City beware: The Serious Fraud Office has got its mojo back December 3, 2015 There have been times when the performance of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has left many, especially those in the City, with the impression that it is not fit for the purpose for which it was designed. Critics have had no shortage of ammunition: the SFO’s history is littered with controversy, criticism and setbacks. The [...]
Broadcast media moving closer to workplace equality with recent high-profile appointments December 3, 2015 Broadcast media has not always been a bastion of gender equality. Even now, it is common for TV shows to be presented by a septuagenarian, suited man, flanked by a smiley younger woman. And then, far more seriously, there are the extremely unsavoury stories – and court cases – that have exposed shocking conduct by [...]
Marks and Spencer loses appeal against former landlord BNP Paribas December 2, 2015 You know that times are tough for retailers when they are prepared to fight for every penny they could put back in the piggy-bank. Marks and Spencer (M&S) has today lost a long-running battle against its former landlord BNP Paribas after the Supreme Court dismissed its appeal to claw back £1.1m of rent it claims it overpaid. In July 2011, [...]
Marks & Spencer looks to solve legal wrangle with former landlord BNP Paribas December 1, 2015 It’s not just individuals that quibble with their landlords. Marks & Spencer (M&S) is tomorrow hoping to settle a long-running dispute with former landlord BNP Paribas over rent it claims to have overpaid on its old Paddington offices. In July 2011, the high street retailer exercised a break in its leases and served notice on four floors of [...]
Chris Cairns says reputation has been scorched despite former New Zealand cricket captain being cleared of perjury and perverting course of justice November 30, 2015 Former New Zealand captain Chris Cairns believes his reputation has been “scorched” despite being acquitted of perjury and perverting the course of justice on Monday. Cairns, 45, was cleared at the end of a nine-week trial at Southwark Crown Court, having been accused of lying when he stated under oath during a 2012 libel trial [...]
Police in standoff with men on Buckingham Palace rooftop November 29, 2015 Police officers are in a standoff with two protestors who have climbed on top of the roof of Buckingham Palace. The two men, who are protesting about fathers’ rights, used a ladder to get on top of the Queen’s Gallery after bypassing security at around 3:15pm today. Police were called to the scene at around 4:30pm. pic.twitter.com/nBwE5DnJAu — Fathers Justice [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: George Osborne’s speech transcript in full including stamp duty, business rates and corporation tax announcements November 25, 2015 Mr Speaker, this Spending Review delivers on the commitment we made to the British people that we would put security first. To protect our economic security, by taking the difficult decisions to live within our means and bring down our debt. To protect our national security, by defending our country’s interests abroad and keeping our [...]
Tyson Fury on doping: Heavyweight boxer calls for drugs to be “totally legal in sports” November 24, 2015 Heavyweight world title contender Tyson Fury has said boxing could solve a "big problem" with doping by allowing fighters free rein to take performance-enhancing drugs. Fury, who takes on Wladimir Klitschko for the world heavyweight title in Dusseldorf on Saturday, has claimed he was "all open" for drugs if it created more of a level [...]
Shaftesbury continues to be buoyed by London’s West End property market November 24, 2015 London's residential property market might be cooling, but the commercial sector is showing no signs of slowing down with landlord Shaftesbury reporting strong growth for the full year. The figures Shaftesbury's net asset value per share rose 21.9 per cent to £8.69 in the year to September 30, up from £7.13 a year earlier. Earnings at the [...]
Three-quarters of top judges are privately educated, compared to seven per cent of the population overall, raising concerns over diversity and social mobility in the legal sector November 23, 2015 Three-quarters (74 per cent) of top judges, defined as those who sit on the High Court and the Court of Appeal, received a private education, compared to just seven per cent of the UK population overall. A report by the Sutton Trust and PRIME – an alliance of more than 80 UK law firms and [...]