Regulator secures record £250k fine against global firm White & Case – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has approved a fine of £250,000 on international firm White & Case for failures over conflict of interest and client confidentiality. The penalty is the biggest ever issued against a single firm at the tribunal and followed an investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Expert Evidence, Independence and Objectivity: Exp v Barker [2017] EWCA Civ 63 – Zenith PI Blog

‘In EXP v Barker, the trial judge and Court of Appeal were faced with an unusual situation. An expert witness – although undoubtedly skilled and experienced in his field – had omitted to mention a close personal connection to the party instructing him.’

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Zenith PI Blog, 13th February 2017

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Supreme Court’s most senior judge urged to stand down from Article 50 legal hearing over wife’s anti-Brexit Twitter posts – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 21st, 2016 in brexit, conflict of interest, EC law, judges, news, recusal, referendums, Supreme Court, treaties by sally

‘The Supreme Court’s most senior judge has been urged to stand down from a crucial legal hearing on Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union after it emerged his wife had posted a series of anti-Brexit tweets.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th November 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Standards watchdog urges regulators to manage ‘revolving door’ properly – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 23rd, 2016 in codes of practice, confidentiality, conflict of interest, news, standards by sally

‘Fewer than a third of regulatory bodies have policies to deal with ‘revolving door’ issues where staff move between the organisation and the entities or profession it regulates, a report by the Committee on Standards in Public Life has revealed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st September 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Keith Vaz to be investigated by Commons sleaze watchdogs after male escort scandal – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 16th, 2016 in conflict of interest, homosexuality, news, parliament, prostitution, select committees by tracey

‘An investigation into disgraced Labour MP Keith Vaz has been launched by Commons sleaze watchdogs.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

What does the Sunday Mirror allege Keith Vaz did – and is it illegal? – The Guardian

‘Is it against the law to buy sex or to offer to pay for cocaine? And are poppers legal?’

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The Guardian, 5th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Conflicts of interest – Law Society’s Gazette

‘In the recent decision of W Ltd v M SDN BHD [2016] EWHC 422, Knowles J considered a challenge by the claimant of an arbitral award on the grounds of ‘serious irregularity’ under section 68(2) of the Arbitration Act 1996. That section provides that ‘serious irregularity’ means an irregularity ‘which the court considers has caused or will cause substantial injustice to the applicant’. The claimant alleged apparent bias on behalf of the sole arbitrator, H, based on alleged conflict of interest.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 27th June 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Firm cleared of negligence over conveyancing advice – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 20th, 2016 in conflict of interest, law firms, legal services, negligence, news, solicitors by tracey

‘A court has ruled a firm was not negligent in the advice it gave a couple who were dividing their shares in a property, after the judge said the firm did not need to advise them to seek separate advice.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th June 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Neuberger warns of conflict risks posed by ABSs and conditional fees – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 17th, 2016 in alternative business structures, conflict of interest, fees, news by tracey

‘Supreme Court president Lord Neuberger has warned that alternative business structures and conditional fee agreements are two ‘concerning’ developments which could pose a threat to lawyers’ ethical duties.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 16th June 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court orders solicitors to cease acting for client – Litigation Futures

Posted May 10th, 2016 in conflict of interest, documents, law firms, news, privilege, solicitors by sally

‘The High Court has ordered international law firm Dechert to cease acting for the principal creditor of a Russian businessman because it is also acting for his trustees in bankruptcy and has access to thousands of documents that are covered by legal professional privilege.’

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Litigation Futures, 9th May 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

PI claims more combative in England & Wales than elsewhere, says research – Litigation Futures

Posted March 9th, 2016 in conflict of interest, legal profession, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘The personal injury claims process in England and Wales is combative and often involves inflated opening offers on the claimant side, while claimant lawyers suspect defendants engage in similar tactics such as raising defences they know lack merit, according to academic research.’

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Litigation Futures, 8th March 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Outsourcing and use of litigation assistants – Bar Council

‘Purpose: To assist barristers regarding the rules and their ethical obligations relating to outsourcing and the use of litigation assistants.’

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Bar Council, 17 February 2016

Source: http://www.barcouncil.org.uk

The New FA Football Intermediaries Regulations and the Disputes Likely to Arise – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 30th, 2015 in agency, conflict of interest, disclosure, news, regulations, sport by sally

‘The FA Regulations on working with Intermediaries (‘FA Intermediaries Regulations’) come into force on 1 April 2015. They put into force FIFA’s Intermediaries Regulations, with some important variations and, with them, apparently signal the abolition of the licensed football agent.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 27th March 2015

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

FCA to conduct first review of competition in UK investment and corporate banking – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 24th, 2015 in banking, competition, conflict of interest, financial regulation, news by sally

‘The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is to formally review competition between banks that provide investment and corporate banking services after finding “unanswered questions about potential conflicts of interest and value for money”, it has announced.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 23rd February 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Commercial Court removes arbitrator over ‘justifiable doubts’ about his impartiality – OUT-LAW.com

‘An arbitrator who failed to disclose his “social and commercial relationships” with one of the parties to a commercial dispute has been removed from the post by a UK court.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th February 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Director loses appeal against FCA fine and ban in conflict of interest case – OUT-LAW.com

‘A non-executive director who failed to declare a conflict of interest has lost her appeal against the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which had fined her £154,800 and banned her from holding a regulated financial services role.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th January 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Child sex abuse inquiry in crisis as victims walk away – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 5th, 2014 in child abuse, conflict of interest, inquiries, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is told her inquiry is “not fit for purpose”.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fiona Woolf resigns as chair of government’s child abuse inquiry – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2014 in child abuse, conflict of interest, inquiries, news, sexual offences by sally

‘The government’s child sex abuse inquiry was thrown into crisis after Fiona Woolf became the second senior legal figure to quit as chair over her links to the Westminster political establishment.’

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The Guardian, 31st October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fiona Woolf urged to step down from abuse inquiry over Leon Brittan links – The Guardian

Posted October 22nd, 2014 in child abuse, conflict of interest, inquiries, news by sally

‘The second head of the government’s child abuse inquiry is facing calls to stand down over her social links to Lord Brittan, who was home secretary when a dossier about alleged Westminster paedophiles went missing from his department.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Drivers may be able to reclaim millions in unfair parking fines – The Independent

‘Motorists could demand the refund of more than £100m in parking fines, after what experts described as an “explosive” tribunal ruling left local government traffic officials in “absolute panic”.’

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The Independent, 21st September 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk