Issue: Vol 160, Issue 7448

City firm RPC has hired Stephen Smith from Mayer Brown as a partner to boost its competition practice.

The City of London Law Society (CLLS) has announced the appointment of David Hobart as the first chief executive of the society; he will begin his new role in May.

The International Family Law Group (iFLG) has announced that two family law professionals have joined as consultants to its family law practice.

CEDR’s director, Tony Allen, has been awarded the Civil Mediation Council’s Lord Slynn Memorial Prize

Hogan Lovells International pro bono manager, Yasmin Waljee, was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List

Paragon Law, which specialises in UK immigration laws and immigration services, has opened a new office in Jermyn Street, London.

Michael Drury has been appointed a CMG (Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George) for his services to national security over the past decade.

Lawyers have expressed concern about a European Commission proposal to reform contract law across the EU.

Seven law firms have joined the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) pilot on relationship management.

In an ideal world a viable solution for the problem of access to justice for individuals trapped between collapsing legal aid and stubbornly high lawyers’ fees would be legal expenses insurance