Issue: Vol 159, Issue 7393

Lawyers provided more than £400m worth of pro bono legal advice last year as recession swept the UK.

A bid to persuade the government to relax money laundering reporting rules has failed.

Libel law is expensive and imposes disproportionate restrictions on free speech, according to a report by charities, Index on Censorship and English PEN.

Consumers of legal services prefer well-known brand names, such as banks and retailers, yet six out of 10 cannot name a single law firm.

Beachcroft LLP have promoted Tim Sewart (London Commercial Services) and Udara Ranasinghe (London Employment) to partner from 1 November 2009.

ARAG Legal Services scooped the ATE insurance provider of the year at the Personal Injury Awards 2009.

The achievements of young lawyers throughout England and Wales were celebrated at the Junior Lawyers Division [JLD] Pro Bono Awards this week.

Trowers & Hamlins, Manchester has appointed Lynn James as a partner to its property dispute resolution practice.

Davenport Lyons has appointed Andrew Li to its property department as a partner from Eversheds.

Manches has appointed Alexandrina Le Clézio as its new CEO from 1 January 2010 succeeding Alun Lamerton after nearly 20 years at the firm.