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15 November 2018 / John Cooper KC
Issue: 7817 / Categories: Features
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Law on the silver screen

John Cooper QC on legal films & the magical ingredients which mean they will always be top of the bill

The British Film Institute’s London Film Festival completed its presentation of films from 75 countries last month, movies which will be hitting our cinemas over the next year and representing many of the important issues facing us in the times ahead. In this respect, it has been a fascinating exercise to consider the films within the Festival which deal with legal themes to try to work out what it is that inspires this year’s crop of movie makers when it comes to the law.

Jeopardy required

Legal themes have always been highly bankable at the box office, and film makers realised from the very early days of celluloid storytelling that movie goers cannot get enough of the genre. Without doubt, that is because all the elements which make up a good story are inherent within the legal process. As new writers, we are always taught that central to any compelling script or story is

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

HFW—Nelson Wang

HFW—Nelson Wang

HFW strengthens global insurance practice and Greater China offering with London Partner hire

Burges Salmon—David McEwing

Burges Salmon—David McEwing

Burges Salmon boosts Energy and Utilities practice with appointment of David McEwing

Browne Jacobson—Alexander Studholme

Browne Jacobson—Alexander Studholme

Browne Jacobson adds international construction arbitration partner in London push

NEWS
Law firm trainees are choosing US firms over their UK comparators, according to Chambers’ annual report on UK trainee satisfaction
A former senior judge has warned peers against scrapping juries for fraud and financial crimes, ahead of the Courts and Tribunals Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords this week
Civil practitioners face changes spanning debt recovery, workplace harassment and possession claims, alongside guidance on insolvency challenges and children proceedings

Finding matrimonial wealth is as challenging as dividing it, as family disputes draw practitioners into asset tracing, offshore structures and insolvency

Agreement between opponents offers no guarantee that a court will approve a retrospective increase to a costs budget
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