Following the UK Government’s highly-anticipated air-bridge announcement, Britain’s three major airlines have reached a settlement regarding their challenge to the quarantine rules. With the help of Linklaters, British Airways, EasyJet and RyanAir have put an end to their combined battle against the previous 14-day quarantine, successfully calling for the blanket policy to be removed. The […]
The High Court has dismissed claims brought by Herbert Smith Freehills and Ashurst in the rail franchise litigation. The case, which featured in The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases 2020, was a mammoth rolled-up claim against the Department of Transport. Last year, the separate claims brought by West Coast Trains, Stagecoach and Arriva Rail were rolled […]
Ten firms have secured a place on High Speed 1 (HS1)’s £15m legal panel. Linklaters, DLA Piper, Addleshaw Goddard and Herbert Smith Freehills are among the firms that have been appointed to the rail operator’s new panel, worth between £10m and £15m. The framework is divided into eight lots with Linklaters appointed to two lots, […]
A claim has been issued against EasyJet by PGMBM, formally known as SPG Law, after it emerged that nine million people’s data was accessed from the airline’s servers. The firm has instructed barristers from Serle Court – who are also working with the firm on its claim against British Airways for its data hack a […]
Despite Brexit, European law firms remain confident about London retaining its status as a prime global financial centre, and they cite a rise in restructuring-related work, regulatory advice and data protection issues
South African firm ENSafrica and Allen & Overy are leading on the business recovery of one of Africa’s largest airlines, South African Airways, saving it from collapse. ENSafrica’s chairman Michael Katz is leading for the airline on behalf of the National Treasury of South Africa, which manages its national economic policy. South African Airways is […]
Mayer Brown client P&O Ferries has dropped its claim against the Department of Transport (DfT) and Eurotunnel, after the ship operator decided not to challenge a settlement agreement between the parties. Acting for Eurotunnel, Freshfields agreed on a cash settlement of £33m in February, just hours before a trial over whether the DfT had breached […]
A Newcastle-based firm has gained a role in the latest Thomas Cook development, as 555 stores previously owned by the company look set to be acquired by a Sunderland-based travel agent. Muckle has advised Hays Travel on the acquisition of the stores around the UK, which will also include the incorporation of previous Thomas Cook […]
Ashurst has joined the throng of firms advising on the collapse of holiday group Thomas Cook, taking on the key role for the official receiver, KPMG and AlixPartners. Attempts to rescue Thomas Cook from insolvency failed overnight. Ashurst, which is advising the official receiver and special managers, has fielded a team led by restructuring head […]
Ince has hired the former head of Hill Dickinson’s global shipping practice as its new senior partner, marking the first person to take on the role since Ince’s pre-pack administration deal with Gordon Dadds last year. Julian Clark will take the position, over a year after Ince’s former senior partner Jan Heuvels stood down. Heuvels’ […]
A group of partners have resigned from Clyde & Co’s marine practice as they set out plans to go it alone and form a new boutique law firm, The Lawyer understands. The five partners include Ed Mills-Webb, who became a partner in 2010 at the firm. A Clydes spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Ed […]
The summer recess may be keeping the courts of action but there are still plenty of legal issues to digest from over the past few weeks. We’ve taken the chance to dissect some of the most interesting cases from the last month, including a solicitor being imprisoned for contempt of court and a shipping inspector emerging victorious in a watershed High Court ruling.