Financial whistleblower takes UK watchdog to court over claims of unfair dismissal March 23, 2022 A former employee of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has claimed he was unfairly fired by the watchdog, after he raised concerns about systemic issues in the runup to the 2008 financial crisis. Former FCA risk manager Walker Sigismund told a tribunal that he was unfairly fired by the financial regulator after he filed 27 [...]
Judge calls for personal attacks to be kept out of divorce filings March 23, 2022 A Family Court judge has called on lawyers to refrain from using divorce filings to make personal attacks against their clients’ former spouses. In a ruling, High Court judge Mr Justice Peel told lawyers that filings should only include “evidence,” as he told off a lawyer for filing a “long statement” that “crossed the line” [...]
Lloyds to close 60 UK bank branches due to rise of online banking March 23, 2022 Lloyds Banking Group has said it is shutting 60 bank branches across the UK, due to customers switching to online banking. The banking conglomerate said it will close 24 Lloyds Bank branches, 19 Bank of Scotland branches, and 17 Halifax branches, on high streets across Britain, in response to record levels of online banking usage. [...]
MoJ puts out ‘urgent call’ for evidence from victims of legal threats and libel lawfare March 23, 2022 The UK’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has put out an “urgent call” for evidence of large firms and wealthy individuals using lawsuits to silence criticism. The call comes after the government vowed to crack down on those using legal threats to silence the press and “stifle legitimate criticism”. In a statement, justice secretary Dominic Raab [...]
Shares in Knights continue to plummet after law firm says return-to-office was blocked by Omicron March 23, 2022 Shares in London listed law firm Knights continued to fall today, after the firm blamed the Omicron variant for a “slowdown in corporate work.” In a trading update, Knights, which has 17 offices across Britain, said the “persistent effects of Omicron” and high rates of illness amongst its employees meant the firm failed to make [...]
Two-thirds of over-50s wish they had started saving for their pensions sooner March 23, 2022 Almost two thirds of over-50s wish they had started saving towards their retirement at an earlier stage, new data from Aviva shows. Close to half (49 per cent) of over-50s regret not saving for their pensions sooner, while 64 per cent said they wish they’d started saving sooner. More than a quarter (26 per cent) [...]
Journalist has right to protect Birmingham pub bombing source, judge says March 22, 2022 A British judge has said a prominent journalist is within his rights not to hand over information that could identify the person responsible for the Birmingham pub bombings. Former MP Chris Mullin is under no obligation to hand over notes for an interview with a person who claimed to be responsible for the Birmingham explosions [...]
DWF looks towards Africa and Latin America after striking deals with Iberian firms March 22, 2022 Listed law firm DWF has struck deals with two separate firms, in Spain and Portugal, in line with its plans for global expansion. The Manchester headquartered company said it had come to agreements with Spanish firm RTS Group and Portuguese law firm Nobre Guedes & Associados (NGA), with a viewing to strengthening its position on [...]
Grant Thornton gives CEO David Dunckley a second four-year term March 22, 2022 Accountancy giant Grant Thornton has given incumbent CEO David Dunkley a second, four-year term. The decision to rehire Dunckley to head the professional services giant comes after the firm was fined £2.3m last year over its audit of collapsed café chain Patisserie Valerie. Canada auditor was also fined a further £1.3m last [...]
Mishcon faces £65m lawsuit over claims its ‘negligent’ advice to led to collapse of London property deal March 22, 2022 A Jersey registered real estate fund has sued London law firm Mishcon de Reya for £65.8m over claims the firm’s negligent advice led to the collapse of a major property deal. Property investor Aurium Real Estate London Ultra Prime Ltd is suing Mishcon after the law firm advised the fund to “build around” a hold-out [...]