5n1
- Secret courts are totalitarian and would destroy our country’s moral standing in the world | The Lawyer http://t.co/ywRFxKBH
- Government must consider employment law implications of ramping up the role of armed forces reservists | The Lawyer http://t.co/3CJuvlFV
- Disclosure ruling rocks banks | Law Gazette http://t.co/qA9gTPkt
- Courtroom savings hard to interpret | Law Gazette http://t.co/Yl1Qi0Uh
- Firms sign up to beat fee ban | Law Gazette http://t.co/WKrnRaXA
- SRA redraws plan to increase fines for firms | Law Gazette http://t.co/4cfmgAh6
- Exceptional case proves Jackson rule | Law Gazette http://t.co/GskakH5k
- Barristers pose no ‘alternative solicitors’ threat, says bar chair | Law Gazette http://t.co/9gjzyBAu
- Collective actions will fuel ‘litigation culture’ | Law Gazette http://t.co/RJb5tCsd
- Small-claims revamp may hit portal | Law Gazette http://t.co/RaEEssk8
- Warnings follow Cobbetts collapse | Law Gazette http://t.co/TtB9YSA4
- Regional sets are having to face up to the fact that their world is changing, and fast | The Lawyer http://t.co/6ylgPJ3f
Articles of the week:
The UK and international articles of the week are pieces selected by @TheLawMap tweeting team based on recommendations from friends and followers of LawNewsIndex.com daily law news blog.
- 'Sharia Law has no place in Britain or anywhere else' | Nahla Mahmoud - Left Foot Forward
- Data Protection Laws, an Ocean Apart | Natasha Singer - The New York Times
- More women forced into slavery after change to immigration law | Paul Peachey - The Independent
- Gay marriage: some legal inequalities will remain | Owen Bowcott - The Guardian
News from the Law Firms & Chambers:
Friday 8th February
- Hot 100: Christine Phillips, Field Fisher Waterhouse - Profiles http://t.co/G3tcOfyt
- Turnover up at Cuatrecasas, down at Gomez-Acebo in tough Spanish market http://t.co/VCoitHxv
- Former Ince & Co partner jailed for £3m fraud http://t.co/hWBM6BjZ
- SDT removes Italian lawyer from European lawyers register http://t.co/sYDW5zeH
- DLA Piper reveals 8 per cent turnover rise for 2012 http://t.co/NMvRciMx
- Arthur Cox advises as Irish government restructures bank debt http://t.co/HicQXNXn
- King & Spalding launches Russian disputes practice with Noerr hire http://t.co/k8CoZtl9
- Dundas remains defiant in the face of further exits http://t.co/AbISf7OV
- Herbert Smith Freehills disputes exits continue with Addleshaws raid http://t.co/mA6wRlya
- Pinsent Masons gears up for new business launch http://t.co/81zWwMMy
- Ashurst and Taylor Wessing lead as Cattles sues PwC over audits http://t.co/LHuHqkYb
- Freshfields, LG lead on sale of City landmark Woolgate Exchange http://t.co/btEwBr9Q
- Quinn grows City revenues 20%; White & Case, O'Melveny enjoy solid years http://t.co/vE3gkjNH
- Walker Morris takes Cobbetts team as details of DWF pre-pack deal emerge http://t.co/9P8spbjt
- Top Herbert Smith litigator exits for Latham as senior departures continue http://t.co/5P6p60hL
- Ex-Ince partner handed jail term of almost five years after fraud probe http://t.co/Ey0yO07K
- Dundas departures continue as trio of partners exit London office http://t.co/0vhAoLhM
- Norton Rose moots funding options for global expansion http://t.co/Udizm64k
- Linklaters clinches top role as Moscow Exchange gears up for IPO http://t.co/luQh0pUK
- Clifford Chance appoints banking head Cohen as US chief http://t.co/RQW20qqB
- Taylor Wessing saw UK profits increase by 20 per cent in 2011/12 http://t.co/g2yFUhvp
- Olswang and SJ Berwin among firms on Universal's £487m sale of Coldplay label http://t.co/Aap0lWt7
- Mills & Reeve eyes merger with Manchester's George Davies http://t.co/mykGcbeX
- OC turns to Stephenson Harwood for City partner hire http://t.co/lLBt5OwL
- Former BLP partners launch tax boutique with CMS lawyer http://t.co/DgsACtHF
- Ex-Ince partner jailed for fraud faked letters in OBE bid http://t.co/3unSdSR9
- Welsh Legal firm Hugh James spreads its wings on both sides of the border http://t.co/xeDSTo0C
- Travers Smith elects Hale as new senior partner http://t.co/g2fWYM6O
- Partner exodus continues at Linklaters' Aussie ally http://t.co/jiG4Cyuj
- Olswang posts a healthy retention rate after year of growth http://t.co/VyuwNM5W
- LAW FIRM NEWS: Just Costs, Simpson Millar and Vamco join growing ABS list http://t.co/1wLaY0bz
- Dragons' Den's Caan makes second law firm investment http://t.co/ShSKTgsQ
- Field Fisher's debt rose by over 350 per cent in last financial year, LLPs show http://t.co/m9dSOzgC
- Pinsents set to launch temp lawyer service with new 'Vario' venture http://t.co/TAbsrB6w
- Hogan Lovells LLPs detail firm's flat performance amid tough market http://t.co/r0R3vyif
- appoints corporate chief Hale to succeed Carroll as senior partner http://t.co/GJ3xqNQo
- DWF seals Cobbetts pre-pack deal; Pinsents and Walker Morris advise http://t.co/sPhAbk78
- A&O, Ashurst and Bakers pick up places on panel for Australia's AMP http://t.co/r1YMFUi4
- Cobbetts litigation team to join Walker Morris following DWF pre-pack deal http://t.co/E7j9qNmg
- YouView finds new head of legal at Virgin Media http://t.co/cYMInDK3
- Eversheds, One Crown Office Row advise as damning NHS report is released http://t.co/qcQta7rD
- Simmons and in-housers advise as Abramovich invests £70m in Truphone http://t.co/sh9VJvl0
- Chiomenti moves into ally Gide's London offices http://t.co/2ul6cDiD
- Quinn Emanuel posts another record year on the back of contingent fees http://t.co/HEkGpXCp
- Herbies litigation exits continue as partner defects to Latham http://t.co/hAvkM1Qq
- Bobby dazzler as financial advisers become first to launch own law firm http://t.co/cUs1yKoM
- Guildhall Chambers stands by silk charged with conspiracy to defraud http://t.co/msLuhT2t
- Pinsent Masons enters contract lawyer market with on-demand business http://t.co/EsBDWxGy
- Hot 100: Peter Roberts, Ashurst http://t.co/ri6GHXeY
- Eversheds' evergreen evolution http://t.co/nh5JBOcW
- RPC LLP accounts show £3m loan amidst strong revenue growth http://t.co/pLOr7Dbq
- Shakespeares brings in ex-Serco BD head to smash £50m barrier http://t.co/1WWa9JN7
- Property developer adds Lord Goldsmith to court fight with Barclay brothers http://t.co/B3ewIuoj
- US and UK firms advise as Liberty Global buys Virgin Media in $23bn deal http://t.co/upYZ5Jqr
- Leading English firm Lawrence Graham in profits pinch http://t.co/wi03CreD
- James Caan returns to the legal den as he adds virtual law firm to portfolio http://t.co/vQ5Xw5Py
- Simpson Millar and DAS launch Everyday Legal http://t.co/KXUSgKNM
- Hot 100: Shonagh MacVicar, Glasgow 2014 - Interview http://t.co/BTqcjT0O
- Pinsents top earner sees drop in takings as financials improve http://t.co/YzEqVjIX
- Cooley posts strong revenue and profits rise for 2012 http://t.co/UqGFdAKv
- Lateral hiring at McDermott doubled in 2012 amid feeding frenzy at Dewey http://t.co/SauZqHnA
- Ex-39 Essex Street barrister Rohan Pershad QC "simply bad at finances" http://t.co/jQRjAtDC
- FFW selects Chissick as permanent managing partner in top-level rejig http://t.co/kfKnXyKs
- Rohan Pershad QC VAT trial: Barrister 'poor at paperwork' http://t.co/TB7sUD3h
- DLA set to unveil 9% global revenue hike as fee income nears $2.5bn http://t.co/N0W5NbGi
- Field Fisher revamps leadership with new senior and managing partners http://t.co/eFEN4hU4
- DWF-Cobbetts deal nears completion with partner departures expected http://t.co/oxMcyvgi
- Cooley posts strong revenue and profits rise for 2012 http://t.co/wz2bsACl
- Bedell Cristin picks up Mourant Ozannes partner for corporate boost http://t.co/unxEvo83
- Orrick loses nine-strong team to Germany's Heuking http://t.co/BqIMrJeU
- Squire Sanders property litigator quits for sole practice http://t.co/YsmDEkdA
- Freshfields and Herbert Smith lead on latest foreign utilities takeover http://t.co/DYviIbuD
- Eversheds revamps Asia management team and finds relationship firm in Denmark http://t.co/X5PAEsa1
- City push pays off as Dechert's London revenue shoots up in 2012 http://t.co/AX1AL30Z
- Magnusson continues regional expansion with Berlin office http://t.co/H5UZ0Ccg
- Hill Dickinson opens Monaco base to service yacht team clients http://t.co/UXVOQGHl
- DAC Beachcroft points to profitable post-merger year despite rise in debt http://t.co/CAgi5HOe
- US firms win roles on $24bn Dell buyout in major post-crisis LBO http://t.co/vjIJ528p
- Bristows becomes first large City firm to win ABS status http://t.co/VuzWFdwZ
- Hot 100: Adrienne Seaman, CME Group - Interview http://t.co/naMz2qXd
- Slaughters joins Dutch duo on Philips' latest divestment to Asian buyer http://t.co/JM4bMLFA
- Orrick and Slaughters seal ITV's acquisition of London Television Centre http://t.co/5tToKWgw
- Darrois Villey trio joins French boutique trend http://t.co/yHRVU8Q8
- Canada's Gowlings takes baby steps towards becoming global player http://t.co/AKir3UUV
- Travers sees turnover nudge up in first half of financial year http://t.co/0MK8r4ez
- HgCapital installs former Clifford Chance lawyer as general counsel http://t.co/CTqWPhex
- Newcastle's £10m law firm manager http://t.co/XotLHOPc
- Watson Farley & Williams narrowly missed the £100m turnover barrier for 2011/12 http://t.co/gfg7Dsd4
- Cobbetts: DWF deal dulls the pain http://t.co/3eclpdNM
- Drawings outweigh profits at Lawrence Graham http://t.co/FpgrCnmM
- Clifford Chance reinforces Hong Kong litigation with London head http://t.co/6xVsD8Po
- DLA Piper's top earner pocketed £1.75m, LLP accounts reveal http://t.co/nx2xACJ1
We would like to thank all the publications cited in this week's column. Please notify via @TheLawMap Twitter handle of any errors or omissions.
TheLawMap Publications at a glance:
LawNewsIndex.com - Daily Law News Archive
SundayLawReview.com - Weekly Law Business News Blog
Law Specials - A compendium of articles on Justice & Society
Wig - Daily Newspaper Focusing on Law & Society
MetaLawIndex - Informal Blog chronicling behind the scene events at LawNewsIndex & Twitter
