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12 March 2009 / Jennifer James
Issue: 7360 / Categories: Opinion , Public , Environment , Community care
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Pass the guacamole, Peter

The law works in mysterious ways, says Jennifer James

The Insider was amused this week (along with most of the nation) to observe the public discomfiture visited upon Peter Mandelson when a Green activist liberally doused him in dyed custard.

The young lady responsible was an activist for Plane Stupid and was apparently incensed that Mandy should turn up for a meeting on CO2 emissions in his ministerial 4.2-litre Jaguar. As an expression of free speech goes, it misfired somewhat, since almost all the coverage I have seen was of the Beano standard of journalism: “Har har look at this oik covered in green goo,” about sums it up. Schoolboy humour one, the environment nil.

There were several references to guacamole as well: for those of you not in the know this is not merely because the green-dyed custard resembles said avocado dip, but is a dig at Mandy based upon what may or may not be an urban myth regarding his champagne socialist credentials. Allegedly, in his local constituency

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

Fieldfisher partner appointed president as LSLA marks milestone year

Kingsley Napley—Kirsty Churm & Olivia Stiles

Kingsley Napley—Kirsty Churm & Olivia Stiles

Firm promotes two lawyers to partnership across employment and family

Foot Anstey—five promotions

Foot Anstey—five promotions

Firm promotes five lawyers to partnership across key growth areas

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
A quiet month for employment cases still delivers key legal clarifications. In his latest Employment Law Brief for NLJ, Ian Smith reports that whistleblowing protection remains intact even where disclosures are partly self-serving, provided the worker reasonably believes they serve the ‘public interest’ 
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