United Kingdom

‘Wicked and selfish’ mom pushed teen daughter to get pregnant so she could raise baby, judge says

Thwarted when she tried, as a single mother, to adopt a fourth child, a “domineering” American woman living in Great Britain tried another approach. She used her influence on her then-14-year-old daughter to persuade the teen to get pregnant and provide the baby she wanted, so she could raise it…

Apr 29, 2013 6:24 PM CDT

Did shark wrestler abuse sick leave? Fired worker says doctor told him to take a vacation

Hailed as a hero for wrestling a 6-foot shark away from children wading on an Australian beach, a 62-year-old British man is now without a job. After seeing footage of the incident on the Internet, his employer, a Welsh charity, fired him, saying in a letter to Paul Marshallsea that…

Mar 13, 2013 5:54 PM CDT

250 lawyers and staffers told to clear desks and go home, as regulators ‘intervene’ at law firm

Some 250 lawyers and staff were told to clear their desks Monday and go home as regulators “intervened” in the operation of a British law firm. The Solicitors Regulation Authority said it acted at Blakemores Solicitors, which has offices in Birmingham and Leamington, to protect the interests of the firm’s…

Mar 12, 2013 4:46 PM CDT

Lawmaker’s ex-wife who blew whistle on 2003 speeding ticket switch also faces likely jail term

Both a leading former U.K. lawmaker and his ex-spouse are now looking at likely jail time over a 2003 speeding ticket, after Vicky Pryce was convicted by a London jury this week of perverting the course of justice. Pryce, who is a prominent economist, appeared shocked by the verdict in…

Mar 7, 2013 9:59 PM CST

Lawmaker’s wife who took rap for hubby’s speeding ticket, then blew the whistle, wins mistrial

A London judge blasted a jury after a mistrial this week in the latest chapter of a 10-year-old speeding ticket saga that has mesmerized newswatchers in the United Kingdom. Initially, the wife of the British lawmaker who received the ticket took the blame. But, after former energy minister Chris Huhne…

Feb 21, 2013 9:09 PM CST

Claimed bank loan for $540K Dewey capital payment a ‘fabrication,’ says ex-partner in suit

Sued in the United Kingdom for allegedly defaulting on a Barclays Bank loan to finance his $540,000 capital contribution to Dewey & LeBoeuf, a former partner of the now-bankrupt law firm has fired back by filing a federal lawsuit in New York. In it, Londell McMillan, who was in charge…

Feb 20, 2013 4:57 PM CST

A lawyer’s lies about her age lead to her downfall

A suspicious clerk at a London law firm didn’t think it was possible that lawyer Soma Sengupta was only 29 years old, the age listed in her application file. The clerk was correct; Sengupta was in her late 40s at the time. The clerk’s discovery led to an investigation and…

Feb 14, 2013 1:09 PM CST

Newly found skeleton of Richard III creates winter of discontent for 2 cities vying to claim bones

Slain more than 500 years ago on a British battlefield, King Richard III was recently determined to have been unceremoniously buried in nearby Leicester without a coffin. Now that his bones have been identified after being excavated from beneath a parking lot, two cities are vying to claim possession of…

Feb 7, 2013 9:55 PM CST

Report: Secret plans in place to ax or demote 20 to 50 of 189 partners at Ashurst Australia

Relying on unidentified sources, an Australian business publication says the Australian arm of Ashurst is secretly planning to cull between 20 and 50 of its 189 partners in order to meet financial projections and complete its planned merger with the United Kingdom-based law firm of the same name. Doing business…

Jan 31, 2013 10:39 PM CST

UK Spy Accused of Attacking Colleague to Be Tried Behind Screen, Under Pseudonym

A British spy is accused of sexually assaulting, beating and harassing a female colleague at various times last year will be tried for in a highly unusual manner next year. Because the 28-year-old’s life could be in danger if his identity is revealed, he will be tried under a pseudonym,…

Dec 10, 2012 8:19 PM CST

Partners OK Latest Mega-Merger; Dentons Will Have Nearly 2,500 Attorneys, Be Set Up as Swiss Verein

A three-way merger of major law firms was approved Wednesday by the partners involved, setting the stage for SNR Denton, Salans and Fraser Milner Casgrain to combine early next year. The new megafirm, which will be known as Dentons, will have more than 2,500 attorneys and professionals, making it the…

Nov 28, 2012 8:25 PM CST

Attorney Who Gave Up City Job for Kids Forms ‘Top Brain’ Law Firm With Other Stay-at-Home Moms

A former London lawyer who gave up a lucrative legal job in the global financial center after she had her first child is now challenging the traditional idea that skilled corporate attorneys have to work at traditional BigLaw firms if they want a challenging legal career. Eve King joined with…

Nov 27, 2012 7:03 PM CST

Ogletree Deakins to Plant Flag in Europe with Offices in London and Berlin

In what it says is the first such move by a U.S.-based firm specializing in labor and employment law, Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart has announced that it will soon be opening two offices in Europe. Its new Berlin office, which is expected to open Dec. 1, will be…

Nov 14, 2012 10:15 PM CST

Told Apple Needs 14 Days to Change ‘Untrue’ Samsung Correction Notice, UK Judge Expresses Disbelief

Ordered by the United Kingdom’s High Court of Justice last month to put a post on its website explaining that a competitor didn’t copy its iPad design, Apple Inc. tried to comply but published a notice that was “untrue” and “incorrect,” according to British judges. Then, when Apple was ordered…

Nov 1, 2012 9:53 PM CDT

Top 10 UK Law Firms Rake In Nearly Half of BigLaw Revenue, Could Gain Even More via Foreign Growth

The top 10 law firms in the United Kingdom bring in almost half of the income earned by the country’s 100 largest legal shops, and could get an even bigger share of the pie through international expansion. Already, the top 10 bring in around 40 percent of their revenue from…

Oct 29, 2012 4:05 PM CDT