header-logo header-logo

16 February 2021
Issue: 7921 / Categories: Legal News , International justice , Rule of law
printer mail-detail

The Rule of Law challenge: Property Rights Kiosk wins LexisNexis contest

A LexisNexis employee has won $50,000 funding for his idea for a mobile property rights advice unit in South Africa

The company’s LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation (LNROLF) launched its contest for RELX employees last year, the Rule of Law Challenge, with the Foundation promising to support the winning idea. It received ideas from nearly 50 employees.

The winner of the inaugural contest is George Findlay, account manager, financial services, in the LexisNexis South Africa office in Johannesburg. His initiative, the LexisNexis Property Rights Kiosk, will be developed, funded and launched by the Foundation.

Ian McDougall, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, LexisNexis Legal & Professional, said: ‘The LexisNexis Property Rights Kiosk project will help raise awareness of property laws and land rights resources in South Africa.

‘This mission is important because when people understand their property rights, they gain the ability to borrow against their property, sell it, and pass on property. Ensuring that property transactions are properly dealt with ensures the security of tenure for generations to come.

‘George will be working with LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation to develop and launch the mobile unit. Volunteers will accompany the unit to provide accurate property data, legal advice, and guidance on property transactions in South African communities.’ 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Switalskis—Naila Arif, Harriet Findlay & Ellie Thompson

Switalskis—Naila Arif, Harriet Findlay & Ellie Thompson

Firm awards training contracts to paralegals through internal programme

Ward Hadaway—Matthew Morton

Ward Hadaway—Matthew Morton

Private client disputes specialist joins commercial litigation team

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Nina Hood

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Nina Hood

Cumbria firm appoints new head of residential property

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
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’ 
Family law must shift from conflict-driven litigation to child-centred problem-solving, according to a major new report. Writing in NLJ this week, Caroline Bowden of Anthony Gold outlines findings showing overwhelming support for reform, with 92% agreeing lawyers owe duties to children as well as clients
back-to-top-scroll