Understand Your Rights. Solve Your Legal Problems
The end of the year inevitably tends to get colder and slightly more depressing, and without a doubt, 2017 saw the news and reports on a wide variety of sexual harassment cases following suit to the dark nature of winter.
Hollywood film mogul Harvey Weinstein is the one who seems to have started this twisted trend. Word came out in October that there was a list of sexual harassment claims against him; the list got longer as time went on, but surprisingly – for some more than others -, this ignited a spark to set alight to all other [accused] sexual assaulters. From actor Kevin Spacey, comedian Louis C.K, DC comic editor Eddie Berganza, to defence secretary Michael Fallon and other influential politicians, the list of allegations grew; some were fired, some meekly apologised, and some rejected all claims.
When is sexual harassment ‘wrong’?
(Always, of course), but a common reason to why the alleged assaulters refuted claims or apologised with a remixed version of Charlie Rose’s classic: “I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realise I was mistaken”, is because they believed what they were doing was not ‘wrong’ at the time.
So, what is classed as ‘sexual harassment’? The Equality Act of 2010 defines it as: “unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which has the purpose or effect of violating someone’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them.”
We cannot get too excited thinking that there is legislation to support victims, as the Act is still ambiguous in the sense that it does not, and possibly cannot, define the line between ‘banter’ and humiliation.
We could delve into the several reasons behind why sexual assault still occurs in the 21st century: from engrained evolutionary desires to downright ignorance and insensitivity, but there is no singular reason to why it still occurs. What has changed, however, is the power of technology.
On average, around one in five women report sexual harassment claims, but only 80%, according to the TUC report, found that nothing changed and 16% said that the situation worsened afterwards.[1]
A lot of people fear reporting such crimes due to the fear of being humiliated, not believed or making the situation worse. However, after Weinstein’s allegations came to light, the #metoo movement helped reveal further harassment claims, showcasing a united powerful movement to tackling sexual harassment.
Has social media given a voice to victims?
“Social media has changed the game when it comes to sexual harassment and assault claims,” says Justin Parafinczuk a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney at Koch Parafinczuk Wolf Susen.
We should not underestimate the power of the voice that Twitter, Facebook and Instagram gives us. We are all aware of Trump’s famous fake news tantrums, and we should acknowledge the dire consequences of false claims. One tweet instantly erases the traditional ‘innocent until proven guilty’ notion and twitter ‘warriors’ from all over the globe will come to defend the mere words from one status update.
“On one hand, victims have a tremendous amount of power to confront their abusers, publicly and directly like never before. On the other, victims should be careful to make sure they have real support for their allegations or they could be looking at being sued themselves for defamation or libel.
“And, yes, I think in many of the much publicised cases, there have been some automatic assignments of guilt just based on the allegations,” explains Justin.
Such accusations, whether false or true, will make it difficult to find a non-biased jury. When cases have already been widely reported, the Courts will struggle to come to a verdict without being previously influenced by reports they have seen.
Justin supports this notion, by explaining: “I have no opinion as to whether it is right or wrong to make that assessment, but it will be very difficult to get an impartial jury in those cases. But, I don’t foresee very many of these cases ever coming close to a trial. It just doesn’t really make sense for anyone involved, especially if a settlement can be reached.”
An item must be authenticated[2] before it is used as evidence and courts are reluctant to accept twitter posts due to there being significant potential for manipulation and abuse. All in all, social media has the same effect as walking into the police station and verbally reporting a crime.
“At their core, sexual harassment cases will always be ‘he said, she said’ cases, unless there is a video or a recording. So a lot of the issues with social media will end up going to either enhancing the credibility of one party or destroying the credibility of another.
“I think equality is an overarching issue for all this, but it still comes down to just a basic moral judgment of what is right and wrong. People ought to be putting their foot down and say this behaviour will not be tolerated,” says Justin.
The recent sexual harassment allegations have made us question whether or not such cases are rising, but the dismissed concept is that nothing has really changed; the powerful will continue to have the option of abusing their authority, victims will always feel humiliated and sexual harassment claims will remain a “he said, she said” battle. The only thing which has changed is that social media has proven to connect those globally, providing a voice which may help towards fighting such injustice.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/facts-sexual-harassment-workplace-harvey-weinstein
[2] https://accidentshappenatty.com/is-a-twitter-post-admissible-in-court/
Victoria Myers, Head of Abuse Claims at Graham Coffey & Co. Solicitors, tells Lawyer Monthly the five myths surrounding sexual assault and harassment, to help us fight against such crime.
News of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s string of sexual harassment offences sent shockwaves through the media and resulted in a number of other high-profile film industry figures being implicated for similar crimes. As more victims continue to come forward to share their experiences at the hands of those in positions of power, the many misconceptions about sexual harassment and assault have become increasingly apparent.
Dealing with victims of sexual assault and abuse every day, I have heard countless stories from individuals who truly believe they were somehow responsible for the experiences they have endured. This way of thinking is not uncommon, and it is just one example of the many myths surrounding sexual harassment that continue to prevent victims from seeking justice.
In this article, we will take a closer look at common misconceptions surrounding sexual harassment.
1. It doesn’t count if you have dated or had consensual sex before
Very often, we see cases where a victim and attacker have had a previous relationship. However, judgment of what the victim did before the assault or rape took place puts the responsibility of the offender’s actions with the victim, which takes the focus off whether they consented to the sexual activity in question.
Whether the victim chose to go to the home of the attacker, or if they previously consented to or engaged in sexual activity, it does not say anything about what happened in the moment the assault took place. Consent to sexual contact is something that can be given at one time and withheld at another.
No matter what the relationship between victim and attacker has been, or events that have taken place before, sexual activity forced upon another person without consent is defined as sexual assault.
2. Sexual assault victims would always go to the police straight away
The belief that true victims of sexual assault would go to the police straight away is particularly dangerous, as this way of thinking creates scepticism about the claim of victims if they are not reported immediately after the alleged assaults.
However, it is not true that most victims contact the police, and those who do rarely do so immediately after being attacked. In fact, a considerable number of attacks go unreported altogether. There are a number of good reasons why the victim of a sexual assault would hesitate to go to the police, perhaps because they are worried about talking to a stranger about such a traumatic experience, or do not believe that the attacker will be held accountable. Other reasons include a fear of being involved in a trial or facing their attacker. Many victims of sexual assault are also worried that they will not be believed.
3. Only women can be victims of sexual violence
Many people believe that rape is only committed against straight women, and the attacker is always a straight man. However, sexual assault is not defined by the gender of the perpetrator, or the person who is victimised. In the majority of reported rape cases, the victims are women, however, a considerable number of men experience rape or attempted rape in their lifetime.
Although rarely reported or discussed in the media, it is also possible for women to rape men. Male survivors are often less likely to identify what happened to them as assault because of the general notion that men always want sex.
4. Sexual harassment is harmless to the victim
There is a particularly dangerous belief among some people that sexual harassment is a ‘harmless bit of fun’. However, persistent unwanted advances of this nature can cause significant psychological harm, including depression and decreased performance at work.
In many cases, sexual harassment is not done in the name of good fun, it is done to intimidate and hurt others. It is an unacceptable way of controlling other people through degradation and intimidation.
Put simply, sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature. It can be verbal or non-verbal, and is likely to make victims feel intimidated or uncomfortable. It can include sexual comments or jokes, inappropriate touching, unwelcome sexual advances, staring in a suggestive manner or being treated less favourably as a result of rejecting any such conduct.
5. Sexual assault is easy to avoid if you stay away from dangerous places
It is a myth that the majority of sexual assaults occur at the hands of men who attack women they don’t know. According to charity Rape Crisis, approximately 90% of those who are raped know the perpetrator before the offence took place. Rape and sexual assault can happen at any time, in any place and to anyone.
Sexual assault can occur in heterosexual or same-gender relationships. It does not matter whether there is a current or past relationship between the victim and the offender - unwanted sexual activity is still classed as a serious crime.
While the increasing media attention given to sexual harassment is leading to a re-education when it comes to what counts as appropriate behaviour, the fact that hundreds of victims have felt powerless to speak up against those in positions of power is telling of the issue. I can only hope that as more victims are brave enough to speak out, individuals who continue to suffer in silence are able to rebuild their lives.
Yesterday Phillip Hammond delivered his second and, in some analyst’s eyes, crucial Autumn Budget for the UK. With a range of Tax revisions, changes to the housing market and investment in technology and the NHS there has been some praise for the Chancellor’s proposals.
But what are the implications for the Legal Sector and those they serve? We got the reactions and insights from a host of legal experts across the UK in a special edition of Your Thoughts: Autumn Budget 2017.
Jon Hales, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson:
There was little in the Budget to help employers, who will see wage bills rise from next April as a result of the increase in the national living wage to £7.83 per hour. The national minimum wage is due to increase as well. There was a hint that the apprenticeship levy may be more flexible in future; this is being kept under review by the Government so we will have to wait and see what they propose.
James Kitching, Corporate Solicitor, Coffin Mew:
This was very much the budget for tech, start-ups, and scale ups. However, the development of new technologies, such as autonomous cars and AI, is very much at the mercy of our legal and regulatory systems. Already there are issues with how fast these kinds of ideas can advance while there are questions about insurance and liability. While producing an environment for greater investment in future technologies is a start, the law needs to adapt to allow our nation to lead the way.
There is talk of making a friendlier regulatory environment but with the fast pace of change, this needs to happen sooner rather than later. Hopefully Philip Hammond and the government recognise this and the ideas in the budget are a start of greater things to come.
Simon Airey, Partner, Paul Hastings:
HMRC is poised for a huge clampdown on tax evasion both in relation to the UK and overseas, energised by September’s Criminal Finances Act. The first quarterly tax returns are due in December and this Budget gives them the tools that they need to strike – more resources on the ground, increased powers of investigation and a much longer time period within which to raise assessments.
These powers are very far-reaching but they are just the latest tools that form part of a comprehensive anti-avoidance and evasion strategy which has been rolled out over recent years. Companies would do well to check that their policies and procedures are up to date. This is not about the finer details of tax law. It’s about compliance and enforcement and, increasingly, criminal law and prosecution.
Richard Morley, Tax Dispute Resolution Partner, BDO:
Although it’s clear that Hammond’s assertion to help first time buyers onto the property ladder by abolishing stamp duty for properties purchased up to £300,000 will perhaps cause most heads to turn, the additional £4.8bn to be raised by 2022/23 through a ‘further set of measures’ should not be ignored. The proposal to consult on extending offshore time limits for ‘non-deliberate offshore tax non-compliance’ is key.
The current non-deliberate time limits are either 4 or 6 years with little or no penalty. The proposal is to extend these time limits to 12 years and if these new rules come in, we will have to see when they will apply from (no surprise if it coincides with September 2018).
Pivotally, any UK Resident taxpayer with offshore interests must take complying with the ‘Requirement to Correct’ very seriously to ensure correct compliance or where non-compliance is identified to make a disclosure before September 2018 before the higher ‘Failure to correct’ penalties come into force.
Jane Mackay, Head of Tax, Crowe Clark Whitehill:
The tax avoidance debate has centred around large multinationals and their corporate tax bills. High profile cases have eroded public trust in how we tax companies. By maintaining the UK’s low corporate tax rate, currently 19%, and reducing it to 17% from 2020, the Chancellor accepts that corporate tax is only of limited relevance in our UK economy. It accounted for around just 7% of UK tax revenues last year.
The Budget announces changes to extend the scope of UK withholding taxes to tax royalty payments in connection with UK sales, even if there is no UK taxable presence. There will be computational and reporting challenges, but this measure may pacify those who feel the UK is not getting enough tax from international digital corporates which generate substantial sales revenues from the UK.
We’d love to hear more of Your Thoughts on Phillip Hammond’s Autumn Budget and what effect it will have on the legal sector. Will it benefit Britain and will it make your work easier? Let us know by commenting below.
We were delighted to have the opportunity to interview Dr. Katherine Theodotou recently at her London offices to discuss everything from Brexit, human rights cases, her campaign Justice For Lawyers and how we can all be better humans.
In a wide-ranging interview, Dr Theodotou gave us insights into her career as a prominent human rights lawyer throughout the years, how the current political landscape - with sharp left and right leanings - has changed the way we treat our fellow humans in crisis, and how important democracy is to aid the fight against international terrorism. We also discuss the Mental Health Act and the treatment of those in mental institutions, and how by amending legislation we can create a better care environment for the vulnerable to ensure that human rights are protected for everyone.
As a bi-lateral lawyer operating across two countries and having spent time in war zones across the world, it was a privilege to sit down and hear her unique perspective on human rights laws in a volatile and ever-changing world.
Dr Katherine Alexander-Theodotou, winner of the Lawyer Monthly 2016 HR Women in Law award, is the founder and Principal of London based law firm Highgate Hill Solicitors. She is also the Principal of K.Theodotou LLC, Nicosia, Cyprus and is a classical scholar who practices the law firmly under the principle of justice for all.
Two nights in a superior room with a view, including dinner bed and breakfast for two people: £400.00
Recently named the most beautiful country in the world, Scotland has finally got the recognition it deserves. From lochs, to castles and beaches, the stunning Scottish landscapes offers more than one could ever really expect with its charming historical landmarks, rural roads and natural, mountainous scenery.
To engulf yourself in the natural charm Scotland has to show, the Trigony House Hotel reveals nothing less than what its surroundings offer.
The luxury Scottish House Hotel stands over four acres of the secluded gardens and mature woodlands of Closeburn, Dumfries and Galloway. Welcoming pets as well as their human owners, Trigony House mixes luxury with traditional comforts.
With its award-winning restaurant winning the title as the “Best Restaurant in South West Scotland”, which I put down to the locally sourced ingredients from Dumfriesshire (and the talented chef, of course), Trigony House offers a vast menu of fine foods – that is if you don’t fill up on their mouth-watering homemade cheese biscuits!
After getting over the heartbreak of knowing that these biscuits were not accessible from any local supermarket, you are given the opportunity to taste dishes from a range of cuisines; from scrumptious scallops drizzled in lemon and garlic, all the way to melt in your mouth slow roasted belly of pork and vegetarian curries and savoury soufflés.
Nonetheless, the fresh homemade ice cream and sensuous wines are surprisingly not the best thing about Trigony House. The icing on top of this Scottish cake is the outdoor hot tub which overlooks the breath-taking views; sit with a glass of Trigony’s finest and unwind in the relaxing wood fired Swedish hot tub after enjoying a pampering organic spa treatment. Their private garden also has an outdoor Finnish sauna cabin which shares the same amazing landscape, enabling you to detox your body and mind.
The hotel caters for the more relaxed and the adventurous visitors alike, as the emphasis is on providing a unique holiday experience tailored to the individual within the breath-taking settings of the Scottish countryside. Those seeking relaxation and calm can enjoy the high quality of food from the restaurant overlooking the gardens or in the cosy bar lit up by a welcoming open fire. For the thrill-seekers, there is an abundance of choice of activities. Some of those that Trigony offers include pony trekking, Land Rover safari, vintage car rides, fishing and falconry.
Whether you are a thrill seeker, or are just looking for a short, relaxing break, you can be assured that you will get a good night’s rest at Trigony House. Their spacious rooms flaunting views of the gardens and hills, accompanied with vintage, wooden furniture makes your visit a home away from home.
Dumfries and Galloway
DG3 5EZ
Email: info@trigonyhotel.co.uk
Tel: 01848 218328
Ten Manchester Street Hotel, Marylebone, London, W1U 4DG. T + 44 (0) 207 3175 900 . F + 44 (0) 20 7486 4684
www.tenmanchesterstreethotel.com
£340.00 PP Junior Suite & BB
The city never sleeps, and usually when you’re in the city, you struggle to get a wink in too. It is usually difficult to find a hotel in the perfect location in the city, that will allow you to embrace the hustle and bustle of the streets, but still allow you to lay your head to rest at night to wake refreshed in the morning.
At the Ten Manchester Street Hotel - I assure you – you will be able to do just that. Located a few minutes’ walk from Baker Street station, the hotel is at a convenient location for you to be in central London in a short 15-minute commute. The peacefulness in the hotel itself, however, does not hit you until you come to the realisation that you are actually at the heart of London.
You receive all the perks of a five-star hotel, from personal, friendly service, all the way to a cosy, apartment-style room; if you are touring the city and are searching for a relaxing stay or there for business and need a stress-free visit, the Manchester Street Hotel will be perfect.
The intimate dining area enables you to dismiss the stresses of the day; from finely cooked steak, to lobster linguine, the hotel offers exquisite food to match their exquisite wines. The apartment-style of the room allows you to feel like you are at home. With a seating area with bestselling novels on the shelf, a TV showing the latest movies and a coffee machine to quench your espresso needs, it is hard to not put your feet up. The small kitchen area even comes with a microwave, so you are free to choose between microwave chips tickling your taste buds rather than scrumptious penne pasta.
A second 36” flat screen TV on the opposing side allows you to watch movies in bed and if, you somewhat feel homesick or need to make an important international business call, the bedside table has a ‘Handy Smartphone’ offering complimentary international calls.
One of finest cigar venues in London, Cigars at No.Ten offers an unsurpassed range of hand-rolled Havana cigars. Be spoilt for choice with their fine selection and sample cigars in their indoor tasting room, before making your choice of single stick or box to purchase. All Havanas are meticulously maintained by the cigar team, who house them in a bespoke humidor, ensuring that your chosen cigar arrives in complete optimum condition.
The Ten Manchester Street Hotel still has the grandeur London feel to it, in a stylish, classy building; you almost feel like a celebrity walking in. But the small, intimate atmosphere, makes you feel so close to home, perfectly evaporating any unwanted uneasiness or stress the city can sometimes offer.
What is the true difference between a nice holiday and a truly unforgettable experience? Between an enjoyable cruise and an ultra-luxurious voyage? When looking at the five-star-plus cruise ship* MS EUROPA 2, the answer is obvious: it is not only the incredible itineraries, but also the time that is spent on the ship itself. During which the guests, in addition to enjoying the best food, accommodation and entertainment, can embark on an exciting journey though different worlds, both on and off board.
PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA
From the very first sketch created by the architects who planned the ship, the EUROPA 2 was designed to be different.
With the help of talented designers and architects, she offers her guests a unique opportunity to travel through worlds and different eras. A good example of such visual adventure is the Tarragon. This top-level restaurant, which specialises in traditional French cuisine, is designed in the style of a Parisian brasserie: a chic yet subdued ambience in art deco style.
The dark-wood fluted columns that rise to the flat-coffered ceiling contrast with the bright space of the restaurant, while the diagonally tiled floor expresses the pragmatism of the French bistro.
The leather benches and the wide armchairs in petrol and cream tones are a contrast to the ceramic elements. The decorations on the walls are colourful and extravagant: here the designers revived the technique of fresco paintings for the artworks, which evoke the detached yet sensual paintings by Tamara de Lempicka. The spirit of the roaring twenties and “la belle vie” is truly epitomised in this precisely designed room.
AND ALL THAT JAZZ
Those guests who like to enjoy a sensuous and plush atmosphere can move on to Club 2. The armchairs and sofas in soft fabrics of pink and violet create cosy niches. The strip lighting arrangement under the ceiling seems to sculpt the entire room, emphasising the stage area even more distinctly. The prevailing shape of the entire club forms a harmonious curve. The bright lights and soft magenta cushions give the whole space a funky feeling of a seventies disco mixed with the glamour of a “Chicago” theme party. The club is even slightly reminiscent of Studio 54, the legendary nightclub in New York. This unique mix of styles, colours and fabrics creates a very special feeling that makes you want to put on your dancing shoes and sway the night away!
SEAS THE DAY
Guests who prefer a slightly more subtle way to finish (or start) the evening are welcome in the Sansibar – authentic German maritime bar culture. The ship’s designers used a variety of wooden materials for the flooring and the wall decorations, and combined them harmoniously with typical maritime accessories such as ropes, canvas, and wickerwork. The layout of the Sansibar has several areas that coincide with the functions of the location: there is a round dance floor with a DJ desk and a large well-equipped beach-style bar. The light-coloured wooden tables and bar stools are perfect for small groups and to enjoy refreshing cocktails, while the high-backed bench in the shape of a wave inspires more intimate conversations. With the Sansibar’s maritime flair, it is no coincidence that the bar is located at the stern of the ship, providing a beautiful view across the wide ocean or the passing shoreline.
When Henning Brauer, the New Ships Project Manager at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, was asked to describe the main concept behind the EUROPA 2 he was quoted to say: “We tried to give our guests the feeling of a contemporary, high-class and yet relaxing surrounding. Highest design and building quality, without “glitz and kitsch”.
We invite you to come on board and discover all the worlds that MS EUROPA 2 has to offer.
For more information please visit:
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So may or may not have known that until recently, the Uber app on your iPhone was able to track and record your screen. Uber has now said that they are going to remove the code from their iOS app so that it can’t record the user’s screen; even when the app is closed.
According to ZDNet, Security researcher, Will Strafach discovered that Uber was given access to a private app permission allowing the app to record the screen. This access is off limits to the majority of developers unless Apple has specifically arranged explicit permissions.
Apps such as iRec use this feature without permission, which runs on jailbroken devices.
Mr Strafach also said, according to ZDNet, that from the thousands of app binaries he’s indexed, the only third-party app that has been given this private app permission, has been Uber, with other iOS developers calling this move a first-time.
Jailbreak and Apple expert Luca Todesco told ZDNet that this permission, known as ‘com.apple.private.allow-explicit-graphics-priority’ in technical terms, allows the app to read and write the device’s framebuffer, which is a part of the device memory that contains pixel and display information. Most apps have the ability to write, but to read the data is where recording the screen comes in, being the equivalent as keylogging on a computer.
This puts a big target on Uber’s app as this feature allows the users’ credentials to be logged by attackers.
According to an Uber spokesman, this feature was added to improve the rendering on the Apple Watch app, so that when the app renders in the background on your phone it can also be sent to your watch.
This is just one of many privacy issues that Uber and its app have had. Previously, Uber was found out to have been tracking drivers of competitor Lyft, as well as tracking iPhones after the user had deleted the app, which led to Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook threatening to kick them off the AppStore.
Do you still have the Uber app on your iPhone? Were you aware of this? Do you think tracking and screen capture is legal and fair in terms of personal privacy and breach of private information? Let us know in the comments below!
A controversial plan to create a new company stock at US company Facebook, which resulted in legal action on behalf of some of its shareholders, has been dropped by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The news will come as a relief to both Zuckerberg and the shareholders, who were gearing up for a legal battle scheduled to begin tomorrow in Delaware, with some suggesting the Facebook CEO would have to spend a substantial amount of time testifying.
The plan to create new stocks is a popular way for certain shareholders to raise capital by selling their shares without ceding control of the company and retaining the majority vote. The policy has been adopted by Alphabet Inc. am, well known for being the parent company of search engine behemoth Google, among others. Zuckerberg is known to want to retain voting control of the company he has built.
Zuckerberg had planned to sell a large amount of his shares in order to raise funds for his philanthropical pursuits over the next 20 years. However the only way to do this looked to be the sale of $12 billion in shares. A sale of that magnitude would have meant that he longer held the majority vote. Zuckerberg’s plan was to create the new stock to sell and raise the required amount without diminishing his capacity to control what goes on at the San Francisco based company.
The plan was not received well by all Shareholders, and Stuart Grant of Grant & Eisenhofer, was employed to launch legal proceedings preventing the motion. With both sides planning for a trial, Zuckeberg has now rescinded his plans due to the phenomenal rise in Facebook share prices. In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg wrote, "Over the past year and a half, Facebook's business has performed well and the value of our stock has grown to the point that I can fully fund our philanthropy and retain voting control of Facebook for 20 years or more. As a result, I've asked our board to withdraw the proposal to reclassify our stock - and the board has agreed."
The 31% increase in Facebook shares will mean that the sale of up to 75 million shares can go ahead without any changes to the voting structure, while still raising the amount required. Mr Grant welcomed the news, stating that the shareholders who were bringing the legal action were "thrilled that Facebook has dropped the reclassification."
This should allow Facebook to continue working for and with its investors without a legal fight in the US courts.
Accountancy giant PwC have signalled their continued intent to bolster their legal services ranks with their first US Law office. Unable to register under their own name due to regulatory issues, the company are launching a new law firm, ILC Legal, and plan to open this month in Washington D.C. in a move to expand upon the company’s already substantial legal arm.
PwC have been slowly increasing the size of its legal operations with expansion in Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia, bringing the total number of PwC Legal’s offices worldwide to 85 and the number of employees to 2,500. These numbers rank them alongside industry stalwarts Clifford Chance and Jones Day.
The new ILC Legal office will be headed by the current PwC Legal Head of International Business Reorganisation Practice, Richard Edmundson, formerly of Clifford Chance who will be leaving his London office to take up the post. Talking to Law.com, Edmundson said: “This is market driven. Our clients are increasingly looking for advisers that can provide international coverage on transactions from planning to execution”.
Although Washington allows lawyers to register as foreign legal consultants, current legislation prevents the new firm from offering US law advice, which is why the company’s focus will be on assisting US clients on international issues. Edmundson stated that the new company doesn’t “see itself as a traditional law firm” who view legal services as one offering amongst many. While this offers some comfort to top American law firms, they will still be wary as PwC continues a trend among the big four accountancy firms worldwide in expanding their legal services. Deloitte, EY, and KPMG have all joined PwC with vast investment in their legal services, albeit mainly in European and Asia-Pacific markets.
PwC’s move marks the accountancy firm’s first concerted effort to move into the US market. Despite the initial company plans revealing a low employee number of between 6-8 lawyers, it is widely expected to increase significantly.
Given the move, industry figures have suggested they would not be surprised to see other members of the big four accountancy firms follow suit, which is what will be causing concern amongst major US law practices. What is clear is that the American legal industry will be watching ILC Legal closely.
