Author: Nick Holmes
Corporate Finance: Google’s e-offer
You cannot fail to have noted that Google is floating its shares in a rather unconventional manner and expects to raise a rather mind-googling $2.7 billion. The unorthodox prospectus has drawn criticism, nay derision, from conventional quarters. For an alternative view, see John Naughton’s column in the Observer. He notes that: “The ‘proposed maximum aggregate […]
Legal Reference: Law Society Library catalogue online
In March the Law Society launched Catalyst, a new online service enabling searches of its complete catalogue of legal publications dating from the 16th century. The catalogue also contains several specialist indexes compiled by the library enquiry team, covering English and European Union cases, EU documents, Commencements of Statutes, Precedents and Frequently Asked Questions. Catalyst […]
Transport: Forwarderlaw
Forwarderlaw.com is a comprehensive resource for legal information on freight forwarding, maintained by Peter Jones of the Toronto law firm Paterson MacDougall which specialises in transportation and insurance law. It includes an online commentary to keep you in touch with developments in the law, recent cases on the law of international transport, a section on […]
Data Protection/Marketing: EU guidance on digital marketing
The EU advisory working party on data protection and privacy issues in Europe, made up of the national Data Protection Commissioners of the member states, has published an opinion on the proper interpretation and application of that part of the recent EU Directive on privacy and electronic communications which deals with direct marketing by e-mail […]
Discrimination: DRC web accessibility report
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) last year launched a formal investigation into the accessibility of websites in the UK and has now published its findings: ‘The Web: Access and Inclusion for Disabled People’. Accessibility is a legal requirement under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, but the report concludes that many public websites are impossible for […]
Freedom of Information: pressure on for implementation of FoI Act
As we move closer to the moment when the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is brought fully into force on 1 January 2005, the Department for Constitutional Affairs has released an implementation roadmap for public bodies in England and Wales with guidance on exemptions, networks for FoI practitioners, recommendations on how IT systems should be […]
Practice Management: Revised solicitors professional conduct rules
The Solicitors Incorporated Practice Rules 2004 (SIPR) came into force on 13 February 2004, replacing the 2001 Rules. The new Rules have been incorporated into the The Guide to the Professional Conduct of Solicitors, the Law Society’s definitive authority on the rules and principles of professional conduct for practising solicitors which is available online. The […]
Corporate Finance: Takeover Code resources
Simmons & Simmons’ Takeover Code Resources, launched in February, comprise a collection of tools and resources for corporate finance professionals engaged in UK public takeovers. Simmons & Simmons is a firm with a wealth of expertise in UK public mergers and acquisitions and with lawyers who, through their experiences on secondment with the Panel on […]
Legal Practice: New email guidelines for solicitors
The Law Society has published email guidelines for solicitors, intended to assist principals or others in solicitors’ firms responsible for drawing up or approving a firm’s email policy. The guidelines deal with such issues as confidentiality, record keeping, the statutory environment, e-commerce, spam and email security. Law Society Email guidelines[updated]
Intellectual Property: Enforcement Directive
The European Parliament has voted to approve the controversial Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive by a vote of 330 to 151. While the law was originally drawn up to target professional pirates, criminals and counterfeiters who make copies of goods such as football shirts or CDs, the directive was later expanded to cover any infringement […]
Legal Publishers: Lawzone relaunched
As presaged in our February item, TheLawyer.com relaunched LawZone last month. All traces of its former identity have disappeared and LawZone is now a subsite of TheLawyer site, presentationally similar to the other main sections, Lawyer News, Lawyer Jobs, Lawyer Diary, Lawyer Directories and Business Watch. LawZone presents News and Features and Articles provided by […]
IBA International Anti-Money Laundering Forum
The Section on Business Law of the International Bar Association (IBA) has launched an anti-money laundering web forum for its members and the wider legal community. The Lawyers Guide to Legislation and Compliance provides a one-stop-shop for access to the most current versions of each EU member state’s anti-money laundering laws and regulations, direct links […]
Employment: Acas revamps website
Acas have given their website a new coat of paint, with a fresh design and simplified navigation which brings some features (such as the A-Z of work) more to the fore. There appears to be no new content. Some urls may have changed so double check your bookmarks. Acas
Criminal: Criminal Solicitor Dot Net
Criminal defence solicitor Gavin Burrell, who practises in an East London firm, has launched Criminal Solicitor Dot Net, a web portal for criminal solicitors and other people working or interested in the criminal justice system. The site includes a forum area to discuss the world of criminal law and criminal contracting, a news feed from […]
Intellectual Property: Online market for second hand trade marks
The Trademark Catalogue has gone live, providing an online market for brand owners to buy and sell trade mark rights over the internet. The aim of the service is to enable the owners of dormant trade marks and associated domain names to sell their rights efficiently and safely and save potential buyers the cost and […]
