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Thursday 07 November 2019
BUSINESS DAY
GLOBAL REPORT
BD
LegalBusiness
Reed Smith converts to ABS Merging Coventry law firms strive for Midlands expansion in first for US firm
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wo Coventry-based law firms have announced a merger, which they claim will allow them to serve 16,000 clients across the Midlands. Band Hatton Button has acquired Richardson & Davies’ eight-strong team, which will move into Band Hatton Button’s premises in January 2020. According to the firms, the merger will create a business with a £5m turnover, with 90 staff serving more than 16,000 clients. Mark Moseley, managing director at Band Hatton Button, said: ‘Growth is a key part of our long-term strategy. Moving into our new offices at Earlsdon Park was one big part of the jigsaw, and joining forces with Richardson & Davies is an important
Left-Right: Nick Button, Miles Barker-Davies, Mark Moseley and Bill Evans
addition for us. ‘Richardson & Davies’ staff bring a wealth of knowledge and experience with them, par-
ticularly within commercial property, and we look forward to working with them to grow the business over the coming years.’
nternational law firm Reed Smith has converted its UK operation to an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) in what it says is a plan to ‘future-proof’ the practice. The ABS licence, which applies to the UK LLP, means non-lawyers can now manage and own Reed Smith. The firm is also allowed to provide services beyond traditional legal advice and to receive external investment. The conversion could potentially mark the first step towards flotation. Reed Smith is the first international practice to be granted an ABS licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority. ABS models are not permitted in the firm’s home jurisdiction of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, nor in the United States more generally. However, states such as California, Utah and Arizona are pushing for regulatory reform. According to the firm, the switch
will have no impact on the existing corporate structure of the firm, and the single partnership and single global profit pool will be unaffected. Tamara Box, managing partner for Europe and the Middle East, said: ‘As the first international law firm to convert to an ABS, we are future-proofing our business and now have the agility to immediately seize new opportunities – in tech, big data and other specialised consultancy services – that will help us drive our clients’ businesses forward.’ She added that clients are looking for ‘a strategic service provider that can go beyond just providing advice on the black letter law’. Andrew Jenkinson, London office managing partner, said: ‘As some states in the US look to replicate the possibilities provided by the ABS model, we are excited to be at the vanguard among international firms in this wave of legal sector innovation.’
Law firm employee gave own CV reference through fake email account
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law firm worker who went to great lengths to validate her false CV has been barred from working in the profession again. Sameena Usmani began working as an administrative assistant at Buckinghamshire firm Clarity Family Law Solicitors in March last year. But she was subsequently dismissed after the firm
found she had submitted a CV including false information about her employment history. According to a notice published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Usmani had acquired a domain name which was deliberately similar to that of another firm, then used that domain name to provide her new firm with a fake email
address which would supply a reference for her. She then responded to that request falsely purporting to be someone else and provided false information to corroborate her manufactured employment history. The SRA found her conduct to be dishonest and made a section 43 order against her. The order prevents her from
working for any regulated firm without SRA permission. Meanwhile, the SRA has also refused to grant a practising certificate to Juhi Valia, after she was judged not to be a fit and proper person to practise as a registered foreign lawyer. In October last year, an academic misconduct panel at BPP University found that Valia had intentionally plagia-
rised most of a paper submitted as part of her LLM degree. The panel found there was a serious degree of premeditation and recklessness in her conduct. The SRA did not consider Valia rehabilitated at the time of her registration application, a decision upheld by an adjudication panel of the SRA after Valia appealed.
RIGHTSWATCH
NDDC Establishment Act: LEDAP seeks restraining order on Appointment of Officer
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he Legal Defence and Assistant Project. (LEDAP) has on Tuesday, asked a Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging composition of the Management of the Nigerian Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The plaintiffs in the suit are : Iruo Onoruvwe, Anatole Osuji, Walter Avered and LEDAP. Joined as defendants are: Minister of Nigeria Delta Affairs, The NDDC, Dr. JOI Nunnieh, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh. and Chief Ibanga Bassey. The Plaintiff through their lawyer, Dr. Chino Obiagwu (SAN) is asking the court for a declaration, that the appointment of a three-man-interim Management committee for
the NDDC consisting of the third to fifth defednant is contrary to the NDDC Establishment Act 2000 He is seeking a declaration that the appointment of the third to fifth defednant as acting Managing Director, Executive Director of Project, and Executive Director Finance and Adminstrtion respectively, is contrary to the provisions of the NDDC Establishment Act. According to him, the Act provides that such appointment shall be by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, subject to confirmation by the Senate and House of Representatives. Plaintif avers that by virtue of the NDDC Establishment Act www.businessday.ng
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2000, the Managing Director of the Commission performs his function under general direction of the Board of the NDDC. Plaintiff, therefore, wants an order, nullifying the purported appointment of the third to fifth defendant in their capacities. He wants an order, restraining the second defendant from handing over or allowing the third to fifth defednant perform the aformentioend roles. Plaintiff also wants an order restrainng the first defendant from interfering in the management of the NDDC in a manner that contevens the provisions of the Establishment Act. No date has been fixed for hearing of the new suit.