briefs

Insolvency seminar

Crucial insolvency issues for the London insurance market will be the focus of a seminar being held by the City law firm Denton Hall tomorrow. The event will particularly address the issues arising from a recent House of Lords case - Charter Re v Fagan - which concerns a failed reinsurer trying to recover sums from a Lloyd's syndicate, which has also failed.

Council counsels

Heather Rabbatts, Lambeth Council chief executive, will talk about the lawyer's role in support of a chief executive in troubled times when she leads the keynote session at this year's weekend school for the Law Society's Local Government Group. The event, to be held at the University of Wales in Swansea from 28 to 31 March, will also look at IT planning in local authority legal departments, plain English and the powers of local government.

Legal aid scheme

About 250 law firms are said to have registered for a scheme that aims to help individuals who do not qualify for legal aid but do not have the savings to be able to risk taking court action in order to pursue claims.

What's in a name?

The City firms Hobson Audley and Hopkins & Wood are expected to announce a merged firm, to be called Hobson Audley Hopkins & Wood, according to the Lawyer.