International law firm adds another location to global expansion
DLA Piper has expanded again just a few months after it increased its global footprint with tie-ups in New Zealand and Canada. The new location is in South America where the firm has signed a cooperation agreement with Columbian firm Martinez Neira Abogados. As part of the deal the local firm will be called DLA Piper Martinez Neira.
Former Olswang chief re-emerges at City firm
David Stewart, the former chief executive at Olswang who stepped down from his role last year, has emerged at Griffiths & Partners based in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Stewart left Olswang following reported differences with some partners; IP partner Paul Stevens is now CEO at the firm.
Law firm learns the danger of Twitter, the hard way
A law firm in the UK has discovered one of the potential pitfalls of using social media. The personal injury firm Broad Yorkshire Law has been forced to apologise after someone at the firm, apparently a trainee, sent out a message on Twitter shortly after news broke of an accident at the Alton Towers theme park, which read: ‘Been injured in a roller coaster crash?! We’re experts in Personal Injury!! #Smiler #AltonTowers.’ Sixteen people were injured on a ride at the park, four of them seriously, and it is still closed due to a health & safety investigation. The Tweet was later deleted and an apology was issued calling it a ‘severe error of judgment'.
Law Society issues guidelines on how to deal with the public
The Law Society in England & Wales has issued guidelines to lawyers on how to deal with the increasing number of court proceedings where individuals are representing themselves without legal assistance. Cuts to legal aid budgets have led to a surge in such cases and the Law Society together with the Bar Council and Chartered Institute of Legal Executives have drawn up the guidelines. The advice to lawyers includes avoiding too much legal jargon and explaining technicalities to the other party where necessary, without stepping over the line of conflict of interest.
