RJW joins forces with Slater & Gordon in the UK following ABS licence approval

Wed, 09 May 2012 10:16:50 GMT

RJW has been acquired by Slater & Gordon - the world's first publicly listed law firm - for £53.8 million (approximately $AUD80 million). The acquisition took place on 30 April 2012 following the approval of an Alternative Business Structures (ABS) licence by the UK Solicitors Regulation Authority. The law firm notified the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) of its ABS licence approval on the same day.

Slater & Gordon was amongst the first organisations to be granted an ABS licence by the UK regulatory authority.

RJW and Slater & Gordon and announced their plans to join forces and capitalise on changes in the UK legal landscape in January of 2012, following 12 months of negotiations and due diligence.

RJW Chief Executive Officer Neil Kinsella said his team knew that changes were required to stay "at the forefront of a changing legal landscape" and Slater & Gordon was the "perfect partner" law firm.

Mr Kinsella said: "This is an exciting new chapter in our history, and an important step towards us achieving our ambition to become the largest and most trusted brand for personal legal services in the UK.

"We are in the midst of a changing landscape in the UK and we want to be at the forefront of that change - both in a regulatory sense and in service delivery.

"One thing that will not change is our commitment to make access to justice available and affordable to all, because that's a common goal that we share with Slater & Gordon and it's one of the things that attracted us to them in the first place."

Slater & Gordon Managing Director Andrew Grech said it was the optimum time to enter the UK market because of the changes in ownerships laws and impending changes to the personal injury sector.

Mr Grech said: "Firms which do not adapt will simply not be able to compete effectively over the long term.

"This partnership gives RJW security so that they can continue providing a first class legal service, but it also gives them the resources needed to develop and grow whilst retaining and attracting talented people in a way that would not have been possible otherwise."

Mr Grech said Slater & Gordon would support its UK business to continue to grow and meet the needs and expectations of their clients into the future.

He continued: "We have jointly identified the opportunities that will come as a result of the changes in the UK market and have already benefited from sharing our knowledge.

"The potential to share technology and have greater resources to retain and attract additional talented people will underpin our future success."

RJW equity partners have exchanged ownership of a traditional partnership for share-ownership in Slater & Gordon Ltd. The partners will hold Slater & Gordon shares for a minimum of four years. RJW has traded as 'Russell, Jones & Walker part of Slater & Gordon Lawyers' from Monday 30 April, 2012. The acquisition includes RJW's Claims Direct brand.

About Russell Jones & Walker:
With over 85 years of experience, Russell Jones and Walker Solicitors are considered one of the UK's leading law firms with over 420 employees in 10 offices nationwide. Its focus has always been to provide accessible, affordable legal services for individuals, such as spinal injury victims in need of a personal injury solicitor. It also offers services to those needing to make an asbestos compensation claim, as well as other employment law services. Neil Kinsella is one of the country's leading commentators on the changing face of the legal profession and aims to ensure that the firm remains at the forefront of it, irrespective of the likely new competition.

Russell Jones & Walker joins with the world's first listed law firm

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:56:44 GMT

Russell Jones & Walker Solicitors has announced it will join forces with the world's first publicly listed law firm, Slater & Gordon Lawyers. The move comes at a critical time of change in the UK legal industry as the Legal Services Act opens the market to outside investment and ahead of impending changes to the personal injury sector.

RJW Chief Executive Officer Neil Kinsella said the announcement would bring security and growth.

He added: "We will continue to deliver first class legal services, but as a result of today's announcement, we will have the resources and backing to develop and grow. We want to become the largest and most trusted provider of personal legal services in the UK.

"Our commitment to making justice and legal services accessible and affordable to all remains, but our ability to do this increases as a result; this development will bring real benefits to our clients and affiliated organisations."

Slater & Gordon Managing Director Andrew Grech said that, while the UK had a similar legal jurisdiction to Australia, it had spent three years searching for the right opportunity in the UK. He commented on how RJW shares the same values as Slater & Gordon, which will help them achieve their joint aspiration of being the first choice for personal legal services in the UK.

Kinsella said becoming part of Slater & Gordon will put RJW ahead of the competition and provide a wider pool of talent and knowledge.

He explained: "In Slater & Gordon we have found the perfect partner; a firm with a similar history and ethos to RJW. We are also joining a firm focussed on innovation and one which is ahead of the pack in terms of its corporate and business structure. Slater & Gordon publicly listed five years ago, which gives us a five-year head start on any UK firm considering this option.

The two law firms have jointly identified the opportunities that may come as a result of the changes in the UK market and have already benefited from sharing their knowledge. By joining forces, they can share technology and have greater resources to retain and attract additional talented people.

The RJW principals and senior management are highly committed to the long term strategy of the group and will remain in place for at least three years. All of the equity owners of RJW have taken a substantial proportion of the consideration as shares in the ASX listed Slater & Gordon demonstrating their confidence in and commitment to the group.

Subject to regulatory approval, the acquisition of Russell Jones & Walker should be completed by April 2012.

About Russell Jones & Walker:
With over 85 years of experience, Russell Jones and Walker Solicitors are considered one of the UK's leading law firms with over 420 employees in 10 offices nationwide. Its focus has always been to provide accessible, affordable legal services for individuals. Neil Kinsella is one of the country's leading commentators on the changing face of the legal profession and aims to ensure that the firm remains at the forefront of it, irrespective of the likely new competition.

Russell Jones & Walker views future of personal legal services as a battle of the brands

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:55:56 GMT

Russell Jones and Walker Solicitors view the future of personal legal services as a 'battle of the brands' and believes it is best placed to capitalise on this through extensions of its market leading personal injury name 'Claims Direct'.

Independent research shows that Claims Direct is the best known name within the personal injury sector with double the unprompted brand awareness levels of its nearest rivals. As such Russell Jones and Walker plans to use this recognition to promote Claims Direct in the other areas of personal law that it already has strong expertise in. This includes employment and family law, wills and possibly even conveyancing.

"The public recognise few legal brands currently but that is all set to change with the introduction of alternative business structures next year." Neil Kinsella Chief Executive of Russell Jones and Walker said. "This will give well-known high street names the opportunity to compete directly with Solicitors and we, at Russell Jones and Walker, have been developing our strategy since the review which led to the Legal Services Act. This included the re-launch of the Claims Direct brand in 2007 with a multi-million £ above-the-line and digital campaign."

The Legal Services Act enables people other than those qualified as solicitors to own a law firm with the Solicitors Regulation Authority approved to be its regulator. However, the original October start date for licensing these businesses had to be delayed and it is now thought this will start in January 2012. Organisations including retail brands such as the Co-Op and insurance companies including D.A.S. have already stated their intentions to offer legal services and many believe others are queuing up. This influx of known brand names into a largely unbranded and fragmented legal sector has commentators suggesting this could lead to a significant number of smaller high street law firms closing down within the next three years.

Kinsella believes this presents Russell Jones and Walker with an ideal opportunity. "Recent Russell Jones and Walker research shows that people now know and trust the Claims Direct name and have said they would be happy to contact it about legal issues other than their personal injury claims. We intend to offer them this option."

With over 85 years' experience, Russell Jones and Walker Solicitors are considered one of the UK's leading law firms with over 420 employees in 10 offices nationwide. Its focus has always been to provide accessible, affordable legal services for individuals. Neil Kinsella is one of the country's leading commentators on the changing face of the legal profession and aims to ensure that the firm remains at the forefront of it irrespective of the likely new competition.

RJW client Fawcett Society to take government to court over unlawful budget

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:22:59 GMT

RJW client The Fawcett Society has filed papers with the High Court in order to get a Judicial Review of the government's recent emergency budget.

The Fawcett Society believes that the government should have used an equality impact assessment to determine whether its budget proposals would increase or reduce inequality between women and men. Despite repeated requests from the society, the Treasury has not provided any evidence that any such an equality impact assessment took place.

A top line assessment of the budget measures show 72% of cuts will be met from women's income with the remaining 28% from men's, due to many of the cuts being to benefits that more women than men rely on. Additionally the changes to the tax system will benefit far more men than women.

Since 2006 the government has been bound by a gender equality duty which obligates it to actively promote equality between the sexes.

Samantha Mangwana, employment solicitor at Russell Jones & Walker who is representing the Fawcett Society, said: "Although public authorities have been subject to the gender equality duty for several years now, there is widespread ignorance not only about how strong these laws actually are, but also what specific steps are required to be undertaken. However, the case law is crystal clear in spelling this out. Firstly, an equality impact assessment must be conducted before policy decisions are taken.

"Secondly, where an assessment reveals a risk of sex discrimination, urgent action must be taken to address those risks. Clearly, if the equality impact is not even assessed as a starting point, a public authority cannot start to consider what steps to take to mitigate any inequality."

About Russell Jones & Walker
Russell Jones & Walker is a leading national firm of solicitors dedicated to upholding the legal rights of individuals. From the firm’s foundation in the 1920s the focus has and continues to be, people and those who represent them.

The firm has grown from its trade union roots into a respected national organisation with nine offices across England and Wales, and an associated office in Scotland. The reputation of Russell Jones & Walker is built on the range of expertise offered by its partners and staff and on the scope of their practical experience.

RJW Solicitors represents clients across a range of areas with many employment solicitors, personal injury solicitors, business crime solicitors and specialities in commercial and criminal litigation, defamation, reputation management, clinical negligence and discrimination at work as well as providing specialties in fraud.

Russell Jones and Walker launches 2 Way Street campaign

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:54:17 GMT

Russell Jones and Walker, the personal injury specialists, has launched 2 Way Street, a campaign that aims to bring HGV drivers and cyclists together.

The campaign, fronted by Gail Porter, calls for HGV drivers to have cycle awareness training, for cyclists to be encouraged to take cycle training to cope with busy urban roads, and for more investment in the design of cycle-friendly roads. The campaign is supported by CTC, the UK's national cyclists' organisation.

On average, every year approximately eight cyclists a year are killed by lorries in London and about 28 are killed by lorries across the UK, with 70% of these in urban areas.

Following the launch of the Barclays Cycle Hire, in July this year, which aims to generate up to 40,000 extra cycle trips a day in central London by providing 5,000 cycles for hire, Paul Kitson, a claimant personal injury specialist with Russell Jones & Walker with particular expertise in cycling claims said: "The launch of Boris Johnson’s Barclay Cycle Hire scheme in central London is even more of reason to draw attention to the relationship between cyclists and HGV drivers in urban areas, and call for positive change.

"All adult cyclists across the UK should have access to national standards cycle training, so that they have the confidence and skills to cycle safely on today’s busy urban roads.

"The 2 Way Street survey has explored, for the first time ever, the relationship between cyclists and lorry drivers and most importantly we now have proof that both parties want more or less the same things so they can share happily the same roads."

About Russell Jones & Walker
Russell Jones and Walker employs more than 440 staff (more than 229 lawyers) and is renowned as the leading national firm of solicitors in protecting the rights and legal interest of individuals and those who represent them in road traffic accident claims and more. RJW has a network of regional offices and includes those in the following centres: London, Birmingham, Bristol, Wakefield, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Cardiff and Edinburgh.

About CTC
The UK’s national cyclists’ organisation has 66,000 members. It has been protecting and promoting the rights of cyclists since 1878 and is the largest cycling body in the UK. CTC is a not-for-profit organisation that is funded through its membership and donations. CTC provides a comprehensive range of services, advice, events, and protection for members and works to promote cycling by raising public and political awareness of its health, social and environmental benefits.

Russell Jones and Walker welcome broad scope of 7/7 inquest

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:30:53 GMT

Russell Jones and Walker and the families of victims involved in the 7/7 inquest have welcomed the recent ruling made by Lady Justice Hallett that the activities and knowledge of MI5 and the Home Office in relation to the bombings will be included in the scope of her investigation.

James Carlton, partner at Russell Jones & Walker Solicitors who is representing ten of the families involved in the inquest stated:

"All the families involved are understandably devastated by their individual loss and want to find answers to the circumstances surrounding how their loved ones came to die. At the same time, all involved are concerned as to whether there were, or indeed are now, any steps that could have been taken to prevent these atrocities from occurring at the time or again in the future.

"The decision by Lady Justice Hallett to examine the actions of intelligence agencies in the scope of the inquest is a welcome inclusion for the victims' families."

National law firm Russell Jones & Walker, who specialise in all types of business crime and regulation matters including public inquiries, has been instructed by ten families of victims of the 7/7 bombings inquest which is expected to commence in October 2010.

Russell Jones and Walker are acting on behalf of victims who lost their lives at all four of the bombing sites and have been instructed by a mixture of parents, spouses and siblings bereaved of their loved ones during the bombings.

About Russell Jones & Walker’s Business Crime & Regulation Team
The Russell Jones & Walker Business Crime & Regulation Team, led by Rod Fletcher, is independently recognised as one of the leaders in this field. As a department they have been involved in a large number of recent high profile landmark cases involving major regulatory bodies including the SFO, FSA and HSE, along with most public inquiries conducted in the last decade including Arms to Iraq, Shipman Inquiry and Bloody Sunday.

The RJW business crime solicitors provide legal advice and representation in the following areas: Business Crime; FSA & Regulatory Investigations; Restraint & Confiscation; Fraud & Corruption investigations; Public Inquiries & Inquests; Corporate Compliance; Cross-border & International Investigations; Health, Safety & the Environment and The Bribery Act 2010.

The Business Crime & Regulation team are located nationwide.

For more information visit: www.rjw.co.uk/businesscrime

RJW investigates reports of failures at Staffordshire hospitals

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:38:44 GMT

RJW is currently investigating cases of negligence after a report by Robert Francis QC revealed a catalogue of failures at Mid Staffordshire hospitals. An obsession with hitting targets led to the neglect and unnecessary death of patients. In response, the Prime Minister said that managers would be held to account for failures by the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.

Francis warned that hospitals should understand that their excellence was not guaranteed by their star rating: what matters is the way patients are treated.

"The story of Stafford shows graphically, and sadly, that benchmarks, comparative ratings and foundation trust status do not in themselves bring to light serious and systematic failings," he said.

Relatives of patients at Mid Staffordshire were unhappy that the report failed to support calls by organisations such as AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents) for a public enquiry.

Paul Sankey, specialist clinical negligence solicitor and partner at Russell Jones & Walker (RJW) said: "What is needed is a patient-centred culture in which pursuing targets does not detract from care. Sadly patients are too often been the victims of errors which should have been avoided."

Russell Jones & Walker have a specialist team pursuing claims for people who have suffered serious harm as a result of avoidable medical accidents. They have recently recovered a 7-figure award for a brain injury claim on behalf of a man who suffered the injury after doctors failed to carry out a planned investigation and to prevent a stroke. They have also won compensation for the husband of a woman who died of skin cancer and another who died of lung cancer. Other cases concern people whose fractures were not diagnosed where the wrong tests were done or x-rays misinterpreted. They are currently involved in claims against the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.

RJW has a specialist medical negligence claims department with experts accredited by the Law Society and AvMA who handle claims for damages arising from clinical negligence. With its network of offices across the country RJW can assist with claims nationwide.

About Russell Jones & Walker
Russell Jones & Walker is a leading national firm of solicitors dedicated to upholding the legal rights of individuals. From the firms foundation in the 1920s the focus has and continues to be, people and those who represent them.

RJW Solicitors represents clients across a range of areas from personal injury claims work to commercial and criminal litigation, defamation, reputation management, clinical negligence, including cancer claims, as well as providing specialties as employment lawyers and fraud lawyers.

Russell Jones & Walker wins claim against London's oldest gay pub

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:33:41 GMT

Russell Jones & Walker has won a claim of adopting 'an anti-gay policy' against the new owners of London's oldest gay pub on behalf of Mr Charles Lisboa, 41, who joined the Coleherne Arms as Assistant Manager shortly before it re-opened as the Pembroke Arms in December 2008.

The pub, regarded as London's first 'gay pub', had attracted an exclusively gay clientele until its acquisition by Realpubs in 2008. The new owners stated that they intended to refurbish the pub and re-package it as a gastro-pub, to attract patrons from a wider section of the community.

However, soon after the pub re-opened as the Pembroke Arms, Malcolm Heap, Director at Realpubs, expressed concern to staff that the clientele had not really changed. The Tribunal accepted that Mr Heap, along with Jimmy Sydney, the pub's General Manager, took various steps to 'de-gay' the pub, including putting a sign up outside proclaiming, 'This is not a gay pub'.

Mr Heap also stressed in an email to one of Realpub's investors that he was attempting to ban the pub's 'over the top' customers.

Mr Lisboa was uncomfortable with the stance taken by Realpubs' management regarding their attitude to him and the pub's gay customers. On one occasion, Mr Lisboa was asked by Mr Heap to reprimand a gay couple for their behaviour, referring to them as 'queens'. Mr Heap then went on to say that Mr Lisboa was 'another kind of gay'. On a separate occasion, Mr Heap stated that one of Mr Lisboa's colleague's 'walked too camp'.

Only four weeks after joining the Pembroke Arms Mr Lisboa tendered his resignation due to sexual orientation discrimination.

The London Central Employment Tribunal has upheld Mr Lisboa's claim that he was the victim of discrimination at work and awarded him compensation. However, his claim of constructive dismissal was deemed unsuccessful.

Paul Daniels, partner in the award-winning Employment Law Team at Russell Jones & Walker, who acted for Mr Lisboa, said:

"This landmark decision confirms that an establishment that wishes to change from serving a mainly gay clientele to a mixed clientele, must not do so in a way that discriminates against gay clients. The decision also serves as a stark warning to any employer who tolerates abuse and prejudice against gay staff or customers."

Mr Lisboa stated:
"I am delighted to have won my case and to have exposed the discriminatory and anti-gay actions of RealPubs.

No-one should have to put up with repeated abuse and prejudice in the workplace. That is why I brought my case. However, I do not understand how the tribunal found that I had been the victim of a repeated pattern of discriminatory treatment and yet decided I was not entitled to resign in response."

Mr Daniels concluded:
"In this case, the tribunal accepted that numerous abusive comments were made by Realpubs managers referring to gay customers as 'queens' and accusing someone of being 'too camp' and that this amounted to unlawful sexual orientation discrimination against a gay employee.

It is, however, disappointing and very surprising that the tribunal saw fit to conclude that our client was not constructively dismissed following the discriminatory treatment and abusive remarks the tribunal unanimously found he had been subjected to. We are closely studying an appeal on that point."

- ENDS -

Notes to editors:
Case number: 609803.1

About Russell Jones & Walker:
Russell Jones & Walker employs over 400 staff (with 181 lawyers) and is renowned as the leading national firm of solicitors in protecti

Russell Jones & Walker in Sour Grapes libel victory against Random House

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:46:30 GMT

Leading libel and defamation law firm, Russell Jones & Walker, has won a libel victory against publishers Random House on behalf of internationally renowned wine connoisseur Michael Broadbent, who was from 1966 until 1992 the head of Christie's wine department.

The libel action centred on the book The Billionaire's Vinegar, the subject of which was the provenance of a number of bottles of wine said to have been owned by Thomas Jefferson. The book made allegations which suggested that Mr Broadbent had behaved in an unprofessional manner in the way in which he had auctioned some of these bottles and that his relationship and dealings with Hardy Rodenstock, who discovered the original collection, was suspected of being improper.

In a statement read out in open court, Random House apologised unreservedly for making the allegations and accepted that they were untrue. It has given an undertaking not to repeat the allegations and paid Mr Broadbent undisclosed damages.

Commenting on the settlement Sarah Webb, head of Russell Jones & Walker's Defamation department who acted for Mr Broadbent said:

"The Billionaire's Vinegar made highly damaging claims about my client that seriously compromised both his professional and personal reputation. We are delighted that Random House has today accepted that these allegations are totally without foundation and avoided the need to proceed to a full trial. My client is relieved that the good name he has built up over many years as one of the country's leading wine experts has been fully restored."

Notes to editors
Case number: 606990.1

RJW Solicitors represents clients across a range of areas from personal injury claims work to commercial and criminal litigation, defamation, reputation management, clinical negligence to family law, as well as providing specialties as employment lawyers and fraud lawyers.

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