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06 March 2008
Issue: 7311 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , Profession
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Top 100 play it cautious

News

Clients are increasingly asking their solicitors about their business continuity plans, according to Legal Risk Solicitors’ fifth annual survey.
More than three-quarters of the top 100 law firms have finalised a business continuity plan, while the rest have at least a draft plan in place.

However, just over a third of the 64 firms responding to the survey say they have tested their plans in the last 12 months.

The law firms responding to Legal Risk’s Top 100 Law Firm Professional Indemnity and Risk Management Survey 2008 include 22 of the top 30 firms and range from Magic Circle to the smaller firms.

Every firm states that it limits liability contractually at least part of the time. According to Legal Risk, limitation of liability clauses “are becoming more sophisticated and involve more than a simple liability cap...we doubt many firms limit liability 100% of the time”.

Some 14% of firms changed broker, while 9% changed insurer in a soft insurance market.
Legal Risk partner, Frank Maher, says: “The continued low cost of insurance is reflected in the fact that 25% of respondents increased cover.  However we believe there is a real risk that after this year’s renewal, not only will insurance costs rise significantly but some firms may have far more difficulty obtaining the cover they want.”

Issue: 7311 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , Profession
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

Nikki Bowker, head of litigation and dispute resolution at Devonshires, on career resilience, diversity in law and channelling Elle Woods when the pressure is on

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Leasehold enfranchisement specialist joins residential property team

DWF—Chris Air

DWF—Chris Air

Firm strengthens commercial team in Manchester with partner appointment

NEWS
The High Court’s refusal to recognise a prolific sperm donor as a child’s legal parent has highlighted the risks of informal conception arrangements, according to Liam Hurren, associate at Kingsley Napley, in NLJ this week
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur may have settled questions around litigation supervision, but the profession should not simply ‘move on’, argues Jennifer Coupland, CEO of CILEX, in this week's NLJ
A simple phrase like ‘subject to references’ may not protect employers as much as they think. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, analyses recent employment cases showing how conditional job offers can still create binding contracts

An engagement ring may symbolise romance, but the courts remain decidedly practical about who keeps it after a split, writes Mark Pawlowski, barrister and professor emeritus of property law at the University of Greenwich, in this week's NLJ

Medical reporting organisation fees have become ‘the final battleground’ in modern costs litigation, says Kris Kilsby, costs lawyer at Peak Costs and council member of the Association of Costs Lawyers, in this week's NLJ
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