S-O-S

At times like these it’s important to extend our priority of care to those who have suffered most — and, indeed, have most to lose — from the collapsing economy. So it’s heart-warming to see that Lane-Smith & Shindler, one of this country’s best niche trust tax and estates law firms, is opening a boutique office in Zurich to service the super-wealthy refugees from the UK who are seeking some shelter from the economic storm. As the firm comments: “With house prices falling, interest rates rising and a general economic downturn for the country, many wealthy businessmen and women are considering leaving the UK to set up residence in countries with stronger economic climates, such as Switzerland.”

At least Switzerland is not shutting the door on these needy nomads. And indeed LS&S suspects that as a firm it will be setting a trend for other London lawyers who are keen and motivated to help out those in need. Word has it that much of this work may be done on a charitable basis. After all, surely these people have gone through enough without having to pay for the privilege of a safe haven? Watch out for next year’s pro bono awards.

Reform is nigh

We may be in the dog days of summer but this is an historic week for the legal profession. After all the debate, the first steps are being taken to transform the regulatory framework under which lawyers practise to permit partnerships not merely between solicitors and barristers but with licensed conveyancers and people with no legal qualifications at all. The result will be that next year legal disciplinary partnerships will be a reality and the world will have changed forever.

Maybe it’s timely. The real estate cash cow has died. Old-style law firms need an injection of new money and ideas. LDPs could make it happen.

Dead cert

We’re all used to seeing the advisory “please consider the environment before printing this e-mail”. But for the first time from a law firm I received also the accompanying notification that it “has the International Standard in Environmental Management ISO14001 certification”. The firm in question is Taylor Wessing. I’m not saying it’s the first. But it is the first to tell me on its e-mails. Good PR.

Oil alert

This time next week I’ll be splashing down in the Adriatic and swimming in a sea of olive oil. You may not hear from me for a few weeks (although, rest assured, I plan no canoeing). However, the activities of City lawyers will be seldom far from my palate as I savour that, courtesy of Travers Smith, Italy’s finest, the Bertolli olive oil and vinegar business, has passed from Unilever to the Spanish food group, Grupo SOS. This seems a far more sympathetic owner than an Anglo- Dutch maker of margarine. My taste buds will be alert to the difference.

edward.fennell@yahoo.co.uk

In the City returns on August 28

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