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  • May 12, 2009 |

    Steps to career heaven

    Becoming a solicitor is a long, hard slog of essays and exams. Legal Week Student takes you through the steps you have to climb to get there

    1 minute read

  • May 6, 2009 |

    Litigation support and e-discovery: Where lawyers fear to tread

    Getting to grips with the disclosure of electronic documents is crucially important for every litigator. E-discovery is more than just a buzz phrase; it plays a key role in many cases. When done properly it can be the key that unlocks a case, and can save significant time and costs for your client. When done badly it can have disastrous consequences. Recent case law provides lawyers with a simple message: every party must give proper consideration to e-discovery or face adverse consequences if they do not. In this article we look at the basic rules, the new case law and provide some practical tips. We also ask the following difficult question: what do you need to know about IT to be a good litigator?

    1 minute read

  • April 30, 2009 |

    Barristers try conditional fees amid client pressure

    Leading commercial sets are stepping up their use of conditional fee arrangements (CFAs) as law firms and clients increase pressure to cut counsel costs. Some of the profession's top silks and chambers are taking on cases at reduced rates in return for an uplift if the case is successful - a practice that was until recently unheard of at the commercial Bar. Addleshaw Goddard, a strong proponent of third-party litigation funding and after-the-event insurance, is also separately in talks with top sets including Brick Court, Fountain Court and Essex Court Chambers to encourage them to use CFAs. Sign-up from barristers is likely to make Addleshaws' cost-free litigation scheme more attractive to clients.

    1 minute read

  • April 23, 2009 |

    Addleshaws appoints non-exec to board

    Addleshaw Goddard has hired its first non-executive director, appointing Margaret Salmon to its 11-member governance board. Salmon has previously held a variety of commercial positions, becoming the first woman to join the BBC's management board when she was appointed as the broadcaster's personnel director in 1991, before going on to become chief executive of BBC Resources.

    1 minute read

  • April 22, 2009 |

    Addleshaws promotes four to legal director role

    Addleshaw Goddard has promoted four lawyers to the post of legal director, the national giant announced this week (21 April). London-based Simon Courie was made up in finance & projects, Leeds-based Susan Maxey and Andrew Williamson were promoted in real estate and Graeme Warburton was made up in contentious.The latest round of promotions, which takes the total number of legal directors across the firm to 37, is a reduction from last year when 10 were promoted to the role. The new promotions take effect from 1 May.

    1 minute read

  • April 8, 2009 |

    The international high-flier

    "Evolutionary" is how British Airways' head of legal and government affairs Maria da Cunha describes the internal overhaul that saw her take over the main duties of departing general counsel Robert Webb QC last week.Da Cunha will continue her previous role, while also taking a place on the corporate security board, and will now report directly to BA chief executive Willie Walsh. Meanwhile, BA head of security Tim Steeds will take on Webb's safety and security duties.

    1 minute read

  • April 8, 2009 | International Edition

    Generation why?

    When it comes to law firm prestige there is no denying that the magic circle tag still works its, well, magic. And there are few other groups that buy into the brand power of these five firms more so than the student population.Given free choice to name five law firms they would rate highly, students consistently turned to the magic circle group, viewing them as offering the best career options, work-life balance, partnership prospects and training - not to mention prestige - of all law firms.

    1 minute read

  • April 8, 2009 |

    Generation why?

    When it comes to law firm prestige there is no denying that the magic circle tag still works its, well, magic. And there are few other groups that buy into the brand power of these five firms more so than the student population.Given free choice to name five law firms they would rate highly, students consistently turned to the magic circle group, viewing them as offering the best career options, work-life balance, partnership prospects and training - not to mention prestige - of all law firms.

    1 minute read

  • March 31, 2009 |

    BT set for online auction in legal adviser review

    BT has kicked off a sweeping review of its panel of external legal advisers, piloting an eBay-style online auction for its real estate panel as part of the process. Panel firms were contacted last month, with the review being led by group general counsel Anne Fletcher. It is expected to be completed within the next three to six months. The review comes after the telecoms giant launched an e-auction pilot for its real estate advisers earlier this year. The pilot saw seven firms bidding against each other on various criteria, including hourly rates and fixed prices, with the process also including formal interviews with each firm.

    1 minute read

  • March 30, 2009 |

    Controlling commercial litigation costs: the funding alternatives - Simon Twigden

    Companies concerned about the restrictive costs associated with big-ticket litigation in the UK must ensure they are fully aware of all available funding alternatives, says Addleshaw Goddard litigation head Simon Twigden.

    1 minute read