Consumers rank this as most important in lawyer relationship
Keeping the advice of a lawyer confidential is most important to consumers according to a survey by the Law Society in England & Wales.
The society’s poll, carried out by Ipsos-Mori, is part of its response to the Solicitor Regulation Authority’s consultation on changes to its handbook which the society believes would weaken the profession.
The results show that 97 per cent of respondents rank privacy of advice on a new legal issue as important; 77 per cent believe that businesses where solicitors work should be regulated; and 86 per cent said that they should have professional negligence insurance.
“It's clear from this survey that the changes to the rules governing solicitors are liable to be met with widespread opposition among the public. We urge the SRA to think again as their proposals will undermine public confidence in the solicitor profession and cause confusion for clients,” commented Law Society chief executive Catherine Dixon.
HSF advises on major Aussie acquisition
Herbert Smith Freehills has advised the Lonsdale Consortium on its successful bid to acquire a 50-year lease of the Port of Melbourne from the Victorian Government.
The HSF team was led by partners Peter Butler and Robert Nicholson and advised on all aspects of the deal including the negotiation and documentation of equity arrangements, debt facilities and transaction documents within Victoria.
The transaction is one of the most significant in Australia this year.
Law firms unite for new patents bar association
A group of US law firms have joined together to form a new bar association focused on patent lawyers who appear before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
The new PTAB Bar Association is a collaboration of 45 law firms with the aim of promoting the highest professional and ethical standards and to establish best practice.
The leadership team of the new association is led by president Bob Steinberg of Latham & Watkins who says that he noticed ways to improve the process of patent trial proceedings could be improved and began the process of creating the new bar association.
International firm hires bank legal chief for Thailand practice
Allen & Overy has hired the former head of legal and compliance from Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) PCL for its Bangkok office.
Nithi Laophulsuk joins as a partner with a focus on transactions, contentious and non-contentious work in regulated markets. He was previously in private practice at Hunton & Williams.
His hire follows that of Lina Lee and Jonathan Hsui as partners in A&O’s Hong Kong office.
