International Law

New Attire for UK Judges: Color-Coded Designer Robes

Updated: The new robes in which U.K. judges will preside in court as of Oct. 1 are still primarily black. However, they are now not only designed by Betty Jackson but feature two vertical stripes down the upper front which reflect the judges’ position. “For the division heads and Court…

May 12, 2008 5:18 PM CDT

Apartheid Case to Proceed Because Supreme Court Can’t Muster a Quorum

The recusals of four justices left the U.S. Supreme Court without a quorum today in a dispute over the legal rights of apartheid victims, leaving intact an appeals court ruling allowing their suit to go forward. The suit seeks damages from U.S. companies accused of assisting South Africa’s apartheid government,…

May 12, 2008 3:24 PM CDT

Spain Claims US ‘Pirates’ Stole Sunken Treasure from Underseas Galleon

A federal court ruling against a Florida-based deep-sea exploration company last month apparently has led to a claim by the Spanish government. It contends that Odyssey Marine Exploration “pirates” stole underseas treasure from a Spanish warship sunk by the British navy off the coast of Portugal in 1804 with some…

May 9, 2008 10:02 PM CDT

Clifford Chance Cuts Food Costs But Raises Associate Pay

In an ongoing effort to streamline internal costs, one of the world’s biggest law firms is now focusing on what it pays to help feed lawyers and staff while they are at work. Clifford Chance has announced that it plans to reduce the hours that its headquarters London restaurant is…

May 9, 2008 6:00 PM CDT

Dorsey & Whitney Fires Partner as Insider Trading Probe Continues

A Canadian partner of Dorsey & Whitney has reportedly been fired by the Minneapolis-based law firm, as an insider trading probe to which the lawyer has been linked continues. Gil Cornblum, the fired partner, was a law school colleague of business consultant Stan Grmovsek, one of three individuals who reportedly…

May 9, 2008 5:20 PM CDT

Chinese Arbitration Concerns Some U.S. Companies

Some U.S. companies and their lawyers are concerned about arbitration of business disputes in China. In one high-profile case, an arbitrator who sided with PepsiCo Inc. against a Chinese bottler was detained in 2006 on charges of committing financial improprieties within the arbitration organization that hired him, a Chinese-sponsored group…

May 9, 2008 3:57 PM CDT

Military Judge Threatens to Suspend Khadr Terror Trial Over Evidence Issue

A military judge has sided with the defense in pretrial proceedings in the the controversial terrorism case of a Canadian suspect captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan at age 15. Unless the military turns over to defense lawyers by May 22 a prison log of Omar Khadr’s treatment at the…

May 8, 2008 10:17 PM CDT

Top Mexican Police Official Murdered at Home in Latest Drug-Related Killing

Edgar Millan Gomez, the national coordinator for Mexico’s anti-drug trafficking enforcement efforts, was assassinated inside his home early this morning. He was the No. 3 man in Mexico’s Public Safety Secretariat, which oversees law enforcement, reports the Los Angeles Times. Drug-related violence against law enforcement officials and others has escalated…

May 8, 2008 9:30 PM CDT

Police Snipers Shot London Barrister in Unusual Armed Response

Neighbors of London barrister Mark Saunders reportedly ran for cover Tuesday night as they realized he was firing a shotgun from his $4.5 million home and some 30 responding law enforcement officers began taking positions from which they could return fire. Saunders, who was killed after a five-hour standoff, was…

May 8, 2008 6:26 PM CDT

Prof Promotes Latin American Legal Rights With CDs, Fashion Shows

An assistant dean at California Western law school in San Diego is trying to improve Latin American legal systems with innovative and offbeat projects. James Cooper says he worked for 15 months at Baker & McKenzie before he tired of “making the world safe for McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Levis,” he…

May 8, 2008 4:08 PM CDT

Suspect in Insider Trading Probe Had ‘Connection’ to Lawyer

Canadian and U.S. securities regulators are investigating possible insider trading in a probe focused on 11 Canadian takeovers during the past two years and a Minneapolis-based law firm that advised companies involved in each deal, a Canadian newspaper says. According to Ontario Superior Court documents, the Ontario Securities Commission is…

May 8, 2008 4:08 PM CDT

Prominent London Lawyer Killed in Police Shootout

Updated: An alcohol-fueled argument between two married London divorce lawyers may have led to a police shootout last night in which one was killed in their home in the expensive Chelsea neighborhood, stunning fellow practitioners. Complete details aren’t available, but barrister Mark Saunders is dead, and “it is believed Saunders…

May 7, 2008 4:26 PM CDT

Robert Vesco, Famed Fugitive, May Have Died in Cuba

A famous fugitive for decades after the publicity surrounding the Watergate scandal helped make him a household name, Robert Vesco reportedly may be dead at age 71 or 72. But although major news organizations have published his obituary, officials aren’t positive that the notorious con man and claimed associate of…

May 6, 2008 9:22 PM CDT

Associates in the UK Foresee a Less Lucrative Future

A likely slowdown in associate pay increases in the U.K. may offer some signposts to help their U.S. law firm counterparts steer a course in challenging economic times. Although a few firms in the United Kingdom recently decided to increase salaries substantially for associate lawyers, most expect pay raises to…

May 2, 2008 11:30 PM CDT

Pakistan Lawyers & Judges to Receive ABA Rule of Law Award

An ABA Rule of Law award will be given this year to “those lawyers and judges in Pakistan who demonstrated courage in upholding the rule of law in their country” in turbulent times. Lawyer-led protests have been at the forefront of efforts over the past year or so to return…

May 2, 2008 8:52 PM CDT